Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 214

Transcript

“Waterloo Avenue”, the name on the first plan of the road along the River from Market place, to past the Forester’s Hall. By the way, the land upon which that stands was given to the Foresters by E.J. Wakefield in the fifties.

The first pound was in the Market Square, between Colombo St and Papanui Bridge. James Cotton, an old Irishman, and somewhat of a humourist, kept it. Acclimatisation was getting on fast, and all sorts of strange things becoming familiar. “Yes, Mr Wilson, we had white swans, then we had black swans, and now by the powers, there’s no denying it, we’ve got red ones”. This was alluding to Robert Swan (Bob) a Scotchman and a character. He had a perfectly blooming and prominent red as a rose face & nose.

Peter Kerr was a well known character amongst the early ones. He took up a lot of land at the Sandhills now New Brighton, and kept a lot of dairy cows. He was a kindly, canny Scotty. His judgement was considered good upon farming matters, ploughing &c.

Kent the Chartist, a busybody.

Old Smith used to a [sic] standing dish at all the old political meetings, and would persist in asking most inconvenient questions.

Jack Lee was another noisy character.

Dr David Nairne sixties Dr Moore Bob Swan, the “Judge”