Joseph Smith and Family Conclusion

CONCLUSION

The last letter in this series was written by Joe Smith at the outbreak of war, in September, 1939. On first thoughts it seems a pity that these letters end when the war starts with all the momentous events that were to follow. However, for all these families they have already experienced their most momentous event in that they have emigrated to a new life on the other side of the world.

Thinking back to the two letters written by Joseph Liggins' wife, Sarah, and remembering how lonely she was in the new life, it is easy to realise how she must have felt when William Liggins and his family joined them. When the other two families also joined them in the same district they must have been considerable help to each other. They obviously were all very close to each other and all kept in close contact with their relations that they had left behind.

It is just a year since I started transcribing these letters and, from knowing nothing about my New Zealand relations, things have changed to a surprising degree. Reading the letters now, particularly those of Joseph and Sarah Liggins, they take one back to those times and make one feel that they came through the letter box only yesterday. How fortunate we are that they have survived through all the years and how things have changed from those early days. For example it is now possible to fly to New Zealand in a day or so. What a difference to Joseph and his family's sea voyage in 1884.

A book is being prepared at Tokomaru to celebrate the 100 th Anniversary of the school there and I know that certain items from these letters and photographs will be included in it. The most significant item is likely to be that part of Joseph's letter in which he refers to the site being prepared for the school. It will be very interesting to see the book when it comes out and is sent to us by Joseph's great grandson and his wife, Graeme and Linda Liggins.