1892

Lovely adverts in these diaries eg “Australian Irrigation Colonies” as an investment to grow grapes and fruit for trade in wine and fruit for GB and the colonies.

Address of a Mrs W O Story, Yerton, S St, Double Bay, Sydney NSW.

Robert spent Christmas and New Year at Clifton with his mother and sisters and Vida, engaged to Helen Beckwith since last August. Back at Highfield (Winchester) he walked with Helen every day and they went skating and to concerts etc.

He mentions a letter from Os and Olave on Feb 1^st, also (at Bathhampton) he found the grave of a Capt Thomas Story, 20^th Regt who died of yellow fever in Jamaica. He spent his time between Clifton and Winchester, going for walks — to Bristol, to Portishead etc! — every day and writing to Helen every day when away. At a party with Charlie and Fran they played “French Blind Man’s Bluff” [now what is that?] On another day read German as usual with Fran. Went to a large ball at Victoria Rooms given by Ladies of Clifton. Good dance, bed 5am.

March 15^th they heard that Olave was expecting. Robert was at Clifton but sent for his box of baby linen from Winchester presumably to send on, sad for him.

March 17 Shamrock came from Bingfield [!].

March 29 Police officers called about my dog tax again [dog called Jack].

He sent all Flore’s old diaries to her father.

April 12 Telegram asking me to join at once. Ordered a new fatigue cap, but Butler cannot lend me his busby. (Camp was at Barnet).

19^th Train to Norwood and took Vida to the Crystal Palace to see Electrical Exhibition [I am sure she was thrilled!].

May 23^rd Robert sold his steam engine from Winchester, and transferred from Barnet to Aldershot. On June 8 he was back at the Aquarium “club” with the usual cryptic sign. For part of his time in Aldershot he had a horse and rode as well as walked nearly every day, one seemed to do military things in the morning. On 27 he and his men were part of the Queen’s Parade when she drove past. They left Aldershot at 5.20am on July 9^th back to Winchester.

Aug 6^th Tried out my new rifle but found both barrels went of at once [!].

Robert had put his lathe and tools in store and was letting the house then on Aug 9^th went to London and saw the Hesperus in the docks and spoke to Capt Banett. On Sept 5^th he booked a passage and on 17^th he showed Vida the Hesperus in London. Oct 4^th packed and sent chest of drawers to the Hesperus. Oct 7^th to the Hesperus with luggage, going to Melbourne when he had expected Sydney. Vida came on board to see him off.

11^th in Tilbury. Then they were towed by tug at 1pm. Robert logs 22 passengers, no ladies, set to work to put my cabin in order he had bought a cupboard, towel rail, nails and screws previously [!]

Oct 12 Cast off from tug off Isle of Wight and made sail 5am. They hit Melbourne Dec 23^rd – every day RS put in the lat and long and the distance they had covered on what course and what wind and sea conditions. They passed Tristor d’Acumba on Nov 23^rd. They did not stop anywhere even for water (and ran out of drink!). This is when RS learned semaphore which had a bearing on later developments.

1893

RS quotes a nice verse of Longfellow about moving on from disaster. He says his engagement to Helen was broken off “through the machinations of the Bush family” who had said he let Flore’ ? die of cancer!!

Jan 4^th he left ship and stayed at the London Hotel [Melbourne]. Out shooting in Fern Tree Gully he walked 24 miles and shot one native bear [poor little Koala I suppose].

Jan 10^th took passage on SS Adelaide for Sydney. After some attempts to contact Os he got a telegram from him on 16^th saying go to Wellington, but on 31^st another telegram said meet him at Bluff. . He had to train back to Melbourne to get a boat to NZ. It looks like the SS Talune on which he sailed on Feb 4^th and reached Bluff on 6^th. He had trouble getting his luggage and his chest of drawers was in the Wairapa on its way back to Melbourne! Sailed from Bluff on HMS Katoomba with Os. They went fishing, shooting and exploring around Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. They returned to Bluff on 24^th and he got his chest of drawers back.

28^th [Feb 1893] they got to Port Chalmers, then RS and Os took the train to Dunedin and met Olave and her baby boy [Is this Peter? Yes] .

They sailed for Akaroa on March 13. The “temporary cabins” including RS’s pulled down while they did some torpedo practice. RS slept in the gunners’ cabin.

21^st they sailed for Lyttleton, then back to Akaroa on 28^th. Back to Lyttleton on April 2^nd.

April 3^rd HMS Katoomba at Lyttleton, watched manoeuvres and camp volunteers field day etc. Next day to the races at Riccarton [Christchurch] with Os and co.

10^th watched Os drilling Blue Jackets and marines with 2 field guns.

On 22^nd they sailed for Wellington.

May 1^st at sea doing speed trials (4 hours at 17 knots) “very unpleasant motion”.

