Guide to the Collections held by the Merseyside Maritime Museum (as filmed by the AJCP)

Letters from George and Susan Patterson, Auckland and New Plymouth, New Zealand, 5 June 1855 - 14 January 1861 (File Nos 73-76a)

Describing voyage, first sighting of Maoris, prices in Auckland, details of their farm, requesting packets of seeds from home, Maori Wars and declaration of martial law. 4 letters (some incomplete.)

Extract from New Zealand Weekly News, giving details of death of George Patterson at hands of Maoris (Copy, 2p.), 5 March 1864 (File No 77)

Susie Rose, London to her aunt with copy of: 3 September 1868?, New Plymouth to Miss Annie (Rose) that Maoris in their area are 'peaceable', discovery of gold (incomplete), 30 October 1868 (File No 78)

Journal of J.T. Deighton on voyage on board Fred Warren from Liverpool to Melbourne, 23 March 1867 - 19 July 1867 (File)

Description of rations issued and supplementary food bought, sighting of other ships, very rough journey, catching fish, killing albatross, grumble of mainly Dutch crew. (67p.)

Journal of voyage on Morning Light to Melbourne from Liverpool [kept by Roman Catholic Priest?] (51p., incomplete), 8 July-21 August 1856? (File)

Details of: accommodation; the ship; livestock on board; girls bring oranges out to the ship; food; prevented from saying office by movement of ship; mass taken in steerage by Father Krauwater, Jesuit priest going to Adelaide; protestant service on quarter deck; extreme heat; 'the butter is perfect liquid'; storm; ceremonies of crossing the line; small pox; loss of 'Billy' Steward overboard; gales.

Diary of voyage on Cardigan Castle, London to Lyttelton, 26 September 1876 - 23 January 1877 (File)

Details of boarding; weather; other passengers in mess; sighting other ships; illness on board prevents pilot boarding; quarantine at Ripa Island for women and Quail Island for men; scenery; leaving island; Christchurch. (17p., typescript)

William Midgley (Grasmere) to family (10p.), 27 August 1899 - 17 October 1899 (File 1)

Re voyage from Liverpool; seasickness; the prentices' room; black fish; flying fish; Doldrums; birds.

William Midgley (Melbourne) to parents (5p.), December 1899 (File 2)

Sighted Cape Otway; fresh food; Victorian Custom's Officials; docking at Melbourne; visit to Geelong; 'the horses here wear straw hats'; prices of fruit.

Gracie Beazley and Co. (Liverpool) to Midgley re passage for Australia, 5 July 1899 (File 3)

Bill from Chinese store Brewarrina, 15 October 1900 (File 4)

Photographs of Midgley and Grasmere (File 5)

Service papers re career of Captain Hatchwell of Black Star Line (14 documents), 1867 - 1893 (File)

Includes: certificates of discharge, references and photograph of Barque Thorne; detailed list.

W.C. Barker Correspondence, 27 October 1855 [6]-4 February 1857 (File 1)

William Cecil Barker (Alnwick Castle) to mother re voyage to Sydney; Christmas Day; prices in Sydney; 'Sydney is such a dull place'; wages. (4p., incomplete).

William Cecil Barker Account of Voyages, c.1856-1876 (File 2)

p. 1-163 from front of volume...

Copies of letters from Alfred Charles Barker (Christchurch) to Matt and William Barker undated, incomplete, (103p.), 9 February 1870 - 14 February 1891 (File)

From back of volume. Subjects include: visit of flying squadron; family news; sending specimens of flax; the farm; money difficulties; photography; relations with Maoris; his patent for 'Adipocure'; 'Waikato massacre'; Panama negro attacked another servant in Christchurch; marriage of Dean Jacobs 'greatly to indignation of several of his female friends'; writing on Darwinism; need for more clergy; visit from Governor Sir George Bowen; exhibition of New Zealand manufacturers; his death on 20 March.

Poster for White Star line advertising passage Liverpool to Australia, June 1899 (File MDHB WUP/U/I/6/2)

S.C.Williams (Cotopaxi) to mother re voyage (2p.), 11 August 1882 (File)

Flyer for Orient and Pacific Steam Navigation Companies. Orient line to Australia (includes Cotopaxi) (2p.,damaged), 1 June 1882 (File)

Richard N. Preston (Sydney) to family (12p.), n.d., 29 May 1853-28 June 1854 (File C-J)

Subjects include: arrival at Melbourne on Falcon; settling in in Sydney; delights of Sydney; family news; prices of goods; arrival of SS Great Britain; dinner for Captain Matthew.

J.Weston Smethurst. Diary of voyage on General Roberts, Liverpool to Melbourne 1 January 1885 and on Rotomahana to Auckland, 7-19 January 1885 (122p.) (File (a))

Details of: boarding at Liverpool; other passengers; livestock on board; food; weather; storage passenger plays violin for hymn singing; cricket; deck games; flying fish; discovery of pilfering with cargo; stowaways; Cape Pigeons; passengers swept overboard; Christmas Day; Cape Otway; Melbourne; 'dusty'; Steamer to Auckland; Bluff; Otago Harbour; Lyttelton Harbour 'a bonny little place'; Wellington; visit to Museum