| Title: | McIlrath, James L to McIlrath family, 1862 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4491 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/10 |
| Year | 1862 |
| Sender | McIlrath, James L |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | cattle driver |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Destination | Killinchy, Co. Down, Northern Ireland |
| Recipient | McIlrath family |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | son-parents |
| Source | |
| Archive | |
| Doc. No. | |
| Date | |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | |
| Log | unknown |
| Word Count | 1068 |
| Genre | work, prospects, local economy, account of the country, acquaintances |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Canterbury, September 8th 1862 Father Mother and Brothers, I received your letter dated 22nd June and was sorry to hear that you father had been ill but happy to hear that he is feeling better again. Your fears about us I am glad to inform you all was groundless we are in good health for my own part I never was better you would not believe that I am about 11/2 stone heavier than I was at home. It is a fact that I received your other letter on the 21st May and I sent it to Hamilton as he was thinking of writing home, I think he has wrote to you before this if you would write to him every second letter he would have a better chance of writing than waiting until I send them to him. We did leave the digging as we were afraid of the winter and well we did for it was a very severe one indeed both frost and snow. There was double the frost in one night than ever I seen at home. We both were placed directly. I had a letter from Hamilton. He was saying we should buy some land and I am glad he is in the same mind as myself. I don't know that we should live on it if we had it but we can not put the money to a better use. We can buy good land for £2 an acre free for ever flat and clean and we can let it on a purchasing clause. Many comes here with family and is not able to buy land for themselves. They rent it at a low rate of about 3 shillings an acre with a purchasing clause that is they pay the rent for 5 years at which period it is theirs for £5 an acre which is a good percentage for money expended on land and if anything happens in case of nonpayment of rent or refusal of purchase their improvements such as houses, fencing, breaking up and the like is the landowners. We intended to buy 100 acres for a beginning, land will be valuable here yet. There is some carrots on the place where I am about 41/2lbs weight, the second crop without manure. I am about 40 miles from Christchurch managing a dairy station of 50 cows. I have a horse to ride and my work is to take out the dry cows and fetch in the ones at the calving. Sometimes they are calved and then it is a task to get them in from the wild cows. There is no fences here in this run there is thirty thousand acres, there is about 1200 cattle 12000 sheep and about 100 horses not to mention the wild pigs that are here in any quantity and turns the land up for acres together in search of roots. The run holders has the land from government for about one penny per acre and some less it depends on how they stock it. The more stock the less rent - but any person can choose a piece of that land where he likes and buy it from government at £2 per acre which is the price of all government land title crown grant. The places here is from 5-10 miles apart there is not a house in view but one solitary shepherd's hut and that is on the other side of the river. I have been here six months and I have not seen above 20 different persons since but we are never less alone than when alone, I feel as happy as a king, I have not been to Church, mass or meeting but twice since I left home and that was in Australia. There is not a house of worship within 25 miles of me. I used to have some queer notions about religion and you need not be surprised if they are queer still (such as no personal Devil yet Devils many) I have Nature in her truest form and Revelation for my guide and with God for friend and Father I may be little worse than many who like the Parson's horse find their way to the church gate but then they leave their religion behind and if far from church be near grace. I am far enough from church but I sincerely believe New Zealand is as near heaven as any country. But for the people in it I can not say. You say there is a great many leaving for here I suppose Ireland will soon be abandoned altogether. I hear it is in a disturbed state up the country they have not forgot their old tricks they will be useful here to fight the Maories I hear the Secretary of War is for taking the soldiers from here and leaving the colonialists to fight for themselves. I have not seen Thomas Lemon nor Hans Shaw but I have seen a McClellan of Drumreagh that came with them I have not seen William Cooper yet I would much like to see him. I have seen William Gourley and family. He lives in Christchurch I have also seen David Moorehead Mrs and Mary Ann Moorehead now Mrs Skilling she is married to Sam Skilling. I have seen Robert I believe they are all here now I have also seen Thomas Logan William Adams John Heron and Thomas MaColloch. Miss Martin and Miss Thomson I met in Christchurch and thought I should know them but was not sure until later Miss Thompson was married to James Shaw, he is dead. Sarah McCafferty is married but I don't know who she has got. Mr W Jas Alexander is well he is a young man the longer I know I think the more of. We are all the same as brothers when we get together we can enjoy a good chat and the discourse is generally about scenes at home. I was sorry to hear of our Aunt's death. Hamilton never got that letter that I know of. When you write to me please add L or Logan to my name as there is another of the same name on the next station. He has opened three I got from Hamilton Christchurch Canterbury will find me at any time. Hoping you are well. I am yours affectionately James L Mcllrath |
