Our Family History
The Genealogy of the Story Family
Lt. Col. Robert Story
1854 - 1924 (70 years)
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Lt. Col. Robert Story - Diary notes 1896
Notes from Roberts diary by MN D-W. From NZ back to Ireland
On the first page of this Whitcomb & Tombs N.Z. Rough Diary Robert has written ROPATA the Maori version of his name, also the Maori and Latin names of several native birds. As usual he starts the year with a little summary of previous events and hopes for the future.
January 1896
"The New Year finds me staying at Raventhorpe near Auckland N.Z. Fred Luard Wright's place. May Jollie to whom I am to be married on Feb 17th is with her mother at Otahuhu for the purpose of seeing the dentist and Dr. in Auckland. I have just heard that Vida has sprained her leg at her dancing, but is otherwise very well. I have given up my house in England & look forward to settling with May in a new home. I am in pretty good health but I find the moist heat rather trying."
Jan 2nd. "Heard from May that she will fix our wedding for Feb 10th. Wrote to her and Jasper Smyth. Got some ferns in the bush. Shot one rabbit even." He went to stay at Otahuhu with May and her mother and collected some wine and his new clothes from the Auckland shops.
At the end of his entry for the 17th Robert has put "(Sly Rice)" and underneath APS has written in pencil "A girl played a piece on the piano and when asked what it was called said 'Sly Rice'" (I have to translate for my English friends that she meant 'Sleigh Race'!)
On the 20th the three of them set off back to New Plymouth on the Glenelg. "All the passengers sick except self and one person." When they landed next day the inlaid table and a case of bananas had gone missing. Robert ordered a photo of Motura "Paid 1/3 for the same." They heard that oil had been struck (Where?). When they got back to Waireka May had to spend a day in bed with asthma. Robert had another go at the ram pump, played tennis and ordered the wedding coach in Hawera.
26th. "Ted sent back presents etc. to Ruby Hunter (I wonder what she had done?) Robert went to stay on the Good's sheep farm at Oro (?) for a week - Probably to get him out of the way while they were preparing for the wedding. One day he and Willie Good drove to Parihaka - "Saw the two meeting houses on called on Te Whiti the profit (sic?) and had a long chat with him. Got a stone axe and a couple of mats."
February 1896
Feb 6th. "Took the coach to Hawera and the 12.55pm train for Patea. Found Miss Haslam, Harvey, St, Lager, the Matthews and Dixons staying in the house. Jasper Smyth came by the 6.55pm train. I went into lodgings at Miss Fraser's 'Mornington'. Wrote to W.G. Turnbull to say that I will take cabin No. 22 for me and May, but Mrs. Jollie cannot say whether she will sail by the Ionic or not."
7th. "Walked over the railway bridge to breakfast. Went into Patea with Mr. Smyth and got a licence. Saw the church, called on Mr. Harper. Put the ram in order, did some rifle practice. Miss Medley, Mrs. Marshall & Fitzherbert arrived." With many of the guests now assembled they had a dance on the Sat. evening (8th).
Poor May, she began to get asthma on the evening of the 9th, "Very anxious night."
10th The Wedding Day. "Got up early and wrote a not to May which I was about to send when Ted rode over with a note from Madge to say that May was all right and ready for the wedding. Jasper Smyth came over also. Bon Matthews came for me at 10.30am and drove me to the church where May I were married. Bridesmaids Madge, Chrissa, Adela, Medley and Amy Good, pages Ormie Jollie and Arthur Matthews. Breakfast at Waireka - May & I took the 2.25pm train and came on here (Chevanne Hotel, Wanganui). At breakfast Jasper S proposed our health - I responded and gave the bridesmaids, best man Norman Fitzherbert replied. Barton proposed Mrs. Jollie & Matthews replied. Barton took a couple of photos of the party. A jolly and cheery wedding."
Stuck into this page are several cuttings from the papers which is just as well as we know nothing of the dresses, flowers, jewelry or presents. There are accounts from Patea County Press and the Akaroa Mail and two others. Also a photo of the inside of the church (wooden throughout, lancet windows, hanging oil lamps) and a train steaming into Patea station.
