Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 270

Transcript

which, funny to say, included Christchurch, and those officials, Superintendent, Secretary, and so forth, caused to be sold the hundreds of acres marked as Reserves within the Belts on the original maps of the City, made use of the money, and neglected the chance when they had ample opportunity of making new reserves for the future municipality. Saddle the right horse. Mr Hobbs had nothing to do with these matters. Mr Hobbs was not a sufficiently important personage in those days to be consulted on such matters. Why bless you, father John, it was even a few years after that before Mr Hobbs’ great patron, Mr Coster, began even to be noticed in connection with a Bank, and some time more, before he developed into the full blown Manager of the House that Jack McCosker began to build, and Joe Bailey had to finish. You dear Sir, in some of those times were in office, and so was Mr Sefton Moorhouse, and why could not the people who were powerful enough to sell, even to the last three sections left in the year 1858, near what is now Ward’s Brewery, on a seven year’s purchasing clause, why could not, and why did not, those people in power endow Christchurch afresh out of the then millions of unsold acres? Tell us dat. Don’t scold us. Don’t talk to us as if nobody had a right to an opinion but yourself. You as a public man have not been altogether a success. Some of the old ones may perhaps have a recollection of your attempt at Legislation in the Public House line? You would scarcely claim that as a success. And have you been a triumph as an Auditor? And are you peerless as a Magistrate? Don’t tread too hard on others’ corns.

As to Mr Hobbs and his opinions, and his idea that he is indispensable to the City, it is well that the electors have shown him that they entertain a different idea. That his drainage fund, which by pure solid obstinacy, assisted by the good will of powerful financial