Hobart
H M N Z T No9
21/10/14
Dea Everybody.
I have already posted a letter to day, but they say there is safety in numbers so in case you do not get the other one I will write another. In the one I wrote I said we were going on a route march through Hobart; well we did, & I am now sitting in my cabin after our return. We came alongside the wharf some time between hlf eleven & twelve, by which time most of the men had had their dinner & were ready to dis embark. The dis embarkation was timed to start at 12.30, & sharp to time the troops started to file down the gangway, & by a quarter to one, every man that was to go ashore. However there was a little delay then, for it was about 1.30 before we got a move on. There was only one half of the force ashore, because all the boats could not get alongside at once, about 5,000 in all. Now I will try & describe the route we took for Jeanie & Jess might remember it. In the
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first place the wharf we drew up at might not have been built when you were here, for I believe ti is quite a recent addition. However on leaving it we turned to the left striding along untill we struck the car line, this we followed for about a quarter of a mile then turned north & marched up a hill passing the University on our left. The street here seemed to pass through a town reserve or something of that sort, for it was all sown down & dotted all over with wattle trees, giving it a very picturesque appearance. After passing this we turned west a went down a fairly steep, what appeared to be a pathway, into the valley, then we turned northward again passing a place called “Maud Allen Terrace” on our right, & further on, a little back off the street another conspicuous building “Leslie House School.” Following on the same road we kept plodding along untill we came in sight of the Derwent right behind the town. This appeared as we were going down the other side, & then we halted for about ten minutes. On resuming the march we turned east down a side street for about a quarter of a mile passing under
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the railway & immediately turned for the wharf again. We kept pretty close to the line on our way back passing through the botanical gardens, passing a fort on our left, also government house. Then as we struck the car line again we followed it for a bit then turned down another street, passed the Royal Theatre, I think it was, & home again. This was about hlf three, & we remained alongside untill six o’clock then out into the stream to wait for about twenty four hours. I think is on of the quaintest & prettiest towns I was ever in. From where you enter the heads right up to the wharf it is simply a picture, rarely if ever seen in N.Z. None of the harbours I have been in can compare with it, of course there is not much shipping, but that does not alter the beauty of it. There are plenty of these small motor boats & little sailing boats. I thought Auckland was very pretty, but the bareness of the hills there cannot compare with the cultivated yet bush clad slopes around here. It is simply wonderful the effect the green patches have when you see it appearing through the bush. It might be said that we are seeing it its best but such is not the case, for the wattle trees
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are past their best, & there is a drought all over the island giving the grass & trees rather a dry appearance. One thing strikes you very forcibly as you go through the , & that is the poverty that must exist there. A great many of the houses are old I believe that right in the town the great majority of them are shingle roofs. The Tasmanian troops 1500 strong, left port the day before we arrived heading so it is said for Freemantle. They have not gone direct for I believe they are lying at anchor round in one of the bays, untill we go out & then they will fall into line. Just where we will pick up the Australian crowd I do not know, unless it is between here & Freemantle. I am writing the last of this on the morning of the 22nd & a perfect morning it is, showing Hobart & the harbour up to perfection. time is wearing on to breakfast time & as I am not sure of when the mail is going ashore I will have to stop & give this plenty of time. The other letter I posted to Auckland telling them to hand it round, & I want you to do the same with this. Well au rêvoir for the present
Yours Sincerely
E.S.McI.
[Written at top and side of page 1]
Tell little Jessie I was asking for her & that she is to send some kisses. Also get some of the kiddies to write, the letters will reach me sometime, & the more the merrier. I forgot to mention that the horses are all doing well under the conditions. We have lost two of this boat & I heard that the boat behind us, the “Star of India” had put seven over board.
E.S.McI.
The “Star of India” & “Waimana” are the two Auckland troopships. J.H.
[Written on reverse of page 3]
Mag Evans Riverton
Have been here for a week & just getting home by morning bus so no time to spare what a storm it has been raged all the time & I have been in bed with cold nearly all time so thought I would get home
Mary