Robert & May stayed in Wanganui for over a week, shopping, calling and being called on and writing letters. One day they went for a row on the river, another day they took the S.S. Wairere to Pipriki which took all day. "Through magnificent secenery. Hailed up the rapids by wire rope, took a lot of photos." From there they went via Wellington and the Lyttleton ferry (Jan Douglas) to Akaroa and staed with the Smyths, then on to the Knights at Tekao Bay and into Christchurch where they round May's old home & school at Upper Riccarton, "Wonderful rainbow at sunset." Robert baught a Maori dictionary.
March 1896
March 21st they sailed on the S.S. Penguin for Wellington "May rather sick." They then set off on a tour of the lakes starting from Palmerston where the hotel (Royal) was full because of a polo tournament, "Mrs. Hall made us up a bedroom out of a sittingroom." Next day by train and coach to Ohingaiti "A rough bush town," and thence to Waioru "Heavy rain most of the day made the roads none too good."
27th Tokaanu. "Started at 9am by coach and drove along the lake to Taupo, lunch by the lake at the old Mission Station. Rather hot. Earthquake gully very terrible, showing the awful effects of the earthquake last August. Took a buggy on from Taupo and got caught in a very heavy shower near the Huka Falls. Got in (to Wairakei) at 6pm, rather tired from the jolting on a not over good road." They got caught in heavy rain several times, but managed to see the Huka Falls, go on a trip across the lake, attend a Maori dance and see some Hakas and ordered a Maori rug (mat?) from a travelling salesman.
April & May 1896
April 2nd Kerioi. "Started 8am and dreove here - 54 miles over tussock and pummice, changed horses ½ way and got May some tea at Waioru. Very rough accommodation house." They returned by much the same method as the outward journey and were back at Waireka on the 4th,
Robert & May stayed at Waireka until the 24th. They shopped in Patea, visited and went for walks gathering quantities of mushrooms. Robert did odd jobs about the place "mostly connected with the ram." He also went about purchasing a selection of N.Z. woods to take back to England. They went via Wellington and The S.S. Talune to Lyttelton & put their things aboard the Ionic on the 29th. They had a last few days in Christchurch before sailing on May 2nd in rather heavy seas. For the first 3 weeks of the voyage it was misty and cold a lot of the time and either Robert or May or both felt seedy or sick and in any case there was nothing going on. (Obviously Robert was not on the committee!)
It got warmer as they neared Rio where they spent a day on May 23rd. They went ashore and on a 'Personally conducted tour' up a mountain and for some shopping. When they got back on board coaling was still in progress and there was a noisy party in the smoking room. "May slept in the library."
24th. "Saw a few ships off Cape Fris, Drank the Queen's health at dinner.."
26th. "Much hotter. One of the steerage passengers missing about 5.30pm. Probably jumped overboard - he was never seen or heard of again." They sighted Cape Verde Is. & Teneriffe but did not land and reached Plymouth on June 9th.
June & July 1896
There arrival in London on the 11th must have been rather an anticlimax as the place in Jermyn St the had telegraphed for rooms was all shut up, and their luggage went astray! However after some telegraphing and hunting about they found rooms in the same street and got their things.
On the 16th Lou asked them to stay at Highgate, so they sent some of their things to Clifton and some to Winchester. Next day Robert go a telegram from his mother "Frightful amount of luggage arrived for you, no room for you yet." so they went to Acklington (via Newcastle & Morpeth) to stay with Bessie and Angus (?) and from there found lodgings in Warkworth. Bessie was a great cyclist and rode over to see them with a friend with the marvellous name of Miss Huggup.
Robert immediately started house-hunting round Farnham, Winchester (he looked at Highfield on the way), Merdon, Botley and Hythe. It seems he had little success and on July 3rd joined May at Clifton, his mother and Charlie being at home & Fran, Evie and Florie in Ireland. The next day Robert and May went to Cheltenham to see Vida "Travelled first class on account of the small-pox at Gloucester." Vida took then round the college and had dinner with them.
May & Robert planned a visit to Bingfield so they booked a passage on the Argo from Bristol to Dublin. They wrote to Mrs. Morrish (Housekeeper) and to Lord to hire blankets from him. Robert got his dog Rip back from Liveridge (in Winchester). They sailed on July 14h. "Calm sea and fine view going down the river."
