Wellington
(Thursday) 12 December 1912
My darling Sweetheart
There is very little news. It seems to me my letters are a repetition of the week before nearly every time. But still I will keep on describing to the best of my ability each day’s incidents. First of all I must tell you about our final night at Christchurch. After I had finished your letter & posted it I met Orr & he would insist on going round to say goodbye to customers. I had done it before & knew what it meant. There was nothing else for it & I went with him. We had a few cocktails & Orr, the silly fellow, had a goblet of ale for dinner. After dinner the landlord & two other customers would insist on us having liqueurs. (I ought to add I had a ginger ale for dinner). I never laughed so much in all my life. Orr was as funny as a waggon-load of monkeys. My some mischance the hotel porter had sent my small attache case down to the boat with my baggage & I was rather upset about it as all my private papers were in & I couldn’t afford to lose them. Down on the wharf I hunted high & low for it with Orr behind me giving me words of advice & although the matter was serious I laughed until I ached. On board I went to my cabin & sure enough the case was there without any label or anything. How or when it got there I don’t know. My relief was great. I had an awful job with Orr that night but I persuaded him to go to bed at nine o’clock & I went with him.
During the night I slept very badly – the boat rocked ‘orribly but Orr slept through it all like an infant. He ought not to have had the beer for dinner & next morning although he was as fresh as a daisy & had a tongue like a new born infants he was full of remorse & begged me to keep it quiet. I told him I should tell you because he had written you & I did not know what he had put in the letter. Sort of revenge.
Well we arrived early the following morning & had a row with the cabby for charging us an exhorbitant price. After threatening him with the police he gave in a little. All day we were busy unpacking & seeing on or two customers & at night we explored the town & found our bearings. I was rather disgusted with the hotel & Orr came to my way of thinking so we paid our bills & left next morning. The same evening we explored the town we met an Irishman about 63 years of age & he would insist on telling us his own history since he was a kid of four years of age. He kept us talking for over an hour & it was highly amusing but of all the egotistical people I have ever met he is easily the best or worst should I say.
Thursday we were fairly busy all day & at night for a little relaxation we thought a picture show would be nice. We trotted on till we came to one but all the better priced seats were engaged so we each paid 3d for the stalls. Fact. I never was in such a cheap seat in my life – not even when I went with Jones one night years ago to hear Vesta Tilley at the Palace. We paid 6d early gallery then.
Friday was occupied in the same manner & at night we met one of our confreres & went to another picture show. I didn’t see much of it as there was a little boy about two years of age in front of me & he would leave his mother & father & tell me about the pictures. I had a lively time I can assure you – not to mention the teasing I had from my two pals.
Saturday morning I did nothing much but had to work all afternoon. We invited our client to dinner & entertained him in the evening. He is about our biggest customer in the Dominion & he gave me two orders firm a most unusual thing.
Sunday morning I wanted to see a friend of my childhood days. The Rev J.J. North to wit & much to Orr’s annoyance I dragged him off to church. North is a Baptist & after service one lady sitting behind leaned over & shook hands with us. She asked Orr if he was a Baptist & on Orr replying ‘No’ she was visibly disappointed. She said "Oh. I am sorry. I was going to ask you both to dinner as you are strangers & if you had been Baptists." You see what we missed.
During the service I couldn’t weigh up the fact that Rev North was such a young man, but afterwards I soon found out it was his father I ought to have seen. I shall not be able to see him because he has been away & only gets back today & now I haven’t the time & if the truth must be told neither have I the inclination.
After dinner we took the tram up to the gardens & admired the view from the top. You can see the whole of Wellington harbour & it really is a fine sight. Later we walked round & came across the imposing statue of Dick Seddon the man who made New Zealand. Then we went down to the wharves & went on one of the battleships lying in the harbour. It was rather interesting. After tea we read a little & just as we were going out a customer walked in. There was nothing else for it but to sit down & entertain him for the night.
Monday morning I was not too busy &took the opportunity of getting my samples in something like ship shape order. The afternoon I was busy & at night we went for a long walk.
Tuesday I was not very busy & in the afternoon I slept. At five o’clock I went for a client but he turned me down until today. Last night we never went out but stayed in & read till bed time.
This morning I have done nothing but write letters & now it is time for lunch.
Later
Yesterday afternoon was very hot & as I had not anyone coming in to see me I slept. At five o’clock I went for a man & he stood both of us tea & kept us hard at it till eight o’clock. We managed to get a little dinner & went to bed by ten o’clock both tired out.
This morning I went round to see two or three customers & finished up with them & now after lunch I am finishing my correspondence. I shall not have time to write anything further tomorrow as we have to pack up & be on board by 3.30. In addition I have two men to see in the morning.
As far as business is concerned in N.Z. I have not the slightest idea how much I have done & cannot get to know until I get home. I think in future good results will accrue from my visit. Frankly I am glad to leave the place.
I had not time to finish this on land so am writing you on the boat. There is nothing to add. Everything is monotonous. A woman is playing the piano next to me & it is simply vile. It makes me feel more than annoyed.
We got on board on Friday afternoon & the boat is packed. There are four in our cabin & people are sleeping in alley ways & on hatches. A rotten state of affairs. The company could easily put on another boat & it would pay them to do so. In addition it is frightfully hot & we can’t have the port hole open at night. We are making a record voyage & instead of getting in to Sydney by lunch tomorrow we shall be tied up by 6.0 o’clock in the morning. It is wonderfully calm & everything is in our favour.
Yesterday morning we buried a Chinaman who died during the night previous. There was the ordinary service & then we saw a splash & that was all.
At night I played the church service & had not a note in front of me. There are no chant books or psalters on board & the hymn tunes that were wanted were not in the tune book. Much to peoples astonishment I took the whole thing, chants & hymns without music.
I have made bosom pals with two of the parsons on board & we have discussed learnedly? on various subjects.
Tomorrow I shall get three mails & hope there is something good in each. I have just been reading your last letter & there is nothing that calls for any comment except that I shouldn’t have sent you the blank cheque unless I intended you to use it. Don’t hesitate if you want anything & for goodness sake don’t thank me. I want you more & more each day & I am looking forward to my return which is only a matter of a few weeks now.
With my dearest love sweetheart
Yours for all time
Harry