“The road round the foot of the hills, and from Christchurch, was little better than a track with large holes here and large boulder stones there, in the middle of the road. The Ferry Road was not much more than wide enough for one carriage at a time, with deep ditches on both sides. From about the [Christchurch]Quay to Christchurch was one large flax swamp, so soft and boggy that it would not carry the weight of a sheep or a cow. So many lagoons made it quite the home for water fowl. Of course, on my way home [Riccarton] I was shown Christchurch, or where it was to be. I think we passed about half a dozen houses and a few roads”.
Jane Deans – 16th December 1885- remembering her arrival into Christchurch and Riccarton on the 3rd February 1853 –
*Married to John Deans I*
*Driving force behind the building of Riccarton House*
