SEVENTY-THREE YEARS AGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3765, 11 May 1926, Page 78

SEVENTY-THREE YEARS AGO.

TIIE DATS OF LONG VOYAGES. Mr 11. Duckworth has placed at our disposal a copy of a letter received by Mr R. F. Duckworth in 1853, after it had taken nearly six months to come from Scotland to Auckland and nearly three months lo come from Auckland to Dunedin, Mr R. F. Duckworth had arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Mary on April 11. 184 S. The letter, written to him by a friend in the Old Country, shows the interest that was taken over 70 years ago in the matter of emigration. It is as follows: — Leith, 3rd December, 1852. 17 Albany street. My Dear Robert,—l saw James Uniphrey a few days, ago and was much pleased on reading a letter dated in March. 1852, that he had received trom New Zealand. It was on a Saturday 1 saw James and, picking up that day's Advertiser, we noticed an advertisement of the sailing of the Hampshire on the 7th of this month, and we arranged that we should both write in time for the mail bag of that vessel, so that if one of our letters did not reach you there would be a chance in favour of the other. We were reckoning that they should reach you about the end of May next year. The occurrences in the Old Country have so little variation that there will be little l can acquaint you with. I am glad, how ever, to notice' the opportunity you have in the settlements. You will have noticed from English newspapers that the cmigra tion from Britain to Australia and New Zealand is enormous. I asked James if he had noi a notion to pay you a visit, hut I suppose he will tell you all about, that in his letter. It is a fact fchat it is as little thought of emigration to Australia now as our grandfathers thought of going to London in a Leith smack Every month or so there is a lively sight at Leith docks when an Australian emigrant ship is going out. They do not take a scanty dozen passengers as waft the case a few years ago, but have a lively host of 50 to iSO. They must, of course, cultivate patience (you would have to do so yourself) on the road out, but Gold land ahead will put all right, T can fancy how you are astonishing the natives (as we used to say) in the shape of laying off fields, making roads, felling trees, building houses, arid in fact making another thing of New Zealand. The early settlers, and you are one of them, may think that they have the worst of it in having introduced all these comforts for newcomers but for my part I think quite oppositely. Were it, my lot to follow you I should like- to do so before the red man leaves you and before you have got all the rough done so that T might see something new, for what interest would I take in changing to Dunedin were it n copy of Auld Reekie. You must write me when you receive this, and let us know all the progress you have been making, and 1 hope that the great numbers of vessels going south will have the effect of making communication more frequent and rapid. We unite in sending you and family onr best wishes, and I hope that New Zealand may repay your enterprise. By the time I am another year older I hope I shall have received your reply, and I remain. Yours most sincerely. Alexander Taylor.