Brown, H J (Mr), fl 1894: Travel journal of New Zealand and Australia

Travel journal of Mr H J Brown. Details a five month, 9 Feb - 3 Jul 1894, journey to New Zealand and Australia.

9 Feb - 24 Mar : Describes the voyage on the ship 'Oroya' from London to Sydney. Includes details about activities aboard the ship, day excursions at port cities - Gibralter [sic] with a Portguese guide called Joseph Buzaglo; Naples and Pompeii ruins with Mr Cook & Son (Tour guides); Port Said; Colombo at the Oriental Hotel and vehicle tour with Mr Cohen; Albany, West Australia; Melbourne; and final port Sydney.

25 Mar - 3 Apr: Describes time in Sydney staying at the 'Australia Hotel', and travels at to the Blue Mountains and Kaloomba [sic].

4 - 8 Apr : Describes the voyage on the ship 'Mararoa' from Sydney to Australia, and the unpleasant conditions on board.

9 - 19 Apr : Describes travel through the North Island from Auckland to Wellington on buggy and rail. Includes detailed description of visit to Whakarewarewa and hot pools area of Rotorua with tour guides Mr Cook & Son, staying at the 'Geyser Hotel', observations of Maori, cruise on Lake Rotorua to Mokoia Island, the story of Hinemoa and Tutauakie [sic], temple to the 'God of the Sweet Potato', Hamurana Stream, use of Maori language, Okere and Tutea Falls, Tikitere, Waiatapu Valley, Mount Tarawera eruption, Wairakie [sic], Huka Falls, Lake Taupo, Tarawera, the strains of buggy travel, Napier, train to Wellington, stay at the 'Occidential Hotel', pre European Maori times, and land ownership.

19 - 21 Apr : Describes voyage on the ship 'Penguin', from Wellington to Port Chalmers, via Lyttelton. Includes observation of Lyttelton.

21 - 26 Apr : Describes time in Dunedin, a visit to Rosslyn Woollen Mills, business trip to Woodlands and associates P Briscoe and Tom Price.

26 Apr - 1 May : Describes voyage on the ship 'Talune' from Port Chalmers to Hobart, Tasmania, via the Bluff. Includes retrospective general observations of New Zealand and Maori.

1 - 5 May : Describes Hobart, trip to Brown's River and train to Launceston.

7 - 8 May : Describes the voyage on the ship 'Patenna' from Launceston to Melbourne.

9 - 12 May : Describes time in Melbourne and the economy.

12 May - 3 July : Describes the return home voyage on the ship 'Ormuz' from Melbourne. Includes day excursions at port cities Adelaide, Colombo, Port Said, Naples, and Gibraltor; mentions 'Bluejackets' naval officers onboard, the frustration of the ship being quarantined in Colombo due to scarlet fever, the recreation onboard, and final entry mentions passing the ship 'Orient' outward bound.

End pages of journal include a tally distances (miles) travelled, list of people they met, books read, and 'Son Macauley's Riddle' in Arabic.

Source of title - Supplied by Library

Other - Frontpiece stamp 'Hatchett & Kingsnorth, Stationers, 428 Strand'

Quantity: 1 volume(s) 136 pages. 0.01 Linear Metres.

Physical Description: Mss, Newspaper clippings

p 62 sketch of a buggy; p 77 map of North Island and rail and coach routes taken; p 124 map of canal from Port Said to Suez.