The papers of John Richard Toomey, a Lyttelton Harbour Board employee, was in charge of the Timeball Station, includes details of the arrival and departure of ships at Lyttelton Harbour including a manuscript (with a photocopy) concerning Boer/British disputes before the Boer War of 1899-1902 as well as some brief diary entries and other jottings. Also included are photographs (1880s-1981) of Lyttelton Harbour and of ships and wharves.

There are also press clippings, 1899 and 1961, concerning the balloon accident which killed Captain Charles Lorraine on November 2, 1899. The 1899 clipping, the Weekly Press, includes a photograph of John Richard Toomey.

There are no records for the period May 1891 to Dec. 1904 inclusive.