Letter 1930

Hastings N.Z.
15 July 1930

Dear Mrs Cowen

I owe you an apology re a letter received some time ago thanking me for a frozen lamb sent to you

It was gratifying to hear the fact both enjoyed the flavour in preference to the English mutton dont feel offended if I say I dont agree with your choice and decision personaly [personally] give me English Beef and Mutton anytime but it will surprise you to hear that lambs in this district are fattened slaughtered and frozen direct from the Mother Earth and not fed on Turnips and Rape

We are blessed here with good land and fine shunshine [sunshine] wether [weather] and tho the sheep owners do not provide winter feed for there stock but they are all having a most […] bad time owing to the low selling price of wool namely 7d 8d 9d finest 1/- just half the price of previous years

ESTABLISHED 1881
PHONE 12   BOX – 171

E. NEWBIGIN
Burton Brewery
WINE and SPIRIT MERCHANT
and Aerated Water Manufacturer
HASTINGS

HASTINGS   192.

this was more in our line and Dad didn’t object to the price but it came one of the Basket first and eat it as a sample then got into trouble with the native who strongly objected to his conduct

He explained it was fine and the first peach he ever tasted in his life the majority of Native at that time were a  tall handsome race of people particularly the half cast male and Female Civilisation

Food and habits of living have […] them to a […] but kindly and generous to a fault they have disposed of the best of there Lands in January Eldest Brother and Sister and Father Died of Typho [Typhoid] Fever this let me care to provide for my cattle[?]

ESTABLISHED 1881
PHONE 12   BOX – 171

E. NEWBIGIN
Burton Brewery
WINE and SPIRIT MERCHANT
and Aerated Water Manufacturer
HASTINGS

HASTINGS   192

four years old I was fortunate in getting a good job with a Brewer to look after his pony and American Buggy the old man drove one through the town and country three days a week […] orders of Beer Whisky and wines and in this position I knew all the news of merchants in town and country

The principle [principal] street at that time was queen Street and the […] were the principal occupants

The gale [gaol?] or lock up was  situated halfway up at the corner of Victory Street I occasionally pay a visit to the old town and look with astonishment and amazement at the […] it now is

Many speculators have been ruined and the estates with heavy mortgages are being sold for half the original cost

This appears to the be fate of the first and second generation of families that I have known for many years.

The fine old pioneers are dieing [dying] out they were hospitable honest and trustworthy the life and lives of the present colonial born is entirely different today. The family including Father and Mother all enjoy themselves in any thing that is giving women cigarettes and cards. Bridge is the favourite gambling Horse […] Boxing matches […] Hurdle racing and now they are taken to Flying machines

during the night we are blessed here with a fine climate only three months realy [really] cold weather and therefor [therefore] winter food is not provided. the [The] sheep country land is principally Lime store formations and the flat Lands are planted all kinds of fruit are grown Peaches lemons apples and oranges but stock owners are having a very bad time this year owing to the heavy drop of the price of wool in fact to be correct at just half previous years prices and the price of Land has come down considerable yet there is no reduction in Labourers wages who demands 14/ [14/-] per day

Dudley has left this morning for ???? calling at Mohaka on the journey down there was a heavy fog

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Went into business on my owne [own] and up to 1931 had doing [done] well until the great Earthquake came along and buried about 30,000 pounds in property and owing to the law selling price of the principal producers of sheep cattle wooll [wool] and fruit the value of the land and town properties has gone down to just half of its original value and owing to the huge increase of popopulation [population] and production I don’t think we will live to see the happy prosperous times we usded [used] to have. Howeve [However] I have a lot to be thankful for although suffering with ??? nuritis [neuritis]. I have a cumferteabl [comfortable] House and Home free of all incombeance [encumbrance] and Dudley my son is now married also Dorice [Doris?] and Glace [Clara?] and Claras [Clara’s] family there is 2 single ????? Daughters very comfortably with a Business shop this is manage [managed] by the Brother Fred who has also a very fine house and 2 acres of ground well planted in trees and tennis lawns. He is a very popular chap at present on holiday tour to the Waitanga [Waitangi] Celebrations brought about

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by the generosity of our present Govenor [Governor] and I can speak of many since 1874 since Sir George Gray time although Jelicoe [Jellicoe] is not to be despised he was a good sport and well liked by everyone. The majority were poor in comparison to the present subject.

I ???? [crafted?] to past [pass] to you an alustrated [illustrated?] paper with particulars of his wonderful gift which was being neglected and looked upon as no value owing to the poor Land in that District. and going it there as from Equal in the north to this District although that is the first and oldest inhabited part of N.Z by the white people. I know all about it for I worked in a coal mine near by for a short time. It [It] is situated on the extrem [extreme] portion of the North Island and nearer to Australia than any other portion of NZ. Father was granted 140 acres of Land before he left England by the Government he did not come out as an Emigrant but paid the passage of all his family and was

entited [entitled] to this Grant of Land.  I sold it at 3/6 per acre and have never seen it

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the northering [???] Raily [Railway] line now near or possily [possibly] through a portion of it. I think the reason that took up this Lands here he knew of the Burnetts of Bringham were living in that direction or District. Onwone [On one] occasion I meet [met] Mr Burnett who told  me the man servent [manservant] that came out to N Z with them had a recommendagtion [recommendation] from Father. Fellow committed suicide by himself in the River. I believe he Bought [bought] a section of land in the township. What is a fairly well Built [built] Town today what is called Whangari. I had quite a romantic trip by a sailing cutter to this pretty village as I saw it. I told the Captain on the Auckland Wharfe [wharf] that we had Land somewere [somewhere] in the District. He ???? me to take a trip with him. We had a very Rough [rough] passage and put into a port for shelter. It was Inhabited [inhabited] by Noveaschoss [Nova Scotians] from Cannada [Canada]. ???? all spoke Galiak [Gaelic]. I was glad to get ashore and a dear old woman gave me  a warm feather Bed [bed] for the night. The following morning

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I was glad to see the Cutter lying at anchor. The Capt came ashor [ashore] and bought a Bag [bag] of potatoes. Then procedin [proceeding] on to Whangari [Whangarei?] where we arrived early in the afternoon. Ower [Our] cargo consisted prieply [principally] of Tea Sugar Floure [Flour] Cheese and other household stores. There was a few young Girls waiting for thei [their] Mail and there [their] Horses Grazing  loosly [loosely] along the Bank of the River. I hopped ashore walked up the Road and thought It was the prittyes [prettiest] place I had ever seen. There was a few natives near the Public House and too [to] my surprise I meet [met] a Coal Miner that came out in the Ship with us. A married man who told me that a Mr Bedlington from Bringham had opened coal mine there or was manager or owner there. I felt over joyed. payed [Paid] them a visit. Lost the entire by Road never reached the Land I meant to

We left England for new Zealand in the sailin [sailing] ship Ardbeg arriving in Auckland on the 17 December after a voyage of 120 days in 1864. Shortly after arrival eldest Brother William John age 21 and Sister Eliza 19 Died of fever. Father took ill and also Died. Clara Jane survived and was married to Mr Frederick John [crossed out] George Smith of Napier.

William John Newbigin Died of Fever at Auckland New Zealand date
Eliza Newbigin Died of fever at Auckland New Zealand
John Newbigin Father of the above June Died Hawke’s Bay New Zealand

Mr. E. Newbigin,
Brewer,
HASTINGS.