8. Winter in Lyttelton
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8
Winter in Lyttelton
17th May - 31st August 1850
MR GODLEY has arrived in New Zealand and, after a few days visiting Otago and Lyttelton, is now living in Wellington. He has taken over the duties formerly performed for the Association by Mr Fox, the New Zealand Company's Principal Agent in the colony. As expected, the Association's lack of funds has led to the stoppage of public works in the Canterbury Settlement, which is temporarily in the doldrums. The district surveys have been completed and town sites laid out, but in spite of much labour and money expended on the Sumner Road there is still no means of access for wheeled traffic from the port to the plains. Torlesse and Boys elect to remain in Lyttelton and occupy themselves as best they can, plotting their recent surveys and working unpaid in Thomas's office.
17th May. SW. Fog. I rode to Lyttelton. Dined at Captain Thomas's; put up at the Mitre. 1 Capt. Thomas offered the boathouse as our winter residence. Boys brought our boat to the paddle 2 and reached Deans'.
18th. NE. Cloudy. Dined at Cridland's. Boys arrived at Lyttelton.
19th. Sunday. Calm. Very fine. On board the Alpha and saw Murphy 3 of old renown at Nelson. Dined at the Doctor's.
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MAY - JUNE 1850
20th. NE. Fine. SW. afternoon. Stormy. Dined at Ballard's.
21st. SW. Showery. The Alpha sailed for Wellington with our men. Boys started to inspect Nankeville's 4 contract. Dined Doctor.
22nd. Light NE. Cloudy and fine. Moved into the Boathouse. Captain Thomas to Akaroa.
23rd. Light NE. Very fine. Calculating the Oxford Trig. Cridland dinner. Evening with Gartner 5 at Woods'.
24th. NE. Cloudy. Calculating the Oxford Trig. Met Doctor at Mr Golland's.
25th. S. Rain. Calculating the Oxford Trig. Shipped Harper as cook.
26th. Sunday. SW. Stormy. Went to Cridland's. Doctor and Gollan dined. Calculating 12 trig, sides.
27th. Light SW. Rainy. Calculating the Oxford Trig, sides. Called at Ballard's.
28th. SW. Fine. Rain evening. Gale set in. Calculating Oxford Trig. Cridland called. Ballard dined.
29th. SW. Fine. Calculating the Oxford Trig. Capt. Thomas and Jollie returned from Akaroa.
30th. Calm. Very fine. Calculating Oxford Trig. I dined at Capt. Thomas's.
31st. Light SW. Cloudy. Boys returned from the examination of Nankeville's survey. Hughlings stayed with us.
1st June. Calm. Very fine. I started to the Courtenay to fetch in our boat, which no person would undertake to do under £4. Engaged Weston, Denby and Baxter for the trip. Reached Tinui's place a little after dark.
2nd. Sunday. Calm. Very fine. Crossed the bar safely, and reached Lyttelton at 3 p.m.
3rd. Calm. Fine.
4th. Calm. SW. afternoon. Calculating Oxford Trig. In
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the afternoon rode with Captain Thomas along the Christchurch Road and returned by Mt Pleasant. Evening at Cridland's.
[No entry for 5th June]
6th. SW. Rain. Calculating Oxford Trig.
7th. SW. Showery. In the office helping Jollie in reduction of the Acheron's map of the harbour. Doctor and Jollie in the evening.
8th. SW. Showery. In office--ditto--ditto.
9th. Sunday. Light NE. Very fine. Boys and I went over to Purau in the boat; first attempt at sailing in her. Evening at Captain Thomas's.
10th. NE. Very fine. Captain Thomas and Jollie started for Otago. I ranged the line of sea wall with Gaertner.
11th. Calm. Very fine. I levelled line of sea wall. Then with Doctor and Boys to the head of the bay pig-hunting. No success.
12th. Light NE. Foggy. Read Dombey and Son, and getting out books. Harper discharged himself.
13th. Light NE. Foggy. Captain Mitchell and Mr Dashwood arrived from Deans', having had a miserable trip from Motenau. 6 They reported Capt. Thomas and Jollie having lost their horses and being obliged to give up the Otago trip.
14th. SW. Rain. The Cutter Catherine Johnstone arrived. No mail--which was in the Henry--sailed 4 days before the former.
15th. SW. Showery. Cass and Hughlings arrived from the plain.
16th. Sunday. Calm. Very fine. Capt. Mitchell, Dash-wood, Boys and I walked to Evans' Pass by the road and returned by Mt Pleasant.
