Kia Ora From New Zealand

[Riverkilt]

Welcome,

Everything I know about New Zealand I learned from Once Were Warriors...

Actually, one branch of my family sailed there from Nova Scotia, but sadly, that line died out the first generation.

They went to Inglewood, Teramaki (?) about 1860. Have a letter home from there dated April 26, 1912. "Inglewood is a nice little borough. I was here when there were only two houses [1902] and now we have a population of 1400. We have good waterworks and electric light in every room and the country is full of motor cars." "There is no poverty in New Zealand. The poor as well as the rich have plenty to eat. Any person unable to work or make a living the Charitable Aid Board takes them in hand and they are well provided for. I must now say something about the Native race the Maoris. In 1860 there was a war between the Natives and the White people but as ususal the Natives got the worst of it. And since that war we are on the best of terms with them. They are a noble race, very intelligent and physically they excell the Whites. Gaelic is not spoken here. I never spoke 20 words of Gaelic since I came to New Zealand. In the south Islands where the Scots settled they speak Gaelic fluently."

He adds a footnote, "What a sad affair the Titanic Disaster.'

Ron