Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 249

Transcript

flail in hand, old English style, but with the short end held and striking with the long one. Standing in a row on each side with the wheat before them, you would hear time beaten to a tick, the long end would fly round their heads, however it escaped hitting them, was a mystery, and with a thundering ugh! down they would come all along both sides of the line. Then of course there would be a little rest and a bit of conversation and chaff. It wouldn’t do to be in a hurry. Or see a drove of their merry girls up to their knees in the mud at the junction of the Cam, having high jinks catching eels and sending native chaff to the passer by. The Beswicks were the great Cockalorums then at Kaiapoi and Mr Josiah Birch and De Bourbel were also important personages in the vicinity.

Josiah Birch

Pope asked – “Who builds a bridge that never drove a pile?”

William White, may have driven piles for aught I know, but it was the accepted story, that he was a self taught bridge builder, a man of native talent.