JOSEPH LIGGIN’S FOURTH LETTER Longburn Diary, Karere, Nr, Palmerston North 18th December, 1884 Dear Will, I was not surprised to hear of Grandfather’s death, he was getting a poor old man and I doubt his last days were not so pleasant as he thought they would be. I expected that the brass would go to where it did. You see our women folk brow beat him a bit and I knew he would never forgive them. Although the old chap was very much to blame over the Railway Inn. Pleased Luke is getting around again, he will have to be especially careful. You do not say if Ellen is strong again, I hope so. I am glad that you left old Barker. You will be better off with Davenport’s. They used to be straight people. Only, if you ever have to seek any orders, do not drink with anyone for company, give it away. Let people know, then they will not ask you. I enclose order or draft, I don’t know which is best and am enquiring for £10. How are they getting on at the house? You will have money out of this to pay my interest club, Roberts interest and insurance. If you have any money to spare when you go to Measham, go to Bob’s and look round and see if they are well shod or what is wanted worst and buy them a pair of shoes each or what you think best, to the value of £1. We are doing well here now, making good butter and giving satisfaction. I drew a nice cheque last week. We are working very long hours, from 6 to 1 and from 5 to 9. Sometimes all day, but we are at the busiest season; milk will come short directly. Then we commence pig killing and curing, etc. We are sending butter to England soon. I hope the venture will be a success. The shareholders and directors seem satisfied with the way in which the factory is conducted. There are very many butter and cheese factories starting all over New Zealand so that I think that, if I have my health, there is no fear but what I shall always obtain regular remunerative employment. Thank you for the papers. I like to see the home papers, our daily papers are a swindle, full of gossip and scandal. No ability whatever required to start a rag here. Pay yourself for the Bee Journal and cost of postage; please continue sending them. If you have been at any cost on my account, deduct the money. I think I remember you took a trip to Wirksworth but I don’t see the train fare on your statement. We are all well here, only worried to death with the mosquitoes. I enclose a few I caught while I am writing this letter, off my face and hands. Look at their trunks. They shove them, right up to the hilt, into you like a shot; then gorge themselves with blood but the worst is their itch afterwards and the rise in eruptions. They go for "new chums". Jonathan has been a perfect sight. The mosquitoes, on inserting their trunks, inoculate the system with a poison from the swamps which are plentiful here, many districts being undrained. This inoculation is beneficial as malaria does not attack people who are well bitten with them. They seem to die off on the first frost and come again in the warm weather. There is a sand fly that bites badly too. These are little blue flies and stick to their whack well. They will let you kill them before they will let you go. Mosquitoes are cowards and are hard to catch. You can catch them when the trunk is inserted. Sarah likes the place better than she did. She sometimes takes a trip to Palmerston and brings our breakfast to the factory every morning, which breaks the monotony. The receipt of a nice cheque, honestly wanted for grub, is a wonderful satisfying affair and smooths over many trifling inconveniences. The children are fine and strong. The baby appears as strong as any we have had. She can walk and call us by our names. Edie and Harry seem to be the worse bitten by those mosquitoes. They come upon you, lean and thin like Pharaoh’s lean kine and, if you let them stop, they will bloat themselves and appear like a bladder of blood. Talking of our old friend Pharaoh, we have experienced three of his plagues; let me say in your ear. First the plague of lice which I believe invaribly breaks out on a long voyage of an emigrant ship. Oh Moses! I will not describe next the plague of boils and blains which are an acclimatising experience. Third the plague of flies. Mosquitoes of all classes, colours and descriptions abound here. Meat in hot weather is instantly blown by a yellow fly with not germs but living maggots. There are some stingers too, that give you a dart like a wasp, then off they go. Moths are gigantic and numerous, they too leave a maggot on anything woollen. We had a feed of eels the other day. Eels are plentiful. Boys put a lot of big worms on a string and attach it to a stick. The eels hang on and the boys throw them out over their heads and drop a stick across them. Fine sport, eel catching! We are now eating gooseberry pie, strawberries, young potatoes, etc. ad lib and have been doing so for a fortnight. The weather is not oppresive, just pleasant. The present weather is a phenomenon; we have rain now and again, which is short lived here as a rule in warm weather. I am sorry than John thinks of stopping at home, the risk is too great to recommend. The workmen get high wages sure but work like niggers while at it. It would be better so in England - good work, good pay., but you know that the people who do the least work often get more money at home. An instance here are station masters, they earn less money than porters who do the lifting.
Joseph Liggins’ Fourth letter with reference to Money Order shown below dated 31st December 1884
January 2nd, 1855 Unfortunately, I did not obtain the draft soon enough for last mail. I enclose first payment, second payment by another ship, perhaps in a fortnight. Christmas is over. No doubt you would be gathered together as usual. I should like to have popped in as usual but should like to come back here too, so that the nearest I could do was to keep wondering if you all were there. We had a Christmas pudding and schemed a Santa Claus for the children tho’ they were in a stew the evening before thinking that there could be no fairies amongst the bush. I worked Christmas Day as usual. Everybody else made a great holiday of Boxing Day but of course we were fast. I meant to have written more letters but have had my time so very fully occupied that I have had to write this by bits and snatches. We are going on well here, shall have a general meeting next month when no doubt we shall decide about going on again either to make cheese or butter. I have no doubt that I can stay on here if I wish and the money offered is sufficient. We are all well. Give our love to Ellen, Aunt and the children, also to yourself, Mother and Measham people. Sarah joins with me in congratulating you on the change in employment. I hope you are all well. 6.30 a.m. Milk is coming in, shall have to shut up. With much love, I am your affectionate brother, Joseph Liggins Another, like enclosed (draft), to follow before you can draw it. In your letters be careful how Netherseal news is said. ------------------------------------------------------ Postmasters here open letters
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