Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 259

Transcript

most popular man, remarkably so, particularly with people who were in haste to do business at the Customs, and took delight in seeing papers dognosed and hearing him sniff. He always made it a study to hasten business, and no doubt the modern shipper, the Company’s, the Turners & Co would be delighted to see him in his old age patriotically give up his 333-6-8 and return to harness. Crosbie Ward too – a different man – could then be seen about the Lyttelton Times office, bless you not the grandiose affair of the day, with its well informed correspondents on Māori affairs and other matters, but a nice convenient little rag in which you could twice a week comfortably wrap the family pound of butter – but mind you – full of talent, for Crosbie was clever and genial. He had humour. Then there was that old institution Jimmy Townshend much the same as to day. Then a good standby was old Deans, coming across with his boat from Purau, Rhodes’ bay. He was the link between Port and that part of the world. Then of course some of the old Akaroa and Peninsula nuts would once in a while have a little recreation, Bruce, Parker, Watkin, Cuff, Pavitt, and the Frenchies. But what the Port Cooper boys took a genuine pleasure in was getting a man from over the Hill for a night, or a new chum from Home. They would endeavour to make him feel quite at home and had not the least objection in the world even to sitting up until the wee sma’ hours