Vincent Street

July 8th /80

My darling Lucy,

I got your letter last week, really the letters do take a long time to reach us. I used to write on Tuesdays by the steamers that leave the Manukau but I found that the steamer which leaves at the end of the week is generally at Wellington at the same time so I thought I would confine my letters to the mail by the larger steamers. I am glad you are going to try and get on with your music, I shall be glad if you do. Lena plays nicely – I should not like you to be behind. I am sure you are working away at school – I quite expect you will come off with honours at the end of the year. I have not much news to tell. I do hope dear Father will soon be better. He is certainly looking better – not so white – Dr. Young has written to Arthur [Arthur Hanan married Lucy’s sister Emma in 1978] so you will perhaps know better than I do what the Dr. thinks, as I can get nothing definite from him. Cousin Martha Clarke [Martha Blomfield married George Clarke (missionary)] is in town just now from the Bay of Islands. She is the one whose shoulder is out of joint. I haven’t seen her since Fritz was a baby till she called yesterday. She is not very much altered – of course she is older looking. She is my age – like the rest of her family she is kind & sympathizing. We spent last Friday at cousin Serena’s – I did not see Fanny – she was not home till after we left so missed each other. Adela has grown very much – indeed they all have – Arthur the eldest boy is very delicate.

I have persuaded Aunt Emma to go out a little more – she really never went anywhere. I do not wonder she is delicate – I could not stand it at all. I feel it right & necessary to do all I can to keep up my health & strength. I went with Aunt E. to see old Mrs Matthews & Mrs Johnstones (Aunt Amelia) then Aunt E returned home & I went on to Mrs Uttings to tea intending to walk down to the prayer meeting with Mr Utting – however Mr. U. did not come home to tea. Mrs U. was not well enough to be out so I was very glad to find that an omnibus passed close by their house. I availed myself of it thus saving a long & rather lonely walk. It really is not safe for women to walk about Auckland at night. A poor thing was knocked down just in front of the Baptist Church at 9.30 p.m.Tuesday evening. Uncle Robert saw it & gave chase but could not catch the rascal as he was carrying some heavy account books. Two or three young men also ran but without any better success drink I imagine. The streets are not so well lighted as in Invercargill. I go to tea at Mrs Goulstone’s every Thursday – they are very kind – Amy Goulstone is a few months older than you are. Now Goodbye darling. All send best love to you all – and take much from

Your own loving Mother

E H Nutter

[Black border to paper is because Eliza’s mother Selina Dorcas had died earlier in 1880]