Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 257

Transcript

To go back to 56/7 or more than a quarter of a century ago, a new arrival saw strange sights. The only wharf in Lyttelton – Pshaw! Port Cooper! the old ones refused to recognize the Hagley Park designation, and as with the old veterans of Wellington – Wellington was Port Nic – from the North Cape to the Bluff. Well, Port Cooper then only boasted of a short jetty thrown out where now is the Telegraph Office &c, for at that time the “sad sea waves” came up to within a chain or two of the Canterbury Hotel bar door. The wharf it will be understood was only suited to small craft, such frigates as the Mary Thomson, 40 or 50 tons, and its bold skipper Henry Thomson, only could moor alongside. Larger craft and Home ships took the stream for it and passengers had the delightful experiences of landing at the tender mercies of the beach combing harpies who then did the lightering and boating business between vessels and the shore. Did it suit, they would come off, otherwise my Colonial teapot, no loving fear! would those gentry disturb themselves. Why perhaps they were deep in the intricacies of a hot discussion in Rowland Davis’ Canterbury Bar or it may be were being entertained by the old veteran, Peter Cameron, at the Robin Hood, the original of the Cameron’s with a racy yarn about old Wellington times. For Peter could tell a story, and so, my Colonial, could old Rowland in his prime. And there were other old boys who could manage to drink the passing hour. Old Genet for example wasn’t bad.

Mitre P Cameron Butcher Parkerson Mrs Card’s boarding house

Rowland Davis Canterbury

“Lyttelton Times” E Reeve [across street] Cookson Bowler & co Barracks Police Gaol &c