17th. Light SW. Very fine. Capt. Mitchell, Dashwood, Hughlings, Cass, Boys and I started in our boat to Pigeon
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JUNE 1850
Bay. Hughlings 7 fell overboard. Reached Mrs Sinclair's by 5 p.m. Offley and Fortitude (whalers) at anchor. 8
18th. Calm. Very fine. Captain Mitchell stayed to proceed to Wellington by the Fortitude. The rest of us returned to Lyttelton. Hughlings immediately hired a boat and returned also to proceed by the Fortitude. Ned Cummerfield drunk and deserted the house.
19th. Light NE. Very fine. Dashwood and I walked to Sumner and returned by Mt Pleasant. 21 in the evening.
20th. Light NE. Very fine. Cridland dined with us. 21 in the evening. Shipped John Cameron. 9
21st. Light NE. Very fine. Doctor, Dashwood, Cass, Boys and I trip to Gleig's Island 10 to see the basaltic rock.
22nd. Light NE. Very fine. Took a walk to Mt Pleasant to look out for vessels. Dined at the Doctor's.
23rd. Sunday. Light NE. Very fine. Boys and I with Gouland, Doctor, Dashwood, Cass and Jollie to Rhodes'-- and returned.
24th. NE. Very fine. Golland dined with us. The Shagaroon 11 launched (1st vessel out of Port Victoria).
25th. Strong NE. Fine. A fine fresh NE. breeze. Went out boat-sailing. In the evening to Compton's...
26th. Light SE. Fine. The Shagaroon left for Wellington. Dashwood on board--to be landed at Flaxburn. Wrote to C. G. T.
Port Victoria.
24th June, 1850.
My dear Mother,
I have put off writing from day to day being in constant expectation of hearing some news to write to you about, and now on the point of a vessel sailing for Wellington will try and fill up a sheet.
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We left off work and arrived at Lyttelton on the 17th May. Boys and I offered to work in the survey office during the winter, on the chance of being paid when operations were resumed. We thought this would be better policy, both as regarded present expense and future prospects, than going to Wellington or Nelson for the time. Captain Thomas entertained our proposal and lent us a house built for the boat's crew, in which we have made ourselves as snug as possible. We do not work regularly in the office, but occasionally take a trip in our boat or a walk over the hills to catch pigs and get firewood, by way of exercise.
As you may imagine, we are not very lively here now with no work, my arrears of salary not paid up, and some uncertainty as to succeeding under Mr Godley if the affair goes on. But we make ourselves as contented as possible under the circumstances.
Captain Mitchell 12 and Mr Dashwood have lately arrived here overland from Nelson, after a six weeks' trip: they brought a horse and mule with them and appear to have found a very practicable road for driving stock. Unfortunately they have made no sketch of the country, so that their journey is not so much beneficial to the public as to themselves exclusively. For I imagine that it would be unwise to attempt driving stock down without either a guide or a map of the country. Everybody but the present holders of stock in this place is pleased enough at the discovery as the Nelson people will be able to dispose of their fat stock, and the early settlers here will not have to pay a ruinous price for their meat. The explorers have been staying with us since their arrival here, and are very agreeable men with plenty of energy, or rather power of endurance, tinged with a feeling of indifference. Captain Mitchell is on leave and will shortly return to India to join his regiment, and then I suppose sell out and settle at Canterbury. Dashwood is a sheep farmer at the Wairau and will probably drive sheep down here next summer. They both took the trip for the sake of adventure and to see the country, and the latter started at an hour's notice.
Captain Thomas started the other day to ride down to Otago, but lost his horses and was obliged to put back...
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JUNE - JULY 1850
I believe Mr Godley is very well pleased with the progress of works here, but his stay was so short 13 that he could hardly have grasped the whole affair. We are glad enough that he is at Wellington acquiring some practical colonial knowledge before he comes down here to manage business. Edward Jerningham is expected down here by the Poictiers, and that is the sum total of our information as to future movements, for the vessel from Wellington with mails is either lost or windbound: we have had no communication with any of the settlements since we came to town. You can perceive that I am writing against time--the vessel is getting under weigh (a cutter that was wrecked here and has been repaired by 2 of the Hobart Town carpenters) and I must close this miserable scrawl--in fact without the excitement of your letters to answer I have no spirit for writing.
With most affectionate love to all,
your ever affc. son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
27th. Light NE. Very fine. Calculating Oxford Trig. To Capt. Thomas's in the evening. Heard about Dashwood's showing the former up, &c.
