SOUTH SPIT
Hotel, where a shed for storage had been erected, and whence ran a light tramline and truck to the coach-start, or “hopping-off” place, in front of the Waterman’s Arms Hotel.
All boats, barges, and watermen were licensed. Some of the earliest were George Thomas Craddock, his boat being The Pride of Erin, for 14 passengers; Dick Richardson, the Josephine, 10 passengers; Jim McGavin, known as “Jimmy the Ripper”; Joe Jackenoe; Jim Furgy; Larry Larsen; Jack Hale; and John Pascoe. Two well-known boats were the Rose of Denmark and the Eclipse, but by whom owned is not clear. The ferry charges fixed by Gazette were: 25th July, 1865, each single person 1/-; if more than one at the same time 6d. each. 27th August, 1868, Westport to South Spit 1/- each; Westport to Packers’ Point 1/- each. 1st July, 1871, Westport to South Spit or Packers’ Point 1/- each; Westport to Waite’s Landing 2/6 each; passengers allowed 20lbs. of luggage each, free of charge. The license fees were: 1868, Waterman’s license £1; license for boat or lighter £1. 1871, Waterman or boatman 10/-; passenger boats 10/- each; cargo, ballast, or water-tank boats 20/- each. The distance from South Spit to Charleston was between 20 and 22 miles, and the journey occupied about three hours on horse-back, but much longer for vehicles, wagons taking eight hours.
On 29th August, 1867, Mr. Blackett, Provincial Engineer, accompanied by his Assistant, Mr. A. D. Dobson, left Westport for Charleston in company with Commissioner Kynnersley, doing the journey on horse-back in three hours. Concerning the beach-route he reported it as being 22 miles, made up as follows: “Seven miles of beach to Cape Foulwind; about three miles over the Cape, cut through bush, one chain wide, laid with bush fascines and covered with sand about fourteen feet wide, suitable for dray traffic; then another short beach, and a short cutting through a narrow neck of scrub, followed by a ten-mile beach of hard sand, and terminating with a piece of road through bush, with side and other cuttings, and a bridge over the Nile, with a cutting up the hill beyond, into the town. All this work is well carried out and Cobb’s coach runs daily from each place, at such times as suit the tides, and so as to make the beaches available.” The “seven
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