A - Arrival

It is Family History month in Australia and New Zealand, so I have given myself a challenge. (Hope I can do it) Here is the start:

Auckland 17 September 1862.

What sight greeted the passengers on board the Hanover ? One hundred and ten days after their departure from the East India Docks in London on May 29^th, they anchored off Fort Britomart at 10pm.[1] Did the passengers stay below deck ? Or had they ventured out into the night to see ? But what was there to see ?

There would be no blazing lights from buildings and the port as there is today. Auckland was a city just beginning, not much more than 20 years old. The capital though and with a fast growing population. At the census on December 1, 1861 the population of European settlers in the entire province (which at this time included Mongonui; Bay of Islands; Marsden; Northern Division; City of Auckland East; City of Auckland West; Parnell; Newton; Pensioner Settlements; Onehunga; Franklin; Raglan) was 24,420.[2] By the next census on December 1, 1864 it would swell 42,132.[3] The 345 voyagers on board the Hanover numbering just some of the many shiploads of eager free settlers making their way across the world to the new colony.[4]

A city, not large by any means or bustling and crowded like the last they saw in England. Larger though, than the market town they had left behind in Somerset.

I imagine my great-great-grandparents and their fellow passengers, trying to settle their children to sleep for what would be their last night on board in cramped conditions. In an area not much larger than a double bed, packed with their belongings and themselves, where they endured rolling seas and by all accounts some weeks of heavy gales on their voyage.[5] My family on board were my great-great-grandparents and six boys aged 3-12, four of whom along with their father had celebrated birthdays during the voyage. Imagine the excitement levels of those boys. Did their parents have any misgivings ? What were their expectations ? Did they worry that they may have made a poor choice ? Did they have a back up plan ? My great-great-grandmother must have felt some relief knowing that in a few short hours they would all have a little more space, although that sudden loss of confinement could bring some worries of its own with a group of inquisitive, adventurous boys.

Looking west over Official Bay, Auckland, showing trading vessels in the bay, and St Paul's Anglican Church and Fort Britomart in the background. Photograph taken in 1864 by Daniel Manders Beere.[6]

I suspect they were all up with their fellow passengers at daybreak to see what they could see. Accommodation had been secured for the travellers at the government immigration barracks in Freeman’s Bay.[7] There I imagine, there would have been much socialising and chatter with those in their party who had arrived ten days earlier on the Matilda Wattenbach. Comparing voyage experiences and acquainting themselves with the fledgling city; discussing the plans to reach their final destination. Were they perturbed to learn of the unrest amongst their fellow Non-Conformist settlers ?

It was spring. A time heralding new beginnings. But would Albertland be the new beginning they hoped for ?

---

[1] 'Maritime Record', New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1725, 20 September 1862, p.3.

[2] Statistics New Zealand, 'The New Zealand Official Year Book 1864', https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1864-statistics-NZ/1864-statistics-NZ.html#idsect2_1_119, Accessed 31 July 2020.

[3] Statistics New Zealand, 'The New Zealand Official Year Book 1864'.

[4] 'Maritime Record', New Zealander, p.3.

[5] 'Maritime Record', New Zealander, p.3.

[6] Official Bay, Auckland. Ref: 1/2-096113-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. https:natlib.govt.nz/records/23205636

[7] New Zealand Geographic, 'The PromisedLand', https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/the-promised-land/, Accessed 31 July 2020.

Where to next ? I asked...

Puhoi, that's where.

We have seen that sign so many times driving north and always thought - one day.

Well, today was also One Day. What a cute wee town. We'll be going again I think to check out the General Store, Hotel and Cafe. If I won Lotto, maybe I'd live there. Probably too close to Auckland to consider seriously though, pretty sure it would be way outside my budget.

October is almost over

It has been a month, since we moved into a new home for "now". This house is not as great as our Christchurch home. In fact the owners seem to be like chalk and cheese. Where our Christchurch landlords loved and cherished their former home, and were quick to address any problems, this one seems to be a moneymaking scheme and no pride is taken in it's appearance. For less rent than we were paying in Christchurch this one has been a bit of a disappointment so far.

Still, we are comfortable enough - even though the kitchen is a nightmare (ONE power outlet and a rubbish oven), and the water pressure in the bathroom is pretty much a joke. I just don't get landlords who spend nothing on their property. Don't they realise it would increase resale value, and maybe even get better tenants in the future ?

Psst, been here a month and only just realised we can see this from where we park the cars. Doh !

Also have noticed a few other things about life up here in the big smoke:

• The traffic isn't as bad as what everyone tells you
• There are amazing parks - everywhere !
• Public transport is pretty good, so far
• Farro is like Moore Wilson but there are more of them
• There is an ACTUAL Park and Ride (at the airport) - like a real one as in "they are everywhere in the UK"
• The dawn chorus is really noisy - it is ages since we've been woken by such chatty avians
• There are birds everywhere, I'd forgotten how noisy Mynahs are since there are none in Wellington or the South Island
• It rains - we've had more precipitation in a month than we had in the whole year we were in Christchurch. Mostly only drizzly showers, but a few proper heavy downpours. I've missed that.

I would just like to say as well, that job searching is not my favourite thing.

Change

I'm being a bit rubbish about keeping up to date with all the happenings lately.

So, here goes:

1. Christchurch is no longer my home - it was great while it lasted, but circumstances made it hard to want to try and stay. Jobs with a predetermined end date, rents which were out of my reach if it was just going to be me.

2. I think Marlborough/Nelson/Tasman could be my home one day - so much amazing scenery.

3. Auckland is my home now. Just as expensive as Christchurch for not as great quality, so we are still housemates for as long as it takes to get on our feet separately.

4. There are new places to explore.

5. My life is still in boxes...

So anyway, today we went on a bit of an explore because we have to go driving to get used to the traffic, and check that the Navman can cope with it even when we can't.

So first we went to Parnell for Pizza. At Sals. We'd tried it once before on the Shore, but this was closer, and we just wanted one slice. 

'Cos that is all you need believe me.

Then we went for a walk up through the shops. It still has that village feel which is nice, so close to the craziness that is the CBD. We happened upon these guys painting a mural. SO clever.

 then we had us some gelato

and went on a l-o-n-g drive to find the lighthouse at Manukau Heads. 

It would have been prettier on a nicer day, but it was on the list of free things to do in Auckland - so we have done it now. It was free (well a donation to go in to the lighthouse) but there isn't anything else much to do once you get all the way there...and then there is the cost of petrol. Hmmm.