2^nd at sea caught in a storm — ship rolling “a very hot stuffy night and the worst sea I ever remember, my cabin full of water, my bed etc adrift, no sleep till after 5am. Whaler carried away and lost, all sorts of gear loose about the ship. Os says she behaved very well considering”.

3rd arrived in Auckland.

May 6^th RS and others sailed to Rangitoto, climbed the cone and walked round the crater.

On 15^th RS and others took train to Okaraire (sp?) and coach on to Whakarewarewa (31 ¾ miles, bad road, changed horses once) tried the hot baths. The guide Sophia took them round all the geysers which he names. After doing the sights pretty thoroughly he and others went to Wairakei by buggy 50miles through desolate and monotonous country, lunch very bad and dear but “most wonderful” seeing the geysers there.

Jun 1^st/2^nd by buggy to Napier via Tarawera (very rough and uncomfortable hotel). After seeing the sights there went to stay at Tuna Nui with some people called Russell. It rained a lot and then snow and frost. RS walked, went shooting (“only got 2 pheasants and a hare, the others got nothing”) and did odd jobs and repairs about the house including making beehives out of kerosine cases.

Jun 21^st rode 20 miles to Flaxmere where Capt Russell [son of above?] lived. Back to Tuna Nui on 25^th. RS made himself useful — felled and cut up a tree and blasted the stump, put in window panes etc. On 30^th he walked along the road to Erewhon (!!!) but turned off to Worma Station a round trip (walking) of more than 20 miles.

July 3^rd Russell went to Flaxmere for the wedding of a man North [could this be Harold’s family?]. He was lent a house and a stock whip to go and help with “cow punching”.

July 9^th Mr and Mrs Birch from Erewhon came to stay and on 14^th he went to stay in Napier and had dinner with the Birches who told him Katoomba had gone to Samoa.

17^th 7am coach for Kuripapanga. The Birches arrived on 25 and next day they all rode to Erewhon about 30miles.

31^st cast some bullets and loaded cartridges with them, then pig hunting with a young Maori called John Chase. Shot 2, Chase carried one home and the other was thrown into the river.

Aug 7^th Pig hunting - “Chapman got 9 and I3”. On the 9^th the 2 of them shot 12 pigs and next day 7 pigs, on 12^th 18 pigs (he only mentions cooking one for the dogs!).

21^st [August] to Ruanui via road, track and cross country route. RS stayed here till 26 Sept slaughtering pigs, cattle etc etc, mending things, tidying the sitting room [oh dear!] and writing letters, then back to Erewhon and on to Napier.

6^th [ October] to the Agricultural Show at Hastings “rather poor, but the jumping very fair” then on SS Wairapa to Wellington and onto Christchurch on 10^th then by train and boat to Akaroa. While here he walked, put his room (in Wagstaff Hotel) to rights, borrowed a boat and sailed to Tekao Bay (Knights) went net fishing, played tennis, collected oyster. He was still chasing lost luggage and on 30^th his portmanteau arrived from Sydney.

Nov 2^nd Helped dip and draft 1,200 sheep. Back to Christchurch on 8^th by coach then a very stormy boat trip to Tekao where he picked gooseberries and topped and tailed them before walking to Barry’s Bay for the coach back to Akaroa. Regatta on 14^th Dec. The Governor came and stayed on the Hinemoa. To Peel Forest [Canterbury] via Christchurch on 30^th staying with Dennistons.

1894

On the front page, after a summary of the travel, sights seen, much better health (though often “seedy”) Vida growing up and doing well at school the first address noted is “Miss Jollie C/o Mrs J Angus, Radcliffe House, Nr [near] Acklington, Northumberland. Also Lou Field at Highgate.

Jan 1^st at Peel Forest. As ever walking (up Mt Peel etc), making and putting up shelves, practising cornet (in the woods!) and playing it with Miss Russell, a lot of rain.

11^th Back to Christchurch (Cokers Hotel) and to Akaroa by train and coach on 13^th. Fearfully hot – 82/86 in the hotel passage. On 25 sailed to Tekao and picked up several people for a picnic – sailed to the caves below Wainui, home 6pm, “ a cool pleasant day”. For the whole of Jan he was “seedy” and also had bad indigestion but still walking, playing tennis, playing cornet at concerts.

Feb 1^st paid deposit on passage in Morayshire???. Very strong hurricane on 2^nd and 3^rd. 16^th went for a moonlight trip up the steam launch 25^th rang in the choir for Harvest Festival.

March 7^th Sailed to Mat Whites Bay where I explored the large cave and had a bad time in so doing [WHAT?] 12^th too much swell to visit caves so stayed in and worked out indeterminate equations [the way one does!]. 22^nd Heard that the date of sailing of the Morayshire had been changed to May 16^th, so cancelled that and applied for a passage on Doric. 23^rd a friend had seen the death of James Story in the paper (burnt at Errington). 25^th the doctor diagnoses ringworm on RS’s arm.