28th. Light NE. Very fine. Calculating Oxford Trig. Sam Taylor and Harris arrived from Motenau. 14 Paid Harris £3 left by Captain Mitchell. They had no success in search after Mitchell's horses.
29th. NW. and NE. Very fine. SW. evening. The cutter Sarah Berry and schooner Henry arrived from Wellington, out 3 weeks. Major Hornbrook in Henry. No news or letters of consequence; goods for Boys and me from Wellington.
30th. Sunday. SW. Showery. SW. gale set in. To Capt. Thomas's in evening.
1st July. Light SW. Showery. Calculating Oxford Trig. Doctor, Cass and Jollie to dine in the evening. The Catherine Johnstone sailed for Wellington.
2nd. SW. Showery. Light SW. gale. Attempted boat race
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between ours and the Major's--our mast carried away. To Cridland's in the evening.
3rd. Light SW. Fine. The Sarah Berry sailed for Goashore. 15 Captain Thomas to Akaroa, thence to Otago by the Return. Caverhill arrived from Motenau, and stopped at our place.
4th. Calm. Fine. Cass to Otago in the Henry. Goulan, 16 Gaertner and Alport in the evening.
5th. Calm morning. SW. evening. Boys and I started to Riccarton for a few days shooting, also Caverhill on his return to Motenau. Gibie and Manson arrived at Deans' with calves.
6th. NE. Very fine. Boys and I shot 15 brace of quails (NW. from Deans'). Caverhill to Motenau. Gibie and Manson returned home.
7th. Sunday. NE. Very fine. Remained at Riccarton.
8th. Strong NE. Very fine. North Wester among the mountains. Boys and I shot 25 brace of quails. 17
9th. NW. Fine. Boys and I walked down the Heathcote, and I then round by the lagoon and Christchurch; only shot 2 brace of ducks.
10th. SW. Rain. At Riccarton. Remained indoors.
11th. SE. and NE. Foggy. In the morning Boys and I shooting in Christchurch park--4 brace of quail. Deans killed a bullock. In the afternoon I walked to town--nearly benighted.
12th. Light NE. Foggy and rain. Reading Memoir of Sir T. Fowell Buxton and making up my accounts, &c. To Cridland's in the evening.
13th. Light SW. Fog and rain. Reading Memoir of Sir T. F. Buxton. To the Doctor's in the evening.
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JULY 1850
14th. Sunday. Light SW. Showery. Went out in the boat with Gaertner and Day. 18 Finished reading the Memoir of Sir Fowell Buxton. To Mr Gouland's in the evening.
15th. Light SW. Showery. Heavy rain at night. Remained at home, reading old letters, &c. To Ballard's in the evening.
16th. Light SW. Showery. Boys returned from Riccarton with 1 1/2 brace quail and 1 1/2 brace ducks, paradise.
17th. Light SW. Showery. Boys and I working at the Trig, Boys plotting the three districts to 1 inch, I finishing up the calculations. Jollie to dinner. Doctor and Day to Pigeon Bay with prisoners.
18th. Strong SW. Rain and sleet. Snow during night. Strong SW. gale, miserable cold wet day. Boys and I walked along the road, and [calculated] Oxford Trig., &c. Snow fell at night but did not remain on the level of beach.
19th. SW. Showery. Strong NE. evening. Boys and I at the Oxford Trig. I to Cridland's in the evening.
20th. NE. and SW. Fine. Boys and I Oxford Trig. Jollie and I played quoits. To dinner at the Doctor's.
21st. Sunday. Calm. Very fine. In boat with Doctor, Cridland and Jollie to see the cataract on opposite side of the harbour.
22nd. Strong SW. Rain and sleet in squalls. Squally South Wester. Boys and I went out boatsailing--got into an awful mess and ran back under the jib. Oxford Trig calculations.
23rd. NE. Very fine. Oxford Trig calculations. To Cridland's in evening.
24th. Light NE. Very fine. The Return arrived from Otago with Capt. Thomas, Cass, Wait, Suisted, 19 and houses &c. which had been shipped for California. 20
25th. Light NE. Very fine. Boys and I with Wait, Cass,
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Suisted, Doctor to Gibie's and Manson's. In the evening Captain Warren Richards and MacDonald and Doctor at our place.
26th. Light NE. Very fine. Wait, Capt. Thomas and Jollie to Motenau. 21 Suisted and Cass to Deans'.
