Linwood Cemetery Tour Guide - Christchurch City Libraries

Perhaps he admired the pluck of Councillor-elect Gapes; perhaps he had run out of
flour.
James had an excellent stage presence, was active in musical circles, sang, and, with
Sir John Cracroft Wilson, played the flute. The 1 August 1865 Lyttelton times records
James’ participation in an amateur performance for the benefit of the Benevolent
Fund of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association. The house
… was crowded in every part, and the whole affair went off most successfully.
In fact, this could hardly fail to be the case for the audience were, one and all,
in thorough good humour and determined to enjoy themselves …..
James sang a ‘comic Irish’ song ‘with an irresistibly funny chorus; this was
deservedly encored’.
Grandchildren or great-nieces and nephews saw him in the street (some were hoping
that he would throw them them a few coins so that they could go off and buy sweets).
They called out: ‘How are you Grandpa?” and he replied: “Still keeping a footpath
down”.
James’ son, Thomas (1848-1913) took over the family business. .
Row B
No. 6133
Coker
Here is buried James Gapes’ cousin, one of those ladies who acquired property
through marriage, and who, through her subsequent marriages, enriched other men.
She would appear to belong to medieval Europe rather than Victorian Christchurch.
Born in England in 1826, Lizzie Westwood was a governess. At 33 she planned to
emigrate on the Burmah. Alterations were made to accommodate ‘beautiful breeding
stock, horses and cattle, said to be larger than any previous importation’.
This, and the fact that James Gapes and other family members were about to leave on
the Regina, led her to join her relatives. Another Burmah passenger, future writer
Samuel Butler, transferred to the Roman emperor. The Burmah was to sink with all
on board.
Lizzie married market gardener and Manchester Street land owner George Allen in
1860. In 1865 she sang in the amateur performance for the Benevolent Fund of the
Licensed Victuallers’ Association. The Lyttelton times commented: ‘Then there was
the duet: “What are the wild waves saying?”’ nicely sung by Mrs. Allen and Miss
Thompkins’.
The Lyttelton times stated:
The amusing farce of ‘The middy ashore’ was the last piece played, Mr.
Cooper taking the part of the middy, Mrs.Hall that of his artful old aunt, and
Messrs. Richardson and Coker those of the dandy suitor and Tom Cringle.
Linwood Cemetery Tour Guide
Updated 2013
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