George Lodge (Ipswich, Queensland; Parramatta; Otago) to Edgar Battye. (126p.), 12 November 1888-10 February 1891

Component identifier:

File 18-25

Content Summary:

Subjects include: Employment at Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company at North Ipswich; voyage to Australia on Austral September - October 1888; trips on shore in Mediterranean; taking on board Italian opera company visiting Melbourne; Suez Canal; abstract log; effects of heat - sleeping on deck; Colombo; death of Lord Hastings' valet; tug of war, 2nd class v 3rd class, Irish v England; Albany; Williamstown; took train to Melbourne 'The streets are very wide … they have a splendid cable tramway'; Sydney; voyage to Brisbane on Fitzroy, three passengers refuse to pay, have to go 2nd class - better food than on Austral ; annual factory treat to Southport - saw kangaroos, making tea 'billy tea is considered to be the best made tea'; working at the mill 'the girls at the factory come to their work in hats and dresses with improvers or sunshades and gloves'; aboriginals 'there is not many of them left now, no one can teach them to do anything'; weaving blankets for the Government to give to aboriginals; South Sea islanders; Chinese supply neighbourhood with vegetables; Germans will work for lower wages; differences in working conditions 'there is not always someone looking at the looms here like there is at Washpit'; his working conditions weaving blankets, flannel and worsted cloth; benefits of working in Australia; different mode of living 'the bread is all made at the bakers … we have meat to every meal nearly'; food is kept in a safe 'they have to set the safe feet in small tins of water to prevent ants and cockroaches getting in'; reasons for leaving the factory and moving to New South Wales; working at weaving mill built by convicts in 1825 in Parramatta owned by Murray Bros.; description of Parramatta - fruit growing, learning to ride; reasons for going to New Zealand; death of Searle in Victoria; climate of New Zealand; Christmas celebrations in the sun; description of Wellington; woollen factories in New Zealand; leaves New Zealand due to cold climate and returns to Parramatta.

Processing information:

M2797

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