Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 194

Transcript

must have remembrances of Christchurch not pleasant! – But, bah! Former steeplchas [sic] had not been on so extensive a scale, but there had been hard and good riding. Some of the old ones will remember the Avonhead Steeplechases and old Auckland Jack with long legged Tom Adams on his back. He was a rare horse amongst the old ones, and earned many a note for Charley the butcher. He was a rare jumper, and old too. After doing his work for years like a workman, and a racer, he was cast off by his owner and ended his career in the West Coast mud packing for the diggers.

Dicker was, or rather, had been, for he was beginning to be a little over the line, a dashing, good looking sport, rather tall, with quite a “fly” appearance. The old boy, no doubt, was well “stayed up” and all that sort of thing, but, oh dear, his bedroom was a medicine shop.

Christchurch has turned out a good many racing men, officials &c. For example, Mr W. Percival, Secy. Auckland Club with his partner Jeffries, also kept a small grocery by Madras Bridge and L.D. Luckie, the Hawkes Bay Secy. was clerk to a Chch butcher.

Marshall – drove a coach to Prebbleton in the Sixties-Fifties

Mr W. Boag senior, Fifties.