1920 James McMurray Cole shipboa

1920 James McMurray Cole shipboard to Blanche Cole New Zealand

Shaw Savill & Albion Compy Limited
SS Mamari
Pacific Ocean
9-5-20

My Dear Aunt
By the time you get this letter I shall be in England as this run to Panama takes 3 weeks & then 3 wks more takes us home whilst the letter is returning.

Many thanks for that useful present you gave me in the train - handkerchiefs get soon discoloured on board so that a coloured one is an advantage. I do hope you didn't feel it too cold after you left the train at that early hour. It was very good of you to bother coming especially when it is such an awkward journey. It was fine seeing both Uncle Bob and you. I shall have a lot of news to tell U. Mac in Belfast when I get over there.

I am quite excited about Mary getting Home a week or so after me - it will be a fine scheme as I can meet her in Southampton and also see Rev & Mrs McCaw there when they all arrive. I am planning all sorts of schemes to apply when she does get there. It will be June *** Summer so that she will miss the beauties of spring in South England but the autumn is a very fine time in Scotland with the trees and hills.

We are in the tropics now and are all in white suits. The sunsets are very beautiful & the colours after the sun has set are quite a picture.

Everyone is busy on the boat getting her painted and cleaned up. The carpenter has been putting up a screen on the bridge and also roofing part of it in, it makes a great improvement.

That is about all my news - there is nothing but ocean for 3 weeks on this route.

I must thank you again for the turkey and cake - such articles are a great treat to me.

Please give my love to Uncle and all the family.

Your Loving Nephew
McMurray Cole