John Deans arrived in the Woodbridge, 700 [tons], Captain Coppell, from Sydney, with:--
Shipped 600 Sheep 170 Cattle 12 Horses
Landed 582 [sheep] 165 [cattle] 12 [horses]
27th. Light NE. morning. SW. afternoon. Fine. Heavy SW. and rain at night. Landing sheep and cattle with White's, Major's, 22 Ship's, and our boat. In evening returned to Lyttelton. Gibbie and Manson staid at our place. William Deans 23 arrived on board the Woodbridge. Received a letter per Woodbridge (via Sydney) 24th December'49.
Port Victoria.
15th July 1850.
My dear Mother,
About three months has now elapsed since I received letters from you, and also since we heard anything as to the prospects of this settlement. You will therefore imagine that everybody is becoming intensely anxious for news, especially as most of us ground our probable views in life upon the turn events take with respect to Canterbury. I have hitherto shrunk from writing to you (with the exception of a miserable scrawl on the 26th of June)--but have at last determined, partly for my own relief, and partly for the sake of adherence to our bargain, to run the risk of tiring you with whatever rubbish may come to hand.
Boys and I have been sorely disappointed at not being employed as Captain Thomas promised during the winter, but
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JULY 1850
are satisfied in the belief that he can only be actuated by motives of caution, which nevertheless ought not to have influenced him, as, if the settlement went on, our work would turn to good account, and if it did not, we should have no claim whatever upon the Association for pay. They have not yet paid our last two months' salary: and I have not had any confirmation, private or official, of my father's statement as to my renewed appointment by the Association at home. Captain Thomas promises his endeavour to get my back salary paid, but I trust much more to Mr Godley's sense of justice and honour than I do to the former's promises, which I am afraid too much resemble pie-crust.
You can hardly imagine how anxiously everybody is looking forward to Mr Godley's arrival, for Thomas is a man in whom no-one can place any dependence, so much is he actuated upon by caprice and impulse of the moment: but people feel that in Mr Godley they will have a person on whom they can rely--in fact, a gentleman...
You will be curious to know how I have passed my time since leaving off work which was at the end of May. During Dashwood's stay with us everyday was a dies non, as I was devoted to making him comfortable, and finding him amusement, which consisted chiefly of rambling over the hills or boat-sailing. Since his leaving Boys and I have been staying a week at Mr Deans' to have some shooting. In two days we bagged 40 brace of quails to a puppy of mine which in point of training and power of work, Boys, who is a great sportsman, says is not excelled by an English pointer. Besides stocking our own larder with quails and ducks we have sent round a few couple to our friends; and I assure you the quails are in great favour. I consider them, if properly cooked, quite equal to a partridge.
My general time is spent in reading, walking or boating, and unless we have anybody at our house in the evening, spending it with some of the Lyttelton swells whom I will enumerate: Mr Gouland, the magistrate. Collector of Customs. Postmaster. &c.. Captain Thomas. Doctor Donald, and Cridland.
I have just finished the Memoir of Sir T. Fowell Buxton, which I chanced to find (together with Louisa's kind present) in Captn Thomas's bookshelf...
I have planted some of the seeds in Mrs Godley's garden, some at Mr Deans', and the rest at the Doctor's.
27th. Since writing the above, by the merest accident I found the box of tree and other seeds, with which I am very
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much pleased. I have already planted some, and intend to finish doing the rest at Deans'.
John Deans has just arrived from Sydney. He has had an unusually long and bad passage (a month on board, the cattle 6 weeks) but has been very successful in bringing the stock in good order. He has selected 600 sheep and 180 head of cattle, from the best flocks in Australia--those of the Australian Agricultural Company--and has only lost 20 sheep and 5 head of cattle, the latter compensated by three births. He has also 11 brood mares, and a capital hack he has been good enough to purchase for me. I have been for two days past helping landing them in our boat from daylight to dark, and have been glad enough of the work... Tomorrow we hope to finish. Three large boats and a dinghy have been kept constantly employed.
I may say something more by this mail; but just close this up now in case I may not be able to write further by the vessel now going to Port Nicholson. We are tantalized by having heard of the arrival at Nelson of the Poictiers--but her mail has yet to come.
With kindest love to everybody and many thanks for the seeds.
Ever your affectionate Son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
I am too tired to write to any of my sisters by this mail.
