Awapuni
April 7th 1918
Dear Mary
Back once more to my dear old home at Awapuni. I suppose I will be able to appreciate it more as a home after I leave N.Z. Some o the chaps told me they saw a list of the men leaving by next Reinforcement or, rather I might explain that this list of names was handed in to the Camp Quartermaster’s store for the purpose of supplying those men with identification Discs well, anyhow they say that my name is among them, so I can reckon on leaving N.Z. very soon now perhaps about the middle of the month. Later have just seen my name on list.
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At Oamaru I saw Mr Tonkin & Mrs. Jack Tonkin & another lady I don’t remember who she was now, yes, Mrs Pygall sen. Kate had not got as far as Oamaru but was staying with Mrs Palmer (Annie) in Christchurch so I wired her there from Oamaru saying I was passing through & would like her to come down to Lyttleton with me which she did & brought the children with her; Mrs Palmer and Mrs Russell also came with her; I had about an hour with them altogether I felt like overstaying my leave until Monday, perhaps I would have had I not seen them as I did. Kate seems to have stood her trouble very well
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in fact I didn’t notice any difference on her to the time when they were over here last; she says she hasn’t really had much time to grieve over her trouble, but, thinks she will feel it worse after she has settled down a while. she doesn’t intend going south for a while & I don’t think we could expect her to either just yet; she wants to get Ian started at School as soon as possible Ian looks quite a little man wearing a tweed over coat & a brown felt hat which suits him to T one would never think that he had been brought up among a lot of blacks he chats away quite freely & is
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at all backward; he seems to be very affectionate & fastened on to ‘me’ as soon as he saw me. Kate thinks he can see a likeness in me to his Daddy, I think he resembles his mother a good deal. Mavis, I think is very like Mrs Mowbray (Bessie Tonkin) & is a little fatty with blue eyes just the opposite to Ian. (Kate says Bob was not at all well since he had the measles). Chris and I had a good run round to Edendale that day we left I ran in & said goodbye to the Cartwrights when passing they are expecting John home soon. we got to the Grange in good time for dinner; Bill was hoarse with a cold. we stayed about an hour.
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Maggie Yule didn’t come to boat I wrote her telling about Kate & gave her address in ChCh if she would care to go and see her there
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I loaded myself up with apples. then I called in at Pegs’ for a few minutes & Nellie came to train with us. Peg was all excitement when I told her that Chris Hunter was driving me over; she had it in her head that Bessie Hunter is my girl, so she starts to change herself on the spot, – she puts on a clean Bodice (or whatever you call it) & Apron and says “I’ll come down to the gate, will I?” “Yes, come down, I said, you know Chris is a wealthy farmer & you might get him for a son in law yet.” anyhow, she came down to the gate, and of course, said a lot in a short time, Chris, laughing all the while & looking
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sideways at her sometimes I suppose he thought her a “rummy.” Mag had just come in to Dunedin the Thursday morning Joey Green was in Dunedin too she hadn’t got home from her holiday then but expected to be on Sat. I think Mag was going back next day. of course Alex would tell you this; “I forgot.” I posted the two Button Sticks to Eckie from Wellington I hope he gets them alright, one is for Geordie Crosbie. I think I have given you all the news so I will stop as I want to write one or two more yet. am at home in camp today wet day. Your Brother. J. Hall
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Joey and Tommys letter was waiting for me when I arrived back along with others
