JOSEPH LIGGINS’ FIFTH LETTER

Longburn Dairy, Palmerston North,

Manawatu, Wellington, New Zealand

January 12th, 1885

Dear Will,

It will not be a long letter this time. I am writing to catch the mail tomorrow, please forward enclosed and charge me with stamps. Sarah’s insurance must fall through. We can do better with the money.

Thanks for your greetings of the season, we wish you all a Happy New Year. We received your letter a fortnight ago. Xmas here is not like the Xmas you know. No meeting amongst relations, no nuts and wine in the afternoon, no cigars wheedled out of Mother to smoke on the road home, no-body to discuss church and state affairs with.

By the by, the papers here rage at the G.O.M. (Grand Old Man - the politician Gladstone) for his delay in annexing the Pacific Islands. Germany having drawn the feather over our eyes and stepped in. The Pacific Islands should be entirely Anglo-Saxon if we are ever to be famous and powerful now. An element of discord is introduced into our midst by the procrastination of the Government. If things are not worked better, Australia will separate from the Mother Country just like America did. They are strong enough to stand on their own bottom (pun intended?) and no doubt will do it. England would have no chance of reconquering it. We here are too much like England, blessed with too much coastline to be besieged. Supply could not be cut off, we have it in our midst. Men, money and materials too would not be waiting. I hope the warnings given by Australian organisations and delegates will be attended to ‘ere too late. The scare of foreign aggression reaches us here. The coastlines of Australia and New Zealand are being defended. Gibraltar could be more easily taken than Auckland or Wellington. As you may see by the map and you may more thoroughly understand it when I tell you that the approaches are guarded by overhanging and high rocks, inaccessible from the sea. Once in, a foe could not get out again.

I am rather surprised that John Stanfield came to Measham to gain a livelihood. What in the world possesses them? What animal has he bought to gain his living by at the markets? Is it a lamb with six legs and two heads or other phenomenon or freak of nature charging 2d a head to see the exhibition. I do not know of anything else that would pay at the markets. Kindly fully explain the weird animal; it comprises such a range of species and genus’s that I cannot fully grasp the situation. Then the shop at Measham; has a bomb shell fallen on the Price’s camp? I hope they will do well but cannot see it. If he asks you any advice, tell him to sell the freak of nature and go to manual labour which is more honourable.

We are going on all right at the factory; shall have a general meeting in March of shareholders. I should not be at all surprised if we do not eventually make cheese.

I have today had two visitors from Forty Mile Bush, more inland than here, who wish me to go and lecture on cheese making sometime. I shall go to their meeting if I am asked, though not to lecture. Perhaps I may have a chance to go there at more money.

We have just received 101 pigs to feed. Are sending butter by the next cool steamer to England. Hope it will fetch a good price but do not feel sanguine as we are getting so near your Spring.

Do not be cross at my short letter. I am writing this in haste; while the machinery is running my attention is divided, so cannot make a good show for a letter. Will write again soon fully. Hope all is well with you and at home. Accept love from Sarah, children and self for you, Ellen, Aunt and children. Remember our love to Measham friends. The appearance of the money I sent speaks more for our well doing than many letters. I endorse the second payment for £10.

I am your loving brother,

Joseph Liggins