Au[c]kland, Tuesday morning, August 2/98.
We spent a very pleasant night with the Youngs. Mr. & Mrs. Buddle were also there & Mr. Furness soon joined us, & so on went the time till 11 o’clock we separated. This morning opened out stormy & wet but the sun is now shining, tho’ that is no [5:97] warranty of a fine day, as these storms break over the city with little warning. I intend to do the sights I’ve not yet overtaken. The weather has obstructed my viewing very much. I shall get all ready for posting tomorrow, as Mr. Cobb & I go off inland on Thursday morning, & the mail leaves here on Saturday & I don’t expect we shall be back before Monday.
Au[c]kland is a very important city, being the depót for all the Northern portion of the North Island, & all imports & exports are to & from here. There is one very grand street, Queen St., where the principal business is carried on & some very good architecture. The street is wide, tram lines in the center – horse service – & busses [sic] are plentiful to the suburbs. These are hilly & pretty, roads are bad, soft & have no mettle bottom, & ruts are plentiful causing rocking when riding in the coaches. Some coaches have 5 horses in, some 4, & none with less than 3, the roads are so heavy. The harbour is very pretty & extensive, & some beautiful views are to be got from high lands overlooking the harbour. In summer the whole surroundings must be charming. My host & hostess are extremely kind & make me feel quite happy & at home.
Yesterday I posted Mary’s letter to Petersbourg & enclosed 4 photographs which will interest them. I told her to write next to West Hartlepool.
Tuesday night: I went to the port on the west coast this morning, Onehunga. This is where vessels trading on the west coast land passengers & cargo for Au[c]kland, a distance of 7 to 8 miles from Au[c]kland. It takes the train about ½ hour to go. I had a desire to see it. Mr. Cobb landed there on Saturday afternoon. It has been so stormy on that coast since last week that the vessels could not go out. The open sea is 20 miles from the harbour, & it was blowing very strong while I was there. It was the “Takapuna” laying at the jetty, the steamer Mr. Cobb came from New Plymouth in. I got back to Au[c]kland at 20 to 1, had lunch & caught the 1:30 boat for Devonport, & arrived there at 1:50, bus waiting to take passengers to Lake Takapuna[1], drives around it & returns [5:98] to the jetty landing 1/6. This occupied 1 ho. 50 minutes & catches the 3:40 boat for Au[c]kland where I arrived at 4. I enjoyed the drive & scenery much, tho’ it blew & rained at intervals. I was inside, however, & very comfortable but for the rocking, bad roads, everywhere ruts 4 & 5 inches deep. The lake is fresh water & its singularity is that close to it is the sea. There is a fine hotel on the slope & a great resort in summer. It was blowing hard & the sea choppy crossing to Au[c]kland & cold too. I passed an hour viewing & then made my way to the Albert Hotel for 5 p.m. where I had to meet Mr. Cobb. He was there & we chatted till 6, then dined & at 7 set of[f] to visit Mr. & Mrs. King (Mr. E. Withy‘s daughter. She was home about 4 or 5 years ago & stayed a few months in W. H’pool). Mr. Cobb & they are great friends (single taxers). They were very pleased to see me & wondered I had not gone sooner. They have a fine baby boy, 6 months old, William King, & have a very cosy home. He is manager in a woolen warehouse & ready mades, & I am to go & see through the warehouse tomorrow. We left at 9:15 so that I might get a bus home, so Mr. Cobb & I parted at the bus stage, & I got home at 10 o’clock & thought I would write up tonight, as I may not have much time tomorrow, seeing we are to start on Thursday morning at 9:30 for the Hot Lakes & won’t get back till Monday night at 7:30, & my steamer, the “Westralia”, a beautiful boat, I have already described her, leaves here next Tuesday & I go down to Dunedin in her, calling at several points en route, & come back in her to Wellington in time to catch the “Miowera” on the 18 for Vancouver. I hope to touch Napier, Wellington, Christchurch, then Dunedin, & on return Christchurch again. Mr. Cobb is going to give me letters of introduction to friends down there, & I hope to photo his brother’s grave when at Christchurch.
[1] Probably Lake Pupuke, a freshwater lake in a volcanic crater near Takapuna.