28th. Sunday. Strong SW., morning, rain. Fine afternoon. Calm. Dirty morning with squalls of rain and sleet. Landing cattle. I came over to the town for more boats, and returned. Landed 82 cattle.
29th. Calm. Very fine. Finished landing the cattle, and then the 12 horses. On his first trip with the horses the Major lost my horse and had some adventure chasing him about the harbour. He at last went ashore on the roughest part of the rocks, but did not hurt himself at all. Paid J. Deans £20 for my horse. Large party playing cards in the evening.
30th. Strong NE. Very fine. Burt, Cridland, Boys and I walked over the hills to see the cattle and horses. Awful noise at our house at night.
31st. Calm. Very fine. I went on board the ship with W. Deans and Burt and brought ashore brandy and 3 lbs cheroots and 5 lbs tobacco. Evening at Gollands.
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AUGUST 1850
1st August. Light NE. Very fine. W. Deans, Rhodes, Burt, Boys and I went over the hills to see the cattle. The horses were secured in Mt Pleasant stockyard; and I took my horse Bobby down to Lyttelton and put him into the Association's stable.
W. Deans and Burt and Boys caught the runaway sailor from the Woodbridge after a gallant chase. John Deans went round to Riccarton by White's boat. Spent the evening at the Major's. The Maria Josephine arrived from Port Nicholson.
2nd. Light SW. Foggy. Wrote letters to Hamilton, Murphy, C. G. T. and Lyon enclosing a cheque for £6, the whole in Suisted's care.
W. Deans, Burt, Cass and I on board the Woodbridge and returned in the ship's boat. John Deans returned from the plain.
Port Victoria.
2nd August 1850.
My dear Mother,
I now write another line as a postscript to mine of 15th July as I am anxious to embrace an excellent opportunity of sending to you by a quick conveyance. The Woodbridge, a very fine vessel of 800 tons burden, which has just brought down Mr Deans' cattle, sails direct for India, and Captain Coppell is kind enough to offer to post any letters there we may wish to have forwarded...
We have been busy ever since with the cattle: and besides, the cares of housekeeping are just now very onerous as we have four visitors--both the Deans. John Deans has brought me a capital horse, for which as he brought it as a favour, he has only charged me £20. His original cost in Sydney was £12, and the other £8 covers stabling there and the passage down.
If it had been a matter of sale I should have had to pay £30, so that I am well pleased with my bargain. You can understand how much I look forward to gallopping him over the plains. Deans paid from £5 to £17 for his horses at Sydney--common and good farmer's hacks sell there for £5.
I have received by the Woodbridge your letter by way of Sydney of the 14th December--the Poictiers mail had not reached Wellington last Sunday when the Maria Josephine (just arrived here) left that place. You do not give me much information about the doings of the Association. I hope my father will (even at the cost of some trouble) consider well about the Nelson landorders. If he had made them over to
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me before, I should have laid the foundation of an independence; and they are worth nothing to him mismanaged as they are by his agents. But it may not be too late yet. I am also very anxious to know whether my father has bought me a section here. You do not appear to have received a tracing of this district which I prepared very carefully for my father and sent off on the 9th June'49.
By the next vessel I hope to receive some of the wedding cake. 24 We are going to make the round of the settlers here by way of change. Tell Henry 'To never say "die" while there's a shot in the locker.'
Your ever affectionate Son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
3rd. Calm. Very fine. Captain Coppell came down to the town in his own boat, and took me, Burt and Cass on board the Woodbridge. Cridland, Burt and I returned in our boat in the evening. To Cridland's in evening. Ship fired 3 guns on our leaving. Gave Capt. Coppell a letter for C. G. T. to be posted in India.
4th. Sunday. SW. Very fine. W. Deans, Boys, Burt and I up early and on board the Woodbridge to breakfast. She got under weigh at 12 noon, fired 2 guns (bound to Guam or elsewhere), and we pulled up to the town.
Burt thrown from the pony.
5th. Light SW., morning. Light NE., afternoon. Very fine. W. & J. Deans and I over the hills to count the sheep--66 were missing and we had a long search. Nearly all were found.
Captain Thomas and Jollie returned from Motenau and Oxford. The Maria Josephine sailed for Otago.
6th. Calm. Very fine. Strong NW. at night. William and John Deans and Burt to Riccarton. The two latter to drive the newly landed cattle, and William the sheep by way of Sumner. Cass remained with us. I turned Bobby out to grass.
7th. Strong SW. Heavy squalls with rain. Remained indoors all day. Cridland came to our place in the evening.