16th. "Took the 9.15am train, got to Crosdoney 12.22. Met the Dean (Stone) at the station and he sent our luggage to Bingfield in a donkey card. Strolled about the place with May."
18th. "Got up at 5am and shot a rabbit in Hermitage. Wrote to Mother about living here. Drove May after lunch through Farham deer park & round Driggett & Darrygid to Cavan for shopping and back via Barrack Hill."
22nd. "Drove into Cavan with May & took the 4.40pm train for Bundoran Junction where Evie met us and drove us to Errington. Fran & Florie also here. Letter from Mother about Bingfield. Slept rather badly.
Salisbury Lodge
36 Canynge Sq.
Clifton
Bristol
20th July 1896
My dear Robert,
I am in receipt of your letter of the 18th July and feel glad to think that the pain was subdued and that you made out your journey well. Mr. Tatlow at my request gave orders for ceiling etc. to be repaired or rather I think Florie wrote to say that this & other little things required attenction & requested Mr. Tatlow in my name to have it done.
Now with respect to your proposals about Bingfield. From Mr. Moore I received £30 per year for the amount of land you wish for, from Lord £20 per year.
I am ready to let you Bingfield free of rent - these 17 acres also free of rent. I pay as usual insurance, taxes etc. You live therefor in a house without any charge with 17 acres of land attached. Therefore I think you should do all the little painting etc. named by you in your letter. I should think £10 would go a long way to do these things. The bath is a mere luxury and in time you may be able to add this. Soon you will have Vida's expenses off your hands, then other expenses of a nursery may follow equal to, or about her schooling.Any servant would carry water when required for baths, they do that even here often for 4 rooms. I lived in Bingfield aith hideous ghastly wallpapers and floors with big holes in them for 5 years, and no water to be got except from the kitchen and you will start at first with a much better house, and gradually do what is required. I wish I knew who is in the gate lodge, I did not put the woman there & she is in it without my leave. If Mr. Gahan pays me £30 a year I should spend that on the house, as it stands in England you would have to pay £60 a year rent, & in most places taxes of some sort. The chimney ought to be repaired at once, do give orders about it, if not, kindly direct to have it done. I long to have you and May at Bingfield, I am so fond of it even in memory, but you know well after what I went thro' there, the misery was so great, I could not return, truly I am better away.
I enclose Tatlow's last a/c you will observe the charges I have to pay and will continue to pay even though you are tenants of Bingfield. I think my paying these taxes as usual whilst you benefit by house and land rent free, it is not too much to ask you to do the small inside repairs necessary. Of course chimneys and plumbers work at present I am anserable for.
Having stated my views will you let me know whether you will take Bingfield, and if so when. From what I heard Lord is only waiting to drop into Bingfield & make house and Desmense his own, I cannot tell you how I long for you to live in the place, and my impression is fresh interests etc. will arise for you such as you never dreamt of, & May too, I feel sure she and Vida will be very happy there. Lord in Nov. will clear out of the garden, or sooner if I took his standing crop. You must let me know what your wishes are on all these subjects.
Will you let me know when you and May wish to return here, for Oswald wrote today, he was delighted with my having asked him and Olave, so I want my sons to fit in comfortably. I heard from Vida today saying exams begin today, & she hopes for a prize. This is the very hottest day of the year, the birds have good baths amd I keep their cage on the ground.
Ever with love to May,
Yr ever affect Mother
Robert wrote back on the 24th accepting her offer. Not surprisingly there followed frantic activity finding trademen to do repairs, staff for the house, hay for animals & to get Lord out of the garden. The furniture in store had to be got out and transported from Winchester and more furniture bought. As light relief Robert amused himself learning how to ride a bike.Caroline Story.
They actually moved in on August 19th, having engaged a gardener for 12/6 per week, paid Lord £2:10:0 for his garden crops and installed a bath! His mother gave him £25 towards moving expenses.
It would seem that Robert had things going his way at lat, with an attractive, energetic young wife by his side and his family home to live in rent-free. Alas the frustrations and difficulties of his earler life pursued him down the years, he became a difficult husband and an irasible father, and in his later years took to drinking too heavily. He dies in 1924 a few days after he had heard he was a grandfather (that would be Belinda Story)
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