April 2^nd to Christchurch on the Jane Douglas and stayed at Cokers Hotel, big fire at a nearby hotel. 5^th sailed from Lyttleton 3pm on the Doric— sail and steam, just as well as the engines often broked down. He met a man Hudson who had known Fran at Weisbaden!! As before a full record every day of position, distances sailed, state of sea and wind etc. 10^th got music from baggage room and started practising for a concert on 12^th — then seedy and lay down a lot until 19^th when they rounded Cape Horne.

21^st A little semaphore and morse pactice with Browning and Peyton, from then on semaphore nearly every day. Getting much warmer — 69 degrees at 7am on 25^th. 27^th called at Rio but could only land at a shipyard across the harbour because martial law in force. Sailed on 28^th. Temp 80 degrees at 7:30am on deck in shade. Played and sang in a concert on 30^th. “Had to sing and play 5 times and fairly??? Broke down in my cornet solo”.

May 1^st Slept on deck in a hammock and found it quite cool. 10^th programme of a concert in which RS sang and played, and Miss Jollie had a part in a one act farce. [This is copied in purple ink, I guess is one of those old “jelly” copies?]. RS was chariman of the event. 11^th they anchored off Santa Cruz Tenerife?? And hoisted yellow jack [why?] so no one allowed on or off but fruit and coal were loaded — they saw more and more ships and some whales. 17^th they put some passengers off at Plymouth and sailed on for London where Vida met him on 19^th. He was back in Winchester by 23^rd. “Began to put my hourse in order” (Highfield). He only had a week there before off to Aldershott camp. He had an operculum??? necklace made for Vida [where is that?]. Except for the odd weedend at home he was at camp until 7^th July. 6^th June wrote to Miss Jollie and Helen Knight. It was very wet most of the time in camp and they were doing firing practise and musketry throughout. 23 June back home “write to Miss Jollie”.

July 3^rd “Generals inspection by Col. Hornby. My busby gave me a very bad headache”. July 4^th “wrote to Miss Jollie”. July 7^th struck camp. Called on Miss Jollie. 10^th “Wrote to Miss Jollie.” July 11th “My 40^th birthday … to Highgate by 5:10pm train and stayed the night at Lou’s”. 17^th Wrote to Miss Jollie. Vida came to stay from 27^th to Sept 12 during which time she went out a lot with other people and he took her to see Flore’s grave and the house Winna??? where they used to live. He also ordered and had erected a tombstone for Flore. On Sept 12 they took train for Clifton where Oswald, Olave and little Peter were staying. Photo from Helen Knight and letter from Miss Jollie. He returned home on 29^th. From there until the end of Oct he stayed at home, often seedy, sometimes in bed, the only events were bad toothache (tooth out) and a burst wc cistern.

Nov still seedy, but tried going for walks and a drive. 6^th wrote to Vida and Miss Jollie. 7^th ate meat for the first time for many days. 8^th to London by train, spent the day with Vida, then 14^th Brigade dinner at the Metropole Hotel. Met lots of people, bed at 2am after . 9^th Breakfast at my new club (the Senior) home by train. “Received Miss Jollie’s photo”. 12^th wrote to Miss Jollie and Os. 19^th packed and took train for London and Irish Mail to Dublin. He spent the night at Maples Hotel in Dublin and went to a party with the Vernons. Other guests were the Leslies (now famous for Castle Leslie which is in Cavan) and young Saunderson (Castle Saunderson also in Cavan). 21^st to Cavan and stayed at Farnham Arms, train to Crossdoney And walked out to Bingfield where Mrs Moore (the tenant) gave him lunch and drove him back to Cavan. 22^nd Called on French at Drumbeen. “Called on Sandys Adgt of Cavan Militia and asked bim to shoot with me tomorrow”. 23^rd “Drove with Dandys and ‘Blind Charlie’ over my old beat on the Cootehill Rd. Dense fog nearly all day — poor sport. I shot 4 snipe and 1 rail. Sandys 2 snipe. The whole country under water. Called at Canavahan. Arranged to borrow some ferrets. Sandys put me up for the Club! (Cavan Club!)”

24^th “Drove with Sandys to Bingfield and ferretted rabbits — the ferrets worked badly and we got nothing till after lunch. I got 5 rabbits, Sandys got 1 and missed several more.”

25^th “Morning service at Kilmore. Saw the family vaults, lunch at Danisfort (where the Dean lived). Saw the old Parish Register with entry for Aunty Emily’s and My Father’s baptism.”

26^th Drove to Drunkein to stay with the French’s. 7^th Ferretting with Moore at Bingfield. 28^th Drove to Stradone and went shooting with the keeper — 8 pheasants, 2 woodcock and 40 rabbits in 4 hours. French (who had driven him there) went on to Lisnaskee — Several days more of shooting etc then moved over to Canavahan?? Where he met the Leslies.

