William Sweetland’s diary, 3 August 1881–17 February 1882

William Sweetland’s diary, 3 August 1881–17 February 1882

My dear friends and readers, after a great deal of consideration and consultation with my Parents, Sisters and other friends, I decided after a lot of persuasion to do otherwise, to leave my home and Parents to go to New Zealand. 

And I can honestly say that it cost me not a little to break a tie that had so long kept me at Home. But seeing the bad state of Trade, and the low rate of wages existing in Old England, and having heard from various parties and Friends, also by reading of Books, that times were far different in other countries, I resolved to try my luck in a foreign Land.  But I fear I caused my Parents a deal of pain in so leaving them, seeing I never before had been away from Home, (or only a week or so at a time to put it at the highest point) and partly perhaps because I am the only Son. But I failed to see anything in England by which a young man (especially agricultural labourers) could so advance in life, as to be able to settle down in a comfortable position. And if the reports that I have heard, and also read, are so highly painted or not true at all, I shall have to pay very dearly for the experience, for which I am about to seek after. However I see no fear, but will give the reporters credit for the truth, and will go and see for myself if all these accounts are true, and if they are not, it may be the means for some I know who would like to go to New Zealand of getting the information cheaper.

My Preface friends will be very short as I am a bad hand at composing but my friends pressed me rather hard on leaving, to write a few details …