Maori and Settler: A Story of The New Zealand WarHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
History
Maori and Settler: A Story of The New Zealand War
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Māori (New Zealand people) -- Juvenile fiction; New Zealand -- History -- Juvenile fiction
"We shall go in alongside the quays in an hour's time," the captain said
as they left; "so you must look for us there when you have done
sight-seeing. We shall begin to get the baggage up at once for the
benefit of those who are in a hurry to get away to the hotels; but I
shall be glad for you all to make the ship your home until to-morrow."
For an hour after landing the Renshaws wandered about Wellington, which
they found to be a pretty and well-built town with wide streets.
"Why, it is quite a large place!" Wilfrid exclaimed in surprise.
"Different, of course, from towns at home, with more open spaces. I
expected it would be much rougher than it is."
"It is the second town of the island, you see," Mr. Renshaw said; "and
is an important place. Well, I am glad we did not cumber ourselves by
bringing everything out from England, for there will be no difficulty
in providing ourselves with everything we require here."
After wandering about for an hour they proceeded to the address Mr.
Mitford had given them. It was a house of considerable size, standing in
a pretty garden, a quarter of a mile from the business part of the town.
They were warmly received by the Mitfords, and introduced to Mr. and
Mrs. Jackson.
"Mr. Mitford has been telling me that you want to get a house, or part
of a house, for a few weeks till you look about you and decide where you
will settle down," Mr. Jackson said. "I am a land and estate agent,
besides doing a little in other ways. We most of us turn our hands to
anything that presents itself here. I have taken a holiday for this
morning and left my clerk in charge, so I am quite at your service. You
will find it difficult and expensive if you take a whole house, so I
should advise you strongly to take lodgings. If you were a large party
it would be different, but you only want a sitting-room and three
bed-rooms."
"We could do with a sitting-room, a good-sized bed-room for my wife and
myself, and a small one for my daughter," Mr. Renshaw said; "and take a
bed-room out for a few nights for Wilfrid, as he will be starting with a
friend to journey through the colony and look out for a piece of land to
suit us."
"Then there will be no difficulty at all. You will find lodgings rather
more expensive than in England. I do not mean more expensive than a
fashionable watering-place, but certainly more expensive than in a town
of the same kind at home. House rent is high here; but then, on the
other hand, your living will cost you less than at home."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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