Nov 1^st Walked to Drung Church. Heard from Miss Jollie and wrote to her. Several days a bit seedy and some shooting. 8^th a shot teal fell into Rathkenny bog, then RS fell in a bog hole and got soaked.

13 Dec Drove to Dell Hills and lunched with Mrs Venables. 14^th Dec Drove to Rathkenny to see the Clements. 15^th Back to Cavan, staying at Farnham Arms. Went out to Bingfield and took photos. 20^th Train to Leixlip “where I put a car sent by Uncle W and drove to Ommavarra. Found the 2 girls and Uncle and Aunt the only ones at home”. [who are these?]. Very rough trip back to England and to Clifton where Vida, Mother, Florie and Evie (just home from America) were.

25^th To Christmas service in the new church over the bridge, when they got back there was a letter announcing Arthur’s death in India on November 27^th. End of Christmas.

1895

RS and Vida staying at Clifton. He says Fran and Charlie were at Bordigherra, Os and Olave in Ghent. Jan 6^th Snow lying. RS and Vida met a Capt Hulton RN who knew Os. 10^th Took Vida to see Kinstograph and hear Phonograph. 15^th RS and Vida by train changing at Swindon and Reading to “The Oaks” [who? Where?] near Richmond. Uncle N and Cara, church on Sunday at Hamworth and these are the only clues. He stayed until 22^nd then home to Highfield and Vida back to Mrs Pye. Very cold and he went skating on the moor.

Feb 4^th “letter from Miss Harman about Brady of Virginia who is being boycotted and sent a telegram to Tatlow about it”. [Now what was that about!?] Hard frost and skating daily, “no such cold has been recorded during the century”. Feb 14 “My water supply is cut off by the frost”. 20^th Feb “Wrote to Miss Jollie”. 22^nd “Thaw, no water yet”. March 1^st “I tried to thaw the service pipe but failed”. March 7 “Water at last”. 8^th “Taken with a very bad fainting fit at the club. Gen. Oldfield took me home.” Then for several days “very seedy”. 11^th A little better under Harman’s treatment” (his Dr). Wrote to Miss Jollie. 12^th “Telegram from Miss Jollie to say she will be in town tomorrow”. 13^th “Took 10:45 train here (St George’s Club). Called on Miss Jollie at the Metropolis after lunch and and sat with her for an hour till Mrs Haggie her cousin came in. Went then by underground to High St, Kensington. Called on Julia (?) Boyd where I found Aunt Clara and Carrie and Emily Begbie”. 14^th Called on Miss Jollie morn?? And went for a walk with her, Mrs Haggie and Mrs Angus. After lunch went with them to Olympia and then on to Norwood — saw Vida and came back by the 7.98 pm train a very round about way from the High Level Stations.” 15^th Called on Aunts Agnes and Louisa and lunch with Mary Story then home. 16^th To Brighton. 17^th “Miss Jollie to lunch and went for a drive with us after.” 18^th “Went out with Jack Peyton and met Miss Jollie. I went for a walk with the ladies. Tea with Mrs Haggie at the Metropol.” 21^st “Met young White late midshipman of the Hesperus who walked home with me”. 23^rd Packed up and train to the Citadel in Danes, thick fog, visited various military people etc. 27^th Back to Highfield visiting Vida at Norwood on the way. 29^th Wrote to Miss Jollie. 20^th “Got some incandescent burners for the drawing room” [Now what are they?]. 1^st April “ train to Whitburn in Sunderland. Mr & Mrs Anderson Capt Smith & Miss White to dinner. Miss Graves and Miss Jollie staying. Music billiards etc”. 3^rd “Walked along the shore with Miss Graves [!] rain & slight snow.” 4^th “Walked to Marsden with Miss Jollie music etc evening.” 5^th “Went out onto the beach with Miss Jollie morn. 6^th “Train to Hexham with Mrs Haggie, Miss Jollie &Miss May” [they left him at Newcastle]. Arranged to visit Bingfield [Northumberland not far from Hexham]. 7^th Drove to Bingfield & took some snaps but could find out nothing more than is already known of the family history.

