New Zealand Memories Issue 151

MEASUREMENTS
The Ready Reckoner
John Hewstone
About 40 years ago I came across a Ready Reckoner in Wellington dated 1814 (the year before the
Battle of Waterloo). Once outdated it was seemingly given to a small child to practice writing on.
One is left with the unanswerable question, “When did the book arrive in New Zealand and to
whom did it belong?”
A page in the book is headed Table of Miscellaneous Articles; few people would be able to quote these
measurements nowadays.
Table of Miscellaneous Articles
12 Dozen make a Gross.
A Weight is 256lb.
A Ton of Lead 19½ Cwt.
12 Barrels make a Last.
A Quire of Paper is 24 Sheets.
A Ream of Paper is 20 Quires.
A Bundle of Paper is 2 Reams.
A Bale of Paper is 10 Reams.
A Dicker of Hides is 10 Skins.
A Last of Hides is 20 Dickers.
A Dicker of Gloves is 10 Dozen Pairs.
A Firkin of Butter is 56lb.
A Firkin of Soap is 64lb.
A Tierce of Rice is about 5 Cwt.
A Barrel of Gunpowder is 1 Cwt.
A Last of Gunpowder 24 Barrels
A Pack of Wool is 240lb.
20 Stones of Flour make a Sack
A Load of Timber unhewed is 40 feet.
A Load of Bricks, 500 in number
A Load of Tiles, 1000 in number
A Load of Hay in London is nearly 18 Cwt.
A Chaldron of Coals in London is 36 Bushels
A Chaldron of Coals in Newcastle is 53 Cwt.
A Cart of Coals in Scotland is 12 Cwt.
A Quintel of Fish is 100.
A Barrel of Herrings 500.
Cade of Red Herrings 500.
A Grain of Gold is worth about 2d.
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