| Title: | McIlrath, James L to McIlrath family, 1876 |
|---|---|
| ID | 4512 |
| Collection | The McIlrath Letters: A family history in letters from New Zealand to Ireland (1860-1915) [Bassett, McKee et al.] |
| File | mcilrath/31 |
| Year | 1876 |
| 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 | 644 |
| Genre | new emigrant, family, acquaintances |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Southbridge January 11th 1876 Father, Mother and Brothers I now write to inform you that I received yours of October 24th ‘75 and was happy to learn that you received what I sent you without any trouble and may you all long enjoy a pleasant drive. You said that the Aulds was leaving Belfast for here and that you recommended Maggie to me. As soon as I received your letter I wrote to Mrs Smyth who takes care of the newly arrived girls until they find a situation. She is Mrs of the Emigration Depot, Christchurch I said that I expected a girl of the name of Maggie Auld to arrive per ship 'Conflict' from Belfast and that if she wished to find me to send her with the others that was coming to Southbridge. I also wrote a letter to Maggie in care of Mrs Smyth so that she might get it when she landed. Well I happened to be in Southbridge on the day that the others arrived there but no Maggie. I then telegraphed to Mrs Smyth to know where Maggie had got to and received in reply that she was engaged at the Club Hotel Rangiora. I then took the train next day and went right to the Hotel a distance of 48 miles and saw her there. She told me that Mrs Smyth never gave her my letter until she was leaving after being engaged I asked her if she would prefer going with me and she said she would but her Mrs when I asked her said that it would only be fair for Maggie to stop a month as she was engaged and give them a chance to get another and Maggie to let her Brothers know that she was leaving and if they were willing that she would at the end of the month see Maggie on the train for me at Christchurch. Rangiora is 18 miles on one side of Christchurch and Southbridge 30 by railway on the other. So if all goes well I expect her in 3 weeks. You will see by a clipping the account of the passage it was pretty good 83 days. By another you will see the Death of Thomas Logan I am not certain but I believe it is the same as I never knew any other. I wish to inform you that Mr Robert Matthews is leaving here on Monday the 14th for Sydney and will sail from there on March 1st by steamer for London calling at Cape of Good Hope 2 days to coal she is expected to go to London in less than 50 days in all. Robert is going to give you a call we had all the family in the room I now write together with. John Skilling and Mrs or what was Mary Ann Moorhead on Wednesday Night last and this night Friday we are going to Southbridge Hotel to have a Public Dinner before he leaves there is over 40 persons invited (men only) I hope he may arrive safe he will stop a week in London with an Uncle then to Belfast I think you may expect him in the last week of April the same steamer came out in 431/2 days last trip he will be with you perhaps as soon as this letter he will be able to tell you all about New Zealand he is coming out again. Hoping you all may enjoy a good chat with one so nearly connected and qualified to give you a good idea of Colonial life. I must once more take my leave in the hope that you are one and all well. PS I see that I have not mentioned that Mr Matthews is brother to my Mrs you will know now. I remain yours affectionately James L McIlrath |
