Arrival of Immigrants

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1921, Page 4

Arrival of Immigrants

ERO-M OLD LAND TO NEW

WELLINGTON, August 1

Conversing with the immigrants aboard the J’akeha and as they came ashore, a "Times” representative was impressed by the general atmosphere of hope and cheerfulness. Homesick a number of the passengers no doubt were That is. inded. ini’Writable amongst so many about to land in a strange laud, so far away from the Mother Cofuntry. But lor the great majority, it was clear. all such feelings were swallowed up in the ,keen interest with which they looke*' forward to settling down and making (heir way in the country of their adoption. One Scotch couple, hailing from Dundee and bound for Dunedin, had some cause, perhaps, to Ire downhearted. as (lui wife had bad t-o be operated on during the voyage for appendicitis. But happily. she is making a good recovery: they have good friends to go to in Dunedin, and they await with fortitude and cheer what the future has in store for them 'l’lie husband is a naval reservist, and he served in the Royal Navy, throughout the war, in mine-sweepers, in destroyers, and for a time in one ol the famous “mystery ships.” He had many narrow escapes, being torpedoed no less than eight times.

Another immigrant, a Yorkshireman this lime, came from Halifax, in the heavy woollens district, and with his wife. was hound for Christchurch where they had friends. He had served in the British army during the war. on more than one battle front. His outlook was optimistic: he had a little money laid by: and, from what his friends told him. had hopes that before very long he would find congenial occupation - perhaps poultry-farm-ing, perhaps fruit-growing, or may he 0. combination of 1 noth— not too fat removed from his friends. Yet a third immigrant had come with his young wife from Belfast anil is to proceed by tonight’s Main Trunk

i-ess to Mercer, in the vicinity

which they have relatives and friends, who are settlers of eighteen years’ standing. Tt, is their intention to take ip) farming. A fourth man who was interviewed is stonemason—another Yorkshireman, with a wife and four sturdy hoys. He is making for Christchurch with the intention of finding work there at his trade. “There aiv none too many stonemasons at Home.” he said, “and I suppose you have plenty of room for another here.”

“Wo have had a splendid trip right through, so far as the weather is concerned,” said a. stalwart ex-service-man, just the type to make a good settler: “and. on the whole, we have had a very comfortable and enjoyable time. Some of them certainly, have grumbled a hit. But for most of these it was their first voyage, and they expected too much.. This was my eighth voyage—T made several voyages from one front to another during the war. so T knew what could he reasonably expected. Tt is mv first trio so far as New Zealand and we intend to settle down and make our home here. “There was a good deal of sport and entertainment during the voyage. We had no less than three fancy-dress dances for example; and tlm children’s fancy-dress dance was ''specially good.”