Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 086

Transcript

Sir John Cracroft Wilson was an early settler, bought largely land, including the beautiful Cashmere Estate, then swamps and tussocks, raupo and flax; on the Selwyn and Rangitata, on the latter a fine sheep run, returned to India, where he was Judge of Mooradabub, was in the thick of the mutiny 1857, quarrelled with “Clemency” Earl Canning, Governor General, he who wrote of the “Nabob” in his great mutiny despatch “that Mr John Cracroft Wilson, Judge &c had saved more Christian lives than any man in India”. The Nabob was a daring, high spirited, proud man, brooking no contradiction. He returned after the mutiny, brought an Arab stallion “Nobleman”, entire donkeys (to “destroy thistles”) as he jocosely said, dogs, Indian servants, and also imported Scotch shepherds, drove his four in hand brake, went into politics, abused Vogel and all his works, made Cashmere a name for hospitality to visitors, from the Duke of Edinburgh and Lord Charles Beresford, to Billy Hoskins, [illegible] Colville, and any strolling player, played the flute at Town Hall concerts, lectured on India, the taking of Delhi, talked sheep and farming and was an all round man generally, of whom many amusing anecdotes are told, and was a grand pioneer settler.

He had all the domineering belief and pluck that had taken India and kept it. “They are educating the Natives. The day will come when they will regret it. Education, newspapers and the telegraph” said the fiery old warrior, “will be the downfall of British rule in India.”

There used to be any amount of yarns, for example, that he once put in an advertisement about “seven” tooth sheep.

He made it a rule never to refuse a man work, but not at the highest pay. But he must not get drunk. He would have good food and a good sleeping place. He was welcome to go at any time, could he better himself. Some men remained for years.