April 8^th exploring around Hexham – Moat Hall, Keep, Dilston Castle. 10^th Train to London, met Vida & home. 16^th Vida had her first ride. 19^th Typewriter arrived, unpacked it & tried it. Bought Vida another canary. Riding with Vida nearly every day, also long walks. 23^rd Wrote to Miss Jollie. 24^th Wrote to the Gardener Typewriter Coy [one would love to know about what!]. 26^th Wrote for some paper for typewriter [obviously not available in shops!]. 29^th Vida back to Norwood by train. Cook gave notice on account of letting the house [Highfield Winchester]. Next day cook relented! 8^th May, “Recd a handsome handkerchief for Vida from Wazir (his Indian servant) & sent it to her. Am elected to the “Senior United Services Club”. 13^th by train to Aldershott. “found no furniture ready for use & went to Whites to get some. Got some spurs at Flights & ordered some boots. Wrote to Miss Jollie”. 15^th Train to London “Lunched at the Senior, tea at Mrs Turnbulls to meet Mrs Haggie & Miss Jollie after they had been to the drawing room” [probably Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace]. 16^th Bitterly cold, took the mess stores into my tent at night. Slight thaw towards morn”. 17^th “Mrs Haggie & Miss Jollie came to lunch & spent the afternoon”. 18^th Parade for blank firing morn. Nasty bilious attack at 4.30 am”.

19^th [with a little star beside it] * “Big church parade morn at Marlborough Lines Church. The Duke of Connaught was there & shook hands with me. Took an evening train to town & dined with Mrs Haggie & Miss Jollie. Proposed to Miss Jollie & she accepted me!!! Slept at 17 Jermyn St” – [Mrs Haggie was obviously being chaperone – did she tactfully go & “powder her nose” after dinner?]. 20^th Breakfast at the Senior [presumably this is 17 Jermyn St]. Took 10.15 train for North Camp & arranged for a carriage for the Queens Birthday Review on Friday. Went up to town & lunched at the Senior. Spent the afternoon with May Jollie [yes, at last] in Regent’s Park & other places, saw Mrs Haggie for a short time”. 21^st On duty, musketry on Ash Range from 8 am parade till 1.30 pm. Wrote to May Jollie & heard from Vida& Aunt Carry. Heard from May Jollie & wrote again to her. 22^nd Commanded the carriage for Friday [why?]. Wrote to Mr and Mrs Haggie & May. 23^rd Heard from May. Musketry from 2 pm till nearly 7 on Ash Range. Wrote to May. 24^th Heavy thunderstorms at 4 am & rain. Musketry from 7.30 am till 10 am. Saw part to the Queens Birthday review on Laffams Plain. “Rather a noisy evening, the young officers somewhat uproarious. Boultbee went to Barnet leaving me as C. O. 25^th “Heard from & wrote to May”. 26^th Church parade, fearfully jhot, several men fainted & I felt bad. From then on both wrote every day.

June 5^th Big review on Laffams Plain before the Shahzada Nazir Khan of Afghanistan. 17,700 men present. 6^th Musketry on Ash Range – strong wind, hot sun & much dust, very bad shooting in consequence. 9^th A Sunday he went to Highfield & got his typewriter. 10^th “Amused myself with my typewriter & wrote to Vida on it”. 12^th “Sent the carriage to my typewriter to Manchester to be put right”. “Got the carriage of my typewriter back from Manchester – found it worse than ever, sent it away again. 19^th Charlie & Florie came from town to spend the day. Heathcote and Boultbee lunched with us. Heathcote & I drove the girls to see Long Valley & as much of the place as we could. 20^th “CO’s parade morn. Letter from Mother before dinner about my not having written to Mrs Jollie, wrote to her [oh dear]”. 22^nd “Up at 5 am & put my kit together. Parade 9 am, left 10 am from Farnborough in command of RE ½ Battalion. Paid off my men. Took 5.10 pm train from Barnet via Kings Cross to Praed St & Paddington – Dined there & took 9 pm express. Got home [Clifton] about 1 am, Florie let me in”. 23^rd “Rather

tired”.[well!

24^th “Saw Desfrez about a ring for May”. “Florie came with me & we chose a ring for May. Took train for Bath & drove to the Forum & spent the afternoon with May. Home by 6.55 train”. 26^th “May come over from Bath by 11.14 train. I met her at Bristol she spent the day at Salisbury Lodge. Saw her off by 6.42 train.” 27^th “Train from Bristol, met May at Bath & travelled to town with her. Lunch at my club. Saw my tailor. Tea at Mrs Goods where May is staying. 28^th Saw my tailor. Took May to Empire of India exhibition, tea and dinner there.” 29^th After a lot of rushing about all day “Spent the evening with May”. 30^th May & Miss Good came to morning service at Westminster Abbey, Canon Wilberforce preached. Went back to lunch & spent the rest of the day with them.

