Creator unknown : Diary

Volume with the title 'Natural History' in gold lettering on the spine, is a personal diary kept by an unidentified young woman, with regular entries for the period 28 March to 14 August 1860. Records many domestic details of life at home in Auckland and later Mangawai. Describes choosing a dress for the local ball. Also mentions the conflict in Taranaki between the troops under Colonel Gold and local Maori.

Diary makes reference to the names of residents and visitors in Auckland at the time and observations on local shipping movements. The writer then travels from Auckland to Mangawai together with her family and the newly acquired family cow, on the 'Grace Darling', on 2 August 1860. The writer's birthday is on 10 April, and makes frequent reference to "Lizzie", whose birthday is on 9th August, and "Meta" who would appear to be sisters. Closes with a poem and a page of portrait sketches in pencil.

From the content of the diary it would appear likely that the writer had recently arrived in Auckland on 16 March 1860 as one of the 229 passengers on board the 'Blue Jacket' under Captain Hugh Clarke - after departing from Liverpool on 26 November 1859. The 'Blue Jacket' departed from Auckland for the onward journey to Wellington on 31 March 1860. A number of individuals named on the passenger list are also mentioned by name in the diary, and reference is made to "our Blue Jacket friends".

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

Physical Description: Mss, holograph, pencil and ink in notebook, 32 leaves of ruled laid paper bound in embossed black leather with title in gilt lettering on spine, 18 x 11 cm.

Provenance: Diary was deposited with the Library by Mrs Dawn Walton on behalf of her son Dr David Callahan. Dr Callahan had found the diary amongst waste paper when he worked for the Devonport Council as a rubbish collector (during his school holidays) in the 1970s.