1955 May Robert Bell Cole

1955 Robert Bell Cole's letter written in Te Kuiti to Kathleen Corkey Merockbrun House

Mrs Kathleen Corkey
Merockbrun
Knockbreda Rd
Belfast
Ireland

Box 88
Te Kuiti
New Zealand
25th May 1955

Dear Kathleen,
Nice to hear your holiday with your 2 daughters, they are at an interesting age and you both must enjoy their visits. My fall or the effects of it have disappeared and I am quite fit again and looking forward to July 24th our 60th anniversary when the whole damp family are turning up and mother and I are rather quaky about it.

But the outstanding thrill in your letter was that oil painting of Auckland. I had been 4 years on the Chathams and landed in Auckland in 1883 to see my brother David father of the David you met and I well remember the old mill with the sails turning the first time I was in Queen Street. Years afterwards the sails were taken off as the building was getting shaky and finally the building was removed but after many town meetings protests about ancient landmarks had been held and I hope to get all about it for you.

Queen Street 1880's

Later Mac has it in hand and written to Auckland Herald to get what information he can about the Artist etc. I remember the hotel but not the sail maker. I am pinning my faith to an old friend I met at David's as a school boy now a magistrate and relieves here every month (Bob Grant). He always comes to see me and if there is anything requires an inquest he will dig it up and in about a months time I hope to give you news of it. I know there was quite a story about the owner quite a hermit at the last and they had a lot of trouble over it (yes there is such a place and such buildings) and I am certain Grant will dig up what he can.

Yes Mother keeps quite fit and is the scribe in our family. We have just had our young daughter down to help with her second grandson of her youngest son So mother and I have 4 great grands now. Mac drove us last Sunday down to see them and we had a pleasant trip on a day of miserable weather

All the best from us all to all
Uncle Bob