Cargen
Residential Hotel
Auckland, NZ
Telephone 2287
(Sunday) 10 November 1912
My Dearest Dolly
Once more I have the pleasure of writing you. My pipe is well alight & my tea is digesting nicely so there is nothing to interrupt a nice little chat. In the first place I am keenly anxious to know how everybody is, but must practice patience till Friday or Saturday. Another week yet. Where did I leave off in my last? I don’t think I included Wednesday’s diary. The mails here run very irregularly & I never know exactly where I am.
I wired Arthur Bentley on Wednesday asking if I could go to tea & he replied in the affirmative so I met him about five o’clock & went out to his place. He used to know me exactly 20 years ago. Now he is married & has three bonny little kiddies. He lives in a lovely place. The situation is perfectly charming & the view extends for miles & miles. We sat on the verandah all night & talked of old times.
Thursday I was fairly busy throughout the day and had not much time for sightseeing. We finished business by five o’clock & till dinner time we had some music a lady (married) staying here sings rather well & she brought all her songs into the room & so we all spent a very pleasant two hours.
After dinner Orr & I took a customer to the theatre to see The Mikado by an amateur society. It was not particularly thrilling but the chorus was about the best I have ever heard. The principals were rotten especially the tenor. No one would have dreamt he was singing except that you saw his lips moving.
After the show we saw the customer safely on the boat & came home.
Friday morning I was more or less busy but had time for a short sleep in the afternoon. I met Mrs Heap at four o’clock & went out to her place. She is a very similar woman to you. Full of life & go & always in the thick of the fray & in consequence is suffering from indigestion from overwork. I haven’t mentioned overwork to you lately but trust you have had the good sense to see where it would end if you kept on as you were doing.
Anyway we had a very pleasant & enjoyable evening. I initiated them into the mysteries of bridge for which they were truly grateful.
Saturday morning I stayed in bed but later got down to the sample room where I found a cable awaiting me. Prices have gone sky high again & I feel particularly annoyed as customers will not buy at present prices.
In the afternoon although It was raining we set off for a long walk. We ferried across to Birkenhead & walked round to Northcote – a distance of five or six miles I should say. We called on Arthur Bentley again & spent five minutes with him & I took a photo of the view from his verandah. Whether it will turn out successfully or not is a moot point as the light was far from good.
After dinner we went down to the music hall & witnessed a good show. The fly in the ointment was that two or three people near us would insist on eating roast pea-nuts. Of all the abominable smells I commend pea nuts especially if your stomach is the least little bit out of order. Mine wasn’t but the smell nearly made it so.
This morning we set off & walked to Mount Eden. It was a glorious day & we felt life was worth living. The breeze was as gentle as a zephyr & with just a little nip in it made walking delightful.
What a view you get at the top. You command almost the whole universe.
On one side the harbour of Auckland stretches away for miles & miles. On the other side you see the waters of the South Pacific Ocean lapping the shore. Only 6 miles separates the two oceans & you can see them both from the top of the mountain.
I spent a few minutes taking each photograph & I am in hopes the five of them will turn out well particularly as the light was brilliant. I have never seen a volcanic crater before & I should imagine that at one time this mountain was very active.
We walked back & the whole of the way is – what shall I say – gorgeous? The lovely English gardens & the scent of the flowers, the hawthorn on the hedges all tend to induce the utmost longing for the English country lanes again.
Ah well twill not be long now.
This afternoon we heard rumours that there would be a band in the park. Unfortunately it was a rumour & after waiting a few moments admiring the flowers & trees in the park we made tracks for Herne Bay.
In an evil moment I decided to leave my camera at home. Why on earth I should have done is beyond me. Needless to say I wanted it more than ever. The views are charming & one especially so. It was low tide & two boats were grounded in the sand. As soon as we saw them we both exclaimed "What a perfect picture". I cannot describe it but I shall endeavour to go down tomorrow & photograph them.
And here I am after tea writing my letters.
I have not yet decided whether I shall go to Rotorua or not but will fix it up definitely tomorrow.
Truth to tell I have not enough money & until I get my letter of credit next Friday I shall have to be careful – unless I can induce Orr to lend me some,
If you ever cable me, as I expect you will shortly, my address is "Rectitude" or rather Todd’s address is. Then in front of your message you put Smith – frinstance
Rectitude Sydney
Smith ------
See!
I think (now for heavens sake don’t think I am getting impatient) but really I do think it will better & easier to break with W before Xmas. Of course you know best but as I shall be home shortly & distinctly I do not want people to make remarks for your own sake, (As you know I don’t care a Continental) & they would be sure to do so if I came home soon after you broke it. Now you see my meaning. Still as I say you are on the spot & know better than I do. Will you just cable me the word "broken" & I shall understand.
All messages to go to Sydney & Todd will forward them on to me.
I am sorry I cannot be with you but when you think things over calmly you will see that it is better it should be done sometime before I get home.
If you want anything in any way please cable me & you can have whatever you want by return. You are all in all to me & I don’t intend running the slightest risk of losing you just because I am too shy to offer anything or you are too reluctant to ask for anything.
Now you see my meaning. I shall soon be home now sweet heart & life will be easy for us both.
I hear from both Bentley & Heap that my father thinks I have a girl somewhere but he cannot fathom it. Anyway he expects my engagement shortly.
Now as it is eleven o’clock I am going to bed & dream about you. Bye bye dearest till Tuesday.
Monday. I find out the mail leaves early today so have nothing more to add.
With my dearest love sweetheart
Yours as ever
Harry
Via Tahiti & Frisco
Personal
Miss Darlington
Suffrage Office
Grosvenor Chbs
16 Deansgate
Manchester