Log and Diary of William Hodkinson (147pp.), 26 June 1860-10 October 1860

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

Daily log and diary kept as a passenger in the sailing ship Phoenix of the White Star Line, from Auckland to Liverpool.

From the text it is clear that W.H. originally went out to Australia, but that he had spent some years in New Zealand. He was returning home with his wife and four children, John William, Mary Ann, Margaret, and Alice Jane. Subjects include: farewell visit from his late partners, John Booth, F. Sheppard, and William D. Wilkie, soda manufacturers from Wynyard Pier; fire at Mr. Denny's hotel and a clothier shop of Mr Poole's; a stowaway; fights and quarrels among both crew and passengers; cargo (mostly kauri timber) ditched because of ship's leak. In his farwewell thoughts W.H. also refers to the Maori Wars, "….and we are sorry to see the rupture that as [sic] caused blood to flow from the Packaise and Maoris and driving thousands from thy lovely shores to seek a livelihood in distant lands".

Processing information:

M2575

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