July 1^st Spent the evening with May. 2^nd Spent early afternoon with May. Came on to the Oaks to stay with Uncle Neville. 3^rd to town & met May at the Academy. 4^th “Train to Norwood saw Mrs Pye about her giving up keeping children. Met Vida evening from school & took her to Crystal Palace where we lunched & met May.” 5^th Saw my tailor & tried on clothes. Saw Ericksen who gave me a clean bill of health. May met me at the club & we went to see Fair Children at the Grafton Gallery & the water colour pictures.” 6^th “Met May at the Albert Memorial. Got tickets for “Charley’s Aunts” & went to Mm Taussauds. 7^th May came over by the 10.16 train to spend the day, stayed quietly at home & went to even services at Hamworth.” 11^th My 41^st Birthday. Heard from Mother. Took 9.5 am train & spent the morning with May. Miss Good & I saw her aboard the Gothic via Aldgate, Fenchurch St & Manor Way. Said our farewells & saw the ship leave about 4 pm. Miss G. & I then walked to Woolwich, crossed the river by steam ferry, went by very slow train to Greenwich, took steamer there for Charing Cross & saw Miss G. off. I got home by the loop line abot 9 pm, rather tired.” 12^th He went to Lords, watched cricket 4 – 6 pm & met lots of friends. “Neville came home from Rheims,” & he wrote to May at Plymouth. 12^th “Neville and I up to town by 11.50 train, lunch at my club, spent the afternoon at Lords. Got my camera fitted for films & plates. Heard from May at Plymouth.” 14^th Heard again from May at Plymouth, bathed before breakfast with Neville. Morning at Hamworth, very bad pain in my back.”

15^th “Oswald turned up as I was packing after breakfast. I decided to to to Portland with him. Took 11.50 am train from Feltham [?] lunched at Waterloo & got to Weymouth at 4.15 pm, Os went house hunting. Came on here (HMS Boscawen) by 6.50 pm train. “Stayed on Board & took a few photos. Went to Weymouth with Os where he took a house, walked back.”

17^th “Began a letter to May. Went for a sail in the Boscawen’s launch with the Capt, his wife &2 children, Os, Worthington & Pickthorne. Pain in my back even”. 18^th “Walked with Os over Portland Island & got rather wet coming home. Went on with my letter to May. Four ships of the Italian Fleet came in. 19^th “Posted my letter to May . Went for a walk with Os. The Salamander came in”. 25^th Back to Clifton via Portland & Weymouth. “Very hot & muggy. Miss Clements of Rathkenny (Cavan) & Mother the only people at home.” 26^th very hot day. Wrote to May & sent her Vida’s photo’s. RS & Miss Clements walked & shopped & took her to the Zoo. 30^th “Saw Miss Clements off to Dublin on SS Argo, met Nr Brooke on the quay who used to sit next May on the Doric. Wrote for particulars of fares to NZ by the Ionic & Tainui.” Vida & I breakfasted at 7 pm & joined Mr & Mrs Brooke & their party on board the “Westward Ho” which left at 8 am. Called at Clevedon, Weston, Lynmouth, Ilfracombe & Clonelly.” 9^th “Wrote to May. I went with my typewriter to Desprez [about the 3^rd time]. Wrote to the company about their having gone into liquidation.”[end of page 13]

Most of August was very hot, RS wrote regularly to May, took Vida, Charlie & Florie around & Charlie developed his photos & the Gothic arrived in Wellington on 25^th 26^th “My typewriter carriage back fro the coy & found it as bad as ever. Wrote to them about it”. 27^th “Letter from May posted at the Cape. Wrote again to the Typewriter Co.” 29^th “Telegram came from May after dinner “Come”.

30^th “Wrote to May, sent telegram to her “Ionic”. Telegraphed to engage passage to NZ. Pain deposit on it. Packed my typewriter & wrote to the Company. Wrote to Mrs Oakshott & Gudgeon about giving up Highfield; to Mary Lay giving her & cook notice, to Os & Marshall to say that my telegram had come. Met Vida at the station & brought her home. Her pocket Kodak came”. There follows a great spat of letter writing & bill paying and sent off the typewriter. Sept 4^th To Highfield with Vida & Florie, someone came about the cook, & letters went to and fro from Miss Draper about Vida going to Cheltenham College. 19^th He met Helen Beckwith at some friends & told her of his engagement. 23^rd Gudgeons people started packing china & taking down curtains. 30^th Gave the keys to Gudgeon & train to London. Got ticket for Vida to go on Ionic [just to Plymouth] they sailed on 3^rd & they stopped at Plymouth on 4^th . From then on as beforeRS put Lat, long, sea, wind distance daily. Santa Cruz on 10^th very hot, bad lunch & very bad wind. Ccrossed the line on Oct16th . Masterton [one of the ship’s officers] showed him his Balock typewriter. 25^th At Cape Town, bought a feather fan for May (₤4) & a melon seed necklace for Vida. RS enquired about booking cabin A for his return journey. After being so hot, temperature down to 37⁰ on 29^th Nov 3^rd they passed an iceberg & there was slight snow. On 8 & 9^th they saw Aurora Borealis.

Nov 13 Got to Hobart 11.20 am. No letter so wired to Patea.

