Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 253

Transcript

small establishment opposite the present Schools. It was a bi-weekly, I think, and was despatched over the Bridle path by pony to enlighten the benighted Christchurch people. It may be wrong to say that its headquarters were not removed to the present abode til ’60. One is right in stating that, at all events, Mr Reeves had become connected with it before the change. The only Bank was the Union, on a site somewhere above the Mitre, and I think a Mr Spowers was the head man. The great Miles firm made its entry about 1857, and took up modest quarters on Norwich quay, with I fancy Mr Banks, as manager. The commercial men were the, at that time, great firm of Cookson, Bowler and Co, whose offices were near the Canterbury, Robert Wraitt, E.J. Hargreaves, A.J. Alport, Noble Campbell, with Louisson for his clerk. Latter father of the Bankruptcy Trustee, old Peacock and his son and other smaller fry. The lawyers were Dampier, and a dry old Englishman named Wormald, who had the cream of all the first business. The Supreme Court was also held there in the old police buildings, and for some years had to wait the coming of the Wellington Judge, then Mr Wakefield, until the now retired Judge, Mr Gresson who practised in Christchurch, and was, I think, Crown Prosecutor, was appointed as local Judge. Cases from throughout Canterbury were tried here, and witnesses brought long distances, with the old system of travel. The Judge had also to go to Dunedin to hold Court.

Mr Robert Wraitt was a tall, dark man with strong black hair.