Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 239

Transcript

In 1852/3 Col. Campbell, later a candidate for Superintendent, tried hard to get convicts for New Zealand.

J.E. Fitzgerald, in 1853, wanted Chinese labor [sic]. Barney Rhodes, William Bowler, John Johnston, M. Levin, of Wellington, wanted to bring them. First batch 250, half for Canterbury.

Joe Brittan wanted immigrants from Port Phillip.

The first immigrants were housed in buildings in Lyttelton, on the land from the gaol towards Town. There were barracks, police such as it was, R.M. Court and Dr Donald, all lumped together. The police had charge of them.

When the Chch barracks were finished, the first load dumped into them was the “[blank”] and old Mrs Potten & her husband (of the Gov. buildings) were amongst them. Potten was made a policeman and was put in charge of them. Afterwards Barracky Smith got charge. In 1853, the “Canterbury Association” put immigrants in gaol for not paying passage money.

About 1867-8 Government poured in a lot of people but a very fair set, in the Nourmahal, Glentanner &c, and those got a good start, for everything seemed prosperous. I think Mr J.E. Fitzgerald was agent at Home. Mr Harman, also had been. In ’59 the place was inundated with “jimmies” as they were called, and about that time the Bank, the only Bank, the Union, put on the screw, and the balloon was pricked. The bill, that dear accommodating bill, was sat upon, and things in general were queer. Hence a great difficulty to place the new arrivals. The Barracks in the Market Place remained full of them, and the land sales fell off. Hence little for the Provincial Chancellor of the Exchequer. In 1859-60 a great number of “Townies” were amongst the immigrants. Lots of these people have never to this day, paid their passage money. A man named John Elson Brown, was engaged to hunt up passage money. Then J.E. Marsh had the job. Captain A.R. Armstrong, brother in law of F. Malet, was for a time Immigration Officer, and his assistant was David McKay, who married the widow Thomson, of the Royal.