| Title: | McIlrath, Hamilton to McIlrath, William, 1882 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4520 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/39 |
| Year | 1882 |
| Sender | McIlrath, Hamilton |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Kowai Pass, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Destination | Killinchy, Co. Down, Northern Ireland |
| Recipient | McIlrath, William |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 667 |
| Genre | family, politics, local economy |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Kowai Pass May 8th 1882 Dear Brother It is so long since I have heard from you now or wrote myself that I scarcely know how to commence. I have been waiting month after month and year after year I might say for an answer to a letter and a photograph of the house we sent you nearly three years ago and always expecting a letter every mail. The time has went by as you see however I write this hoping that Father and Mother and you all are in good health. We are all well and getting on pretty well as the home letters used to say more especially as far as family is concerned we have seven now five boys and two girls all healthy just the same as was of us I believe. I dont know whether it is two or three we have got since last we wrote however the names of the youngest three is - William, Harriett and Freddie - so many you see required one to look about for names. The two oldest boys is attending school we have a very large school within half a mile of us this part of the country where I live is very much changed since I came to it on an average you would not have met with a house within every four miles but now every inch of land is taken up, fenced and built upon and there is a large colliery about a mile from our house and only a road between the property it is on and my farm so you may guess it is not a dull place - for instance there was an election on Wednesday last for seven members to serve on the school committee when there was about 200 householders present. I secured a seat though competition was great. Speaking of elections I have for the last nine years been at the head of the poll as a member of the road Board never was defeated, but enough of this, I might write a great deal about people and things here which you not knowing them might not interest you. The grain and produce market has been pretty low this last few years, for instance beef at present is only 17/= per 100 lbs. mutton best 2d per lb. and pork 3d per lb. Wheat 4s-6d per 60 lbs. Oats is a fair price this season 3s-6d per bushel of 40 lbs. Horses very plentiful not half the price they were a few years ago. Brother James and family is well, I think I mentioned in my last that he had a very bad arm, it healed but shrivelled up so that it is but little use to him but he can do without working but it frets him a little as he was always used to be busy at something. He got Robert Matthews swamp farm and Robert went farther up country. Dear Brother receiving no answer to our last as I mentioned before has made us very anxious fearing something has happened, pray ask Father and Mother not to think me ungrateful or that I have forgotten them, that I shall never, write as soon as you get this and let me know how they are. God has spared them to a good old age and as it is likely we shall never meet again in this world I have a certain hope we shall all meet in a better where there is no parting. Remember us to John and his family and ask him to forgive me for not answering his letter but as soon as I hear from you all again I shall write to him. Cousin Robert and family is well. He sold his old place and bought a larger farm no more now but with kind love to Father and Mother and you all. I am their affectionate son and your brother Hamilton McIlrath Remember me to all enquiring friends. |
