Kaipara; or, experiences of a settler in North New Zealand

I will not weary the reader with an account of our journey from Auckland to our new property. As soon as I heard that the house was ready for occupation, we bade adieu to Parnel...

With the failure of the German preparation, my hopes of being made manager to the Fish Preserving Company vanished. I cannot say I had built much on it, so did not take the matt...

I am going to commence this chapter by confessing that I find myself in a difficulty. All my endeavours to secure an appointment had proved abortive. I am anxious to stick to fa...

A grand opportunity for an energetic bushranger might be found on the Pahi regatta and sports day, generally held in January. Then every one, masters, mistresses, children, and...

The news that greeted my ears the following morning on entering the breakfast room was that the all important buggy had arrived, and that we were to start as soon as possible in...

House hunting is not usually exciting sport, no matter how plentiful the game may be, and Cambridge I found very badly stocked. I travelled, I believe, over every inch of the sc...

This part of New Zealand, as well as suffering in common with the rest of the colony from the ravages of the political caterpillar, is a good deal troubled with other insects, a...

Although I had been defeated in my scheme of draining my orchards, I did not on that account give them up in despair, but endeavoured to improve the condition of each tree by li...

One evening, about three weeks after my return from Cambridge, a hansom cab drew up at our door, and from it descended my bearded friend of the Cambridge hotel. I introduced him...

At the commencement of this narrative, I expressed my opinion that persons fond of outdoor amusements, and with moderate incomes, would get on very well in New Zealand. Four or...

I trust the kind reader will excuse the somewhat sudden departure from my narrative to the forests of North New Zealand, which characterised the last chapter, and will now also...

Next morning, after an ample, and, I may say, luxurious breakfast, pipes were lighted and a start made for the property to be inspected--distant about three quarters of a mile--...

Whatever accusations of remissness and lack of zeal and energy may be brought against the New Zealand Government, no one can assert with any degree of truth, that the surveys of...

Sunday had now arrived--our first Sunday in Auckland. It is kept, as in England, as a day of rest, except by those unhappy individuals who are unfortunate enough to reside near...

The afternoon was closing in, so collecting the luggage required for immediate use, and locking the rest of our come-at-able belongings in our cabins, we made haste to get on bo...

The interview with the maternal parent proved thoroughly satisfactory, as did the maternal parent herself,--an elderly lady, neatly dressed in black, with silver grey hair, and...

At the end of my last chapter I remarked that we pay dearly enough for our laws out here, and I will now try and explain my reasons for so thinking. In my humble opinion, we are...

We are indeed very seldom troubled in the North Kaipara district with thieves or burglars. No one ever thinks of bolting a door, nor do people hesitate to vacate their habitatio...

It is not an imposing-looking thoroughfare. No indeed! and at the risk of catching it the next time I am down there, I repeat there is nothing imposing in it at all; neither the...

The hospital I have been all over, thanks to the courtesy of the resident physician, and I do not believe that for brightness, ventilation, and all other essentials, its wards a...

It does not often fall to my lot to do shopping--one reason being that my wife is fond of doing it herself, and another that I detest the occupation. It happened, however, a few...

Bad shots as the Maoris are generally considered, they are nevertheless very fond of sport, and are great fellows at horse leaping, running matches, and athletic amusements of a...

On the second day of July 1883, in company with my wife, six children, a servant girl, and a full-rigged sailing ship--captain, mates, doctor, and crew included--I, the writer o...

One evening, shortly after my adventures in the auction room, the servant girl we had brought from England with us asked my wife's permission to go out for an hour or two. This...

We had not been long settled in Matakohe when an invitation to a ball at Mr. M----'s was received, asking us to go early in the day, as the tide then suited best, to bring our e...

I must not lay down my pen without saying something about the New Zealand educational system, one of the best features in our colonial government, though possessing undoubtedly...

About a year ago the Government decided to create a new county, which was to be formed of the riding in which I reside, together with seven others. With this object eight counci...