Georgina G Anderson, 1863-1953 - A visit to New Zealand 50 years ago

Volume is a compilation of an original manuscript diary (1884-1885) with pencil and watercolour illustrations which has been copied and revised (1935). The diary has been rebound with the original manuscript pages removed to be replaced by typescripts. The original illustrations and title pages appear intact.

The diary begins with the departure from England on 29 Aug 1884 of the travelling party aboard the `S S Doric'. The party includes Georgina Gertrude Anderson, her mother, sister and maid. There is a brief description of the voyage, shipboard life and ports of call (Cape Horn, Teneriffe and Hobart). Wellington is reached on 17 Oct 1884. The diary continues with details of a visit around Wellington township then recalls an adventurous journey to Foxton by coach, followed by a train ride to their destination in Wanganui. Next day the travellers continue to family properties in the Makirikiri Valley. The chief reason for the author's visit to New Zealand is for her sister's wedding on 20 Oct 1884 in Wanganui. From here she journeys with her mother to Wellington via the inland route through Marton, Palmerston North and Masterton. From Wellington they ventured aboard the steamer `Wairarapa' to Port Lyttelton, then onto Christchurch. The next big event is Christmas 1884 in Wanganui and the dairy reccounts their preperations for the celebrations and church service. The next section details the last adventure through the North Island by steamer, coach and train visiting New Plymouth, Auckland, Cambridge, Rotorua, the Blue and Green lakes, Lake Tarawera, Te Wairoa and Napier. Included in this passage is a detailed account of visiting the Pink and White Terraces (a year before the 1886 eruption). On 13 Mar 1885 the return journey was made to England aboard the `S S Rimutaka' via the Straits of Magellan. Mention is made of the many icebergs they sailed past and the stopover in Rio de Janeiro and their sightseeing trips on land. Diary ends 26 Apr 1885 with the arrival at the Albert Docks, Liverpool.

The diary recounts an eight month travel experience to New Zealand. The author is in a party of four visiting New Zealand to attend the wedding of her sister Helen Anderson to William Forster Mills.

Quantity: 1 volume(s).

Physical Description: Ms, typescript & illustrations

Volume includes many watercolour and pencil illustrations. Themes for the sketches are local tourist spots of interest, New Zealand fauna, icebergs in the Straits of Magellan, and ports of call during the voyage to and from New Zealand.

Processing information: Archivists notes - The author notes she was a young woman on this trip and that she returned to New Zealand for another visit 20 years later. This typescript is indicated as being 50 years after the first trip and includes annotated corrections.

Volume has fragile binding and cover, handle with care.

Alternative form available: See 91-302-3 for another typed transcript of this diary with biographical notes