![Thomas Keir diary - 17 February 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/41-18640217-ViewScan_0132-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
Wednesday 17th – Up early this morning
busy packing up for going ashore. About mid-
afternoon all the young men were landed at port
by a small steamer, after a short stay we
[page]
began the ascent of the hill by the bridle path
and were tired enough before we reached the
top the hill is high and very steep on the
top you see the vast plains stretching to the
north and west for many a mile. Far back you
see high ranges of mountains towering to the
sky the higher peaks covered with perpetual
snow. At the foot of the hill we were stoped
at the house of one of the rich settlers by
the servants who kindly entertained us
with half dozen apples a piece (and there were
about twenty of us) of this first welcome
to the new country are thought very much.
Before we reached the station the train
was gone and we had to walk the whole
way but of course we thought better of this
the distance is only about nine miles, we
crossed the Heathcot at the ferry for 3d
and reached the Barracks about dusk tired
enough. We had to sleep that night on the
![Thomas Keir diary - 17 February 1864 entry [National Library Micro-MS-0837]](http://mermaid1864.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/42-18640217-ViewScan_0133-k.png "7-18631126-ViewScan_0098-k")
hard floor, with nothing but a red blanket.
STANDARDISED
Wednesday 17th
Up early this morning busy packing up for going ashore. About mid-afternoon all the young men were landed at port by a small steamer. After a short stay we began the ascent of the hill by the bridle path[1] and were tired enough before we reached the top. The hill is high and very steep, on the top you see the vast plains stretching to the north and west for many a mile. Far back you see high ranges of mountains towering to the sky the higher peaks covered with perpetual snow. At the foot of the hill we were stopped at the house of one of the rich settlers by the servants who kindly entertained us with half dozen apples a piece (and there were about twenty of us). Of this first welcome to the new country are thought very much. Before we reached the station the train was gone and we had to walk the whole way but of course we thought better of this the distance is only about nine miles, we crossed the Heathcote at the ferry for 3d and reached the Barracks about dusk tired enough. We had to sleep that night on the hard floor, with nothing but a red blanket.
HENRY SCHOFIELD DIARY
February 17th v fine & hot
Got up between 4 and 5 o’clock. Knocked chaff out of my bedtick[2] Washed myself and tied all up ready to be off. A hamper of vegetables & fish for breakfast for first class came on board. [?] bread & butter & tea. Made ready and got off Mermaid about 1 O’clock into a little boat rowed to Lyttelton cost 1s/6d Got dinner 1s/6d & then started to go over the hills at 2 O’clock was very hot. Saw 9 ships in harbour. Carrying my bedding &c. Got to Ferry mead at 5 o’clock. Took train to Christchurch 1s/3d and then started to go up the country to Papanui. Left Mr & Mrs Earnshaw and children at a house in Durham St and we got to Mr Bookers Papanui about 9 O’clock at night very tired then got tea & went to bed having been 99 days on board the ship Mermaid and 101 days from my fathers home in England to a home in New Zealand.
Notes
1. You can still walk the Bridle Path from Lyttelton – see the Bridle Path guide from Christchurch City Council.
2. bed tick: or tick mattress, was a large bag made of strong, stiff, tightly-woven material, which is filled to make a mattress, with material such as straw, chaff, horsehair, coarse wool or down feathers. [Wikipedia]
Label on page: “ABOUT 1862-1863.- Showing the First Telegraph Line in / New Zealand over the Bridle Path to / Christchurch. – Opened July 1st. 1862. / Small Cottage on right was occupied by Snoswell, a / fisherman – Building immediately above was one of the / Immigration Barracks — Large building at shore end of / wharf was store occupied by J.Drummond MacPherson, and / later Mathesons Agency, THEN used as Railway Goods / Office. – Small building next was Public Weigh-Bridge, / then Customs Shed, then Post Office on site of / OLD P.O. — The ship at jetty is the “FAWN”(Capt. Anderson) / owned by R&J. Woods, Coal & Wood Merchants. / – Grubbs Boat slip in foreground. — At far end is / Peacock’s wharf and his Bond and Store. — Building / above was occupied by Miles & Co, afterwards the / first Office of N.Z. Shipping Co. – Wesleyan Church / was then at lower end of Dublin St. on rise.”. [Lyttelton Museum]
