| Title: | McIlrath, Hamilton to McIlrath, William, 1863 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4493 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/12 |
| Year | 1863 |
| Sender | McIlrath, Hamilton |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | cattle driver |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Rangiora, 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 | 441 |
| Genre | work, Maorie riots, family |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Rangiora, December 5th 1863 Dear Brother I write to let you know that I am well at present, and hopes you are the same. I should have wrote before this but there is nothing very pertinent to mention and James always lets you know how I am in his letters. I am always in the same place and getting on as usual. James and Wm. James Alexander came down to see me a month ago, they are both well and going to commence fencing in the section we bought. I think I shall stop where I am for a time yet. I like the place very well and gets the highest wages going £70 a year and Board and a bachelors life no woman in the house to trouble us. The Maories in the North Island has been very troublesome lately the more they are civilized the worse they get burning houses and killing the settlers. But I think they will be forced to give over soon, the Government gave grants of land to all the young men that would volunteer and has raised a force of about three thousand men besides 2 thousand from England they took one of their Pa's last week and killed 400 natives and took 500 prisoners they intend to give them a dressing before they have done with them that they shall remember. The very men that they entrusted most and thought they had made saints of they were the leaders of the rebellion. I expect Mother would like to see one of them with their face tattoed and all the Devices you could imagine painted on them and a Boars Tusk strung to their ear. I expect you have heard long before this that Robin Adair was killed by the kick of a horse he is buried close by where I am. This is our summer now and the commencement of Hay making. You will be thinking of what sports you will have for Christmas. Why dont John and Robert write and let me know how they are knocking along. I expect John will have as big a moustache as me that has not shaved this last two years. I have no more to say but with my warmest wishes for Father and Mother and you all I remain Affectionately Your Brother H McIlrath Remember me to Uncle William and Aunt Jane and all who wishes to be remembered you might write oftener you have got more interesting news than I have. You might direct your mail for me co Rangiora, Canterbury, New Zealand as I might be in Rangiora for some time yet. |