18^th Arrived at Wellington. November 18^th “On deck at 4.30 am to see the coast. Got up at 6.45 as we were entering the Heads. Anchored until the Dr & Harbour Master came on board. Got alongside the wharf 8.30 am. No letters! Telegraphed to Waireka, Went to Empire Hotel. Later Mr Turnbull brought a letter from May [well better late than never!] giving me a hearty welcome. Telegraphed again to Waireka.” 19^th “Got up at 5 am & took 6.30 am train to Patea. Arrived about 5.30 pm & was met by Ted & May who drove me the house – Rather tired”. 20^th “Ted & I mended the hydraulic ram morn & after lunch, putting a new valve. Had a long talk with May before going to bed.” 21^st “Had a talk with Mrs Jollie about settlements & wrote to her lawyer about them. Went for a walk over the farm with May, & to a “Social” with Ted & May. Also wrote about cabins for going home.” And so happily occupied for many following days. “Walked into Patea with May & posted the letters & did some shopping” etc. Mrs Barton from Hawera came to stay [and Binda has written in “I met her in Auckland about 1940”]. 29^th got tickets for Mark Twain’s lecture.” Dec 2^nd Walked into Patea with May, & made a handle for the drawing room coal skuttle.” 5^th Went in a party of 6 to hear Mark Twain at the Drill Hall [ no comment on this, shame] at Hawera. 6^th On to New Plymouth & took passage on SS Glenelg [you can write this backwards!] for Auckland. 7^th “Up at 6 am fine view of the coast. Crossed the Manakau Bar 12.30 pm – HMS Opheus was wrecked.”

9^th “Went into town with Mrs Jollie & May & got the wedding ring & some scent bottles for the bridesmaids. Got an inlaid table for May.” 11^th “got a saddle sway & May a greenstone paper knife. Mrs Young & I left by SS Wellingotn for Whangarei at 8 pm.” 12^th “Got to Whangarei Heads 6am & took the 7.45 train to the town. Saw the Kauri sawmills, Took the 2.22 pm train to Hickurangi & walked to the coal mine & was shown over part of it.”

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13^th December “ By train to the large coal mine with Mrs Young & got some amberite, saw the marking, took photos. Walied home over some range & saw the gun diggers huts. Mended the electric bulbs in the hotel after lunch for which Rolleston the manger gave me a carved Janika [?] stick. 14^th left Hikurangi by coach, hot windy & jolty journey about 30 miles. Got to Kawa Kawa 5 pm. 15^th “Left Kawaklawa by buggy 10.30 am & drove to Pakaraka. Saw the new experiment of feeding sheep on gorse.” [!] At Pouinua RS went for an 8 hour ride in the bush then back to Pakaraka & by coach to Kawakawa then train to Opua & on board the Clansman to Russell [my father has put ‘Still running 1945’. 20^th Staying with the Wrights at Ravensthorpe Drury. 23^rd Shot one of the turkeys for Xmas dinner. Got May to fix the date for our wedding – Feb 17^th .

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Ravensthorpe near Auckland. Fred Luand Wright’s place – May is staying at Otahuhu with her mother. On 2^nd May writes to say the wedding will be on Feb 10^th .

Jan 3^rd he went to join May & Mrs Jollie. They did a lot of shopping for clothes etc in Auckland. 11^th “Signed my pension paper. Wrote to the parson at Patea to put up Sallie’s banns.” 17^th RS puts [Sly Rice” with no comment, but APS has added “ a girl played the piano & when asked what the piece was called that was her reply.” They spent their days rushing about by train, bus coach & boat as well as walking & writing letters. 20^th Sailed on SS Glenelg to New Plymouth. RS’s inlaid table & Mrs Jollie’s case of bananas missing. Heard that oil had been struck. 2^nd Train to Waireka. May taken with asthma but better next day. 25^th Arranged for a carriage for the wedding, also went to Hawera. 29^th to Oeo by train – saw shearing, collected shells on the beach – pupu [I wonder if this is pipi?]. Feb 7^th Went into Patea & got the licence [wedding] now stayint in Waireka again. 9^th After evening church found May seedy [presumably asthma] “very anxious night.” Feb 10^th Monday. “Got up early & wrote a note to May which I was about to send when Ted rode over with a note from Madge to say that May was all right & ready for the wedding. Jasper Smyth came over also & Bob Mathews came for me at 10.30 am & drove me to the church where May & I were married. Bridesmaids Madge, Chrissa, Adele Medley & Amy Good, pages Ormonde Jollie & Arthur Mathews. Breakfast at Waireka – May & I took 2.15 pm train & came here [Chavannes?] Hotel, Wanganui – [this diary is mostly written in very faint ink & I am struggling]. At wedding breakfast Jasper Smyth proposed our healths. I responded 7gave the bridesmaids. Best man Norman Fitzherbert replied. Barton proposed Mrs Jollie & Mathews replied. Barton took a couple photos of the party. A very jolly & cheery wedding”. [RS has stuck a lot of cuttings in his diary – Patea County Press, Akaroa Mail etc & photos of Patea Church & railway station. Description of dresses, flowers. They spent a week at Wanganui visiting friends & going on trips including a cruise to Pipiriki on the SS Wairere where they were hauled up the rapids by wire ropes. 18^th “Had May photographed as a Maori [Do we have this?]. They then stayed at the Vicarage at Akaroa still visiting, tripping about & bathing.

