Jonathan Moscrop grew up in Albert Hill, Darlington, where his family were ironworkers. In the late-1870's, heavy industry was hit by a recession which reduced many wokring class people to poverty. Jonathan, and his friends, the Matthews family decided to emigrate to seek a new life in New Zealand. This is the final extract from the diary of his voyage.

Jonathan Moscrop's epic voyage to New Zealand ends with his arrival in Port Chalmers, near Dunedin.

Saturday, April 19, 1879

We sighted land this morning about breakfast time. Snares Island is a nasty looking place for mariners, and I think the name is well applied for any vessel going around there would meet with sure destruction.

We have run 249 miles during the last 24 hours.

(Later) Stewart Island is in full view this afternoon so we see New Zealand in reality after what has been to me a tedious passage and I am very glad that it is nearly ended. I sat up until 2am and saw the light from the lighthouse.

Sunday, April 20

The land is in full view this forenoon and it presents a very rugged appearance as seen from the water. We have had very light wind today so that we only reached the entrance to the harbour of Port Chalmers (near Dunedin) about five o'clock this afternoon and we were too late to get towed in tonight so we have anchored till morning.

There has been a vessel following us all day but we beat her by a few miles. She is now anchored near our ship.

Monday, April 21

The pilot has been aboard all night but we did not leave our anchorage until nearly noon when we were towed into Port Chalmers by a splendid tug boat named the Hoputia (generally called Cup o' Tea). I think she was built on the Clyde at Glasgow.

It is a charming sight to look at the hills on each side of the entrance to the harbour. The scenery is beautiful, houses scattered here and there, some near the top of hills and some quite near to the water. There is a great amount of bush on nearly every place one can see. There are also hundreds of seabird flying about the "bar". It is a pretty sight to watch them.

We got safely anchored in the harbour about quarter past one this afternoon and we had not been laid long when boats put off from the wharfe, and in one them were Mr and Mrs Terry from Darlington and also a Mr Ross, an elderly gentleman from Newcastle upon Tyne who has been out here some years.

Mrs Matthews had a parcel for the Terrys which she delivered to them. I felt very pleased to see them.

(Later) There are not so many of us on board now as the paid passengers have landed while we (in the cheaper steerage) have to wait till morning. We had a lot of provisions sent from shore this afternoon, among which was mutton and we had a little for our tea and it tasted good after being so long without any.

Tuesday, April 22

A train came alongside this morning and the boxes were hoisted out of the hold and put into the trucks. Then we landed and got into the carriages and were taken to the depot at Caversham where we remained till Wednesday morning when we went to Dunedin (Caversham is a short distance from Dunedin) and took a train at 10am for Oamaru, where we arrived after a journey of five or six hours duration (80 miles).

As Mr Cartwright was not at the station we went to the depot where we were very kindly treated until his arrival, and he went with us to get a house.

We got one after a deal of trouble as they all had to get here and the one we got is rather small but we must make it serve till we get a larger one.

Mr C has acted like a man and proved himself one by the manner in which he came to the rescue and I for one shall now soon forget his kindness to us.

So endeth the rigmarole.

Jonathan Moscrop author,

Maiden Edition.

l Find out what happened to Jonathan Moscrop in next week's Echo Memories

Published: 19/03/2003

Echo Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF, e-mail chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk or telephone (01325) 505062.