1952 Blanche Cole letter written

1952 Blanche Cole letter written in New Zealand to Kathleen Corkey in Ireland

30th August 1952
P.O Box 88 Te Kuiti

Dear Kathleen;
We both send our thanks to you for sending us word by Airmail that your Dad was away in Clones, you have all had mother for years to answer the NZ mail from us and I quite understand how you must all miss her, your father especially must miss her more than anyone. You see his old brother Bob 91 now was only about 17 when he left his home in Ireland "to come out to NZ to make his fortune", so your father clung to his brother David, who was younger that Robert and so your Dad does not remember very much about my Bob.

My father and mother, came out to NZ in the very early days, with us 2 girlies - Amy, the eldest was 4 years and myself 2 emigrants - everyone had to be prepared to rough it and do the best they could to earn wages and get settled in some tiny rough homes - my father was a first-class coach-builder and he was an only child, so he got a good education (for Londoners) so he soon got a good position and got on his feet. His father and mother too came out to NZ his father was a coach smith, so he too soon got a good job, we were all very fond of our Dad, he was so full of fun and playing tricks on us, we loved him dearly.

Father was among the last lot of soldiers called up to fight the Maoris but it all ended in speeches and plans instead of using guns, and everyone was very happy no more lives lost. We are very proud of our NZ blacks - they are all good farmers and workers now and we are very proud of them, lots are intermarried with white women and the natives children get the same good education as the white folk.

I did not know until your last Airmail letter came that you had a daughter named Thelma. I wonder could we get the cousins to write to each other? Mac's girl Ann aged 12 has started to write to Auntie Thelma and she loves getting Thel's letters - Ann is a red head like Thel but not so curly as her Auntie's head. I'll send Thelma your address and get her to write first, that may help matters.

Thelma had many offers of marriage among our friends, but strange to say, it came about, in this way, she noticed in the "John o London" paper a request for some special information about NZ by a Canadian named J W Walker she sent him the information he asked for and it started like that, with letters coming and going, only the first one shown to us. James sent a snap of himself taken with his horse and dog and their courtship if you can call it that, was done by letter and this ended by Jim coming out to meet Thelma and marry her if she was willing and satisfied with him as her future husband - we were all extra anxious, seeing as she had turned down so many suitors (Lottie married one of them, Will Merhrtens) but he worked too hard on the big farm he took up in our old valley at Waimiha and too a severe chill and only in bed the week and died - the two boys were about 8 years and 6 years. They came home to live with us in Te Kuiti and went to school here.

Jim and Thelma, by this time were nicely settled on our farm that we left, when Mac was ready for High School in Te Kuiti but when war broke out Jim felt he must offer to enlist, but in his own country Canada so that is why he and Thel left NZ for Canada and after all need not have gone as he was just over age for enlistment and they were both very sorry as their savings had gone in **** fares and they had to get a fresh start and have been there ever since - we write very often to each other - Jim's father and mother have both died in London and Jim was left a sum of money, enough to buy a car or truck, they bought the latter.

While looking over my birthday record book today it seems strange I had never noticed before that your brothers birthday is the 7th of April and our eldest son's 1st boy was on that date also, 7th April, his name is John Coates Cole, he is a commercial artist, he took after his Dad was clever with his drawings so when Jack died, both boys were very young and they were put in a very fine home for fatherless lads and the teachers noticed John was clever with drawings so they let him finish the school of art and he became a commercial artist and Bob the youngest is my chum, he is now school teaching in the South Island.

We had quite a big family gathering for Dad's 91st birthday. Dick and his pretty daughter Nancy (18 years) came up from Patea, a long journey - Lottie and Harry (her 2nd hubby, he lost his right arm in War) but is a marvel with his left arm - he was a widower with 2 grown sons like Lottie and they consulted the sons on both sides *** they made a decision, all 4 sons were delighted and Lottie's eldest, Bob, when he was married 2 years ago, chose his step-brother for best man - so it has been a very happy time for Lottie and we are Great G Parents to their baby son. I may be able to send a snap very soon - give this to your Dad to read and tell him I send any letters I get from Ireland on to Mrs Greer's new address in Auckland.

Love and best wishes from the Cole family here
Auntie Blanche - Still P.O Box 88 Te Kuiti