| Title: | McIlrath, James L to McIlrath family, 1874 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4505 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/24 |
| Year | 1874 |
| Sender | McIlrath, James L |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Southbridge, 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 | 542 |
| Genre | new railway, local economy, taxes, decease |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Southbridge Canterbury N.Z. September 6th 1874 Father Mother & Brothers I now write to let you know that we are all well and has been since last I wrote to you, and hopes you have all enjoyed the same blessing. I would have wrote before this only I thought to have all our likeness's to send you before this but there is no place we could get them nearer than Christchurch a distance of more than thirty miles so you can guess it is no easy task to take young ones so far but the railway is formed now right up to Southbridge and the telegraph is finished they are coming up fast with the sleepers and rails, it is expected to be opened for traffic by the first of February next we are within about two of your miles from the station so we will be able then to go to Christchurch and back in one day. I was thinking of getting a photographer up then and having house, garden and all taken and sending them to you. Times has never been better since we came here than they have been since last I wrote. Cattle is 75 per cent higher than they were two years ago Land property is one third higher than when last I wrote I would get fifteen pounds, £15 per acre now quick. There was a sale of town sections 1/2 acre each in the township of Southbridge by public auction August 27th which fetched up to £30, thirty pounds per half acre free forever all that is to pay here in the shape of taxes is one pound per house annually which is called school rates the bachelors dont like to pay that then there is a road rate levied according to the net annual value of property that is, what rent if let the property is worth supposing 100 acres to let at 10 shillings per acre and the rates be six pence in the pound it would amount to £1-5-0 but if one shilling rate £2-10-0 which is the highest rate levied and depends a great deal on the people themselves if they complain on the bad state of the roads and wants them repaired then a rate is levied by what is called the Road Board but no more than one shilling rate m one year. The Board receives so much yearly from Government and with the rates added is how the roads is kept up. The members of the board receives nothing for their service they keep a clerk to inspect the roads but very likely I have wandered off to what dont interest you. I bought three of the above sections I shall very likely put up some cottages on them and let them the emigrants is coming by thousands. And now for the family we have John, William and Jane one little girl died when six weeks old so I am not so far on as you were informed. John is named for father, Jane for mother and William for Agnes's father. Yours Jas. L. McIlrath. Please write soon and not take two or three months over it like I did. I must try and write a little oftener |
