Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 182

Transcript

William Goodwin, arrived in 1859 from Hobart Town, and soon after selected on Burke’s run, and called it Greenpark, after an estate in the then Van Dieman’s Land.

Richard Turnbull, after M.H.R. Timaru, was a bit of a farmer on the Lincoln Road. He read prayers to his man, old Trotman. They christened him “Holy Dick”.

Mr William Thomas Locke Travers, was first in practice in Nelson, in the early fifties, and I think was also a District Judge. He came to Canterbury about 1860, his office being an old building at the Oxford Tce Hereford St corner, opposite the old Mill, once used as the R.M. office, by Sir John, then Mr Hall.

Mr Travers afterwards joined W.C. Wyatt, Solr. whose office was about where George Fletcher’s tailor’s shop stands. Something like this [sketch] In the Pilgrim style of architecture. They had offices afterwards in a building now standing erected of red Port Hills stone, and is another and advanced example of the classical style of the day. Here they were joined by an oddity of the name of Lewis, said to have been an offshoot of the London Lewis & Lewis gang. He was a peculiarity. Had a most familiar assurance. Took charge of all, magistrates and others, and was like other very assertive persons, very touchy. He raised awful points of law, the constitution of the Province was all wrong, &c. He departed. The firm was then joined by Mr George Harmer, followed by Wyatts clearing for Home, and the Harpers coming in.

Mr Travers in those days was a fiery, determined man ready with word or blow. He was said to have been in the De Lacy Evans legion in Spain, in the forties.