8th. Calm. Very fine. Captain Gay 25 and Sinclair came
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AUGUST 1850
from Pigeon Bay to fetch the Doctor. Received a curious note from Captain Thomas. Boys and I in our boat to Gebbie's.
9th. Fresh NE. Very fine. Boys, Gebbie and I walked and rode over to Archy McQuoean, 26 (Gebbie's Out Station) and to the Lake to shoot ducks--no success.
10th. Calm. Very fine. Walked up to the bush above Gebbie's and to Manson's.
11th. Sunday. NW. Very fine. Returned to Lyttelton. Walked along the road as far as Polhill's. 27
12th. NW. Very fine. Evening SW. rain. I got Bobby shod and watched the whole operation myself. The Doctor and Jollie to cards in the evening.
13th. Strong SW. Rain and sleet. Strong South Wester, with squalls of rain and sleet, and snow on the hills. Boys and I finishing plot of Oxford Trig., &c. To the Doctor's in the evening.
14th. NE. Very fine. Boys and I to Riccarton. I rode Bobby for the first time. W. Deans away at the hill station with the new sheep.
15th. Light NE. Very fine. Boys and I with Burt in the direction of the old cultivation (W), took a stroll and killed 12 1/2 brace of quails and one duck.
16th. Light SW. Very fine. Boys and I in direction of No. 3 shooting. Killed 22 1/2 brace of quails.
17th. Strong NE. Very fine. Went out riding with Boys and the horsebreaker, gallopping down the base line &c. Killed a maori dog that had been worrying Deans' sheep.
18th. Sunday. Light NW. Fine. Took a walk round the Riccarton Farm, and fired the grass.
19th. Strong NE. Foggy. Boys and I in direction of Nos. 4 and 2 Christchurch shooting and killed 18 brace of quail and 2 ducks. W. Deans returned from the hills.
20th. NE. Very fine. Boys and I duck shooting on the Avon. Boys shot 4 and got one, I shot 7 and got 5--bagged 3 brace. Boys' mare got swamped, but easily extricated.
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21st. Light SW. to South. W. at Riccarton, NE. at sea, NW. hills. Very fine. Boys and I returned to Lyttelton.
22nd. Light SW. Fine. Finishing up the Oxford Trig.
23rd. Light NE. Very fine. Ditto. Ditto. To Ballard's in the evening.
24th. NE. Fine. SW. evening. Rain. Finishing up the Oxford Trig. In evening to Cridland's.
25th. Sunday. Light NE. Light W. Light SW. Fine. Cloudy afternoon. Boys and I walked by Evans Pass and Mt Pleasant.
26th. NE. Very fine. NW. evening. Finished the Oxford Trig.
27th. Strong SW. Rain and hail. Strong South Wester with snow on the high hills of Peninsula. The Torrington arrived in harbour in the night and anchored at Lyttelton by 5 p.m. Captain Mitchell with 34 head of cattle and Mr Woodhouse, 28 also the baggage of Mr Pollard, 29 a Canterbury Settler to be.
28th. Light SW. Very fine. Received letters from C. G. T., C. M. T. and sisters, &c., and Henry Chapman--Poictiers mail Also from Edward Ward 30 (old Stanmore schoolfellow). Wedding cake from Emily.
In the afternoon the Mariner, last from Otago, came to an anchor just inside the heads, landed her mail and started again to Wellington.
Mr Mackworth, son of Sir Digby Mackworth and cousin of my old friend Herbert (Blackheath and Wiesbaden) passenger to Canterbury, but went on to take ship to the Auckland Islands to see his cousin.
Sent letters off to Cass and Deans. The Doctor returned from Pigeon Bay. Mitchell stayed at our place. To Cridland's in the evening.
29th. Light NE. Very fine. Received letters and newspapers
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AUGUST 1850
per Mariner. Walked with Mr Woodhouse and Doctor by road to Sumner, and returned by Mt Pleasant Spur.
John Deans, Cass and Burt to Lyttelton. Transaction with Pratt. 31 Woodhouse and Mitchell dined with us, Cass and Burt slept.
Received 3 pr. boots from Nelson and 30 gallons Nelson ale.
30th. Light NE. Very fine. Cass to Riccarton. Deans and Burt to Gibie's. We put them to Gleig's Island and beat back-- thoroughly drenched.
31st. Light NE. Very fine. Captain Mitchell and Mr Woodhouse preparing for a start. I packing up curiosity case-making lists, &c., &c.