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Staying at the Vicarage, Akaroa – music, tennis, boat trips, strolling [not often walking!]. Friends were Mrs Smythe, Miss Bridges, Mr & Mrs Lang, Mr & Mrs Harrison, Mr & Mrs Orbell, Hargreaves, Black [yacht] Poole [ boat he often borrowed], Bishop Jacobs, Fr Hare. March 4^th Moved to Christchurch by train from Little River, staying at the Deanery. Friends here Mrs Lascelles, Pitman, Mrs Baines, Mr & Mrs G P Williams, Mrs Bowen, Mrs Melhuish. 17^th Upper Riccarton. “Walked with May round her old house & school. Wonderful rainbow.” 21^st Sailed for Wellington on SS Penguin. 23^rd Royal Hotel Palmerston “Hotel full on account of the Polo Tournament. Mrs hall rigged us up a bedroom out of a sitting room”. By coach & train through, Ohingaiti & Waioru, Tokaanu – here they saw Ruapehu &Ngarahoe & the Maori Parliament was assembled. 27^th Wairakei “Started 9 am by coach & drove along the lake to Taupo, lunch by the lake at an old mission station. Rather hot. Earthquake gully very terrible showing the awful effect of the quake last August. Took a buggy on from Taupo & got caught in very heavy shower near Huka Falls. Got in about 9 pm rather tired from the jolting on the not [???] road.” [12 hours on the go!].

28^th Bathed with May in the Alum bath. Walked round the geysers a.m. & took several photos, to the Aratiatia Rapids & I had a jolly swim. 30^th “Walked as far as the Orchard with May & saw Mrs Johnston & artists camp.” April 1^st They joined a boat trip across Lake Taupo in the morning & in the evening they went for a stroll & saw Puia [?]. In the evening to a Maori dance in their dancing hall, Hakas & singing. Ordered a Maori rug from “one Hookey, a commercial”. 2^nd Kerioi “Started 8 am & drove here 54 miles over tussock & pumice changed horses ½ way & got May some tea at Waioru. Very rough accommodation here, got in at 6 pm.”3^rd Pipriki “Started 8 am & drove here through some fine bush scenery 32 miles – “Dress Circle” – a rather strange Papa cliff. Lands at small boarding house in a small bush town Raetiki [Raetihi?] Got a quantity of todea Superb a plants [??] & Mountain cabbage tree on the way. Roads much better than we expected. The Wairere got in about 5 pm bringing for 9 people.”

4^th “Bathed in a small stream 6 am. Started in the Wairere 7 am & got to Wanganui 2 pm. Got letters at Chavannes [Hotel?] took 4 pm train & came on here (Waireka). Letters from Mother, Lou, Vida, Heathcote, Wazir, Charles Lecaita & Mrs Buda.

They stayed at Waireka until 24^th, never still! Visiting, walking. May’s hair dryer arrived!” “Got lots of mushrooms. Went into Patea in the express & got a cabin trunk, picture case & fern case for May. Painted the bath twice. Their tickets for the Ionic come on 19^th. Began packing on 20^th, packed May’s pictures & painted letters on her fern case, got bulbs for her take. “ Drew my balance from the Bank” (₤123/2/9). 2 Miss Goods called. Got a stock whip. Sent off heavy cases by sea to Wellington. “Took the 10.45 train from Patea with May. Saw Mr Marshall at Aramoho [they must have spent the day here]. Got to Wellington 10 pm.”25^th Shopping & dentist, called on Medleys & met Sir Kenneth Douglas. Took May to Pinafore “poor performance.” Got May a possum rug. 28^th Sailed in SS Tahune 4 pm.

29^th Arrived Lyttleton 9 am, put luggage on Ionic. !1.25 am train to Christchurch – heavy snow lying on the mountains & sprinkling on the Port Hills.

May 1^st 10.55 train to Lyttleton, lunch on board Ionic with the Captain. 2^nd “Came on board in time for lunch. Wired congratulations to Bill and Sallie. The Bowens came to see us off. Sailed about 6 pm.” They had 2 x May 4^th as they crossed the line. May was a bit seasick for a week or so. As before Robert notes Lat/long, run in miles & weather every day. 16^th They rounded Cape Horn but did not see it [We did in 1946 After a good patch I am back to the awful faded out ink & am struggling to read the writing.] Robert practised his cornet & his stock whip, they called at Rio. Drank the Queen’s health at dinner [?]. A man in steerage went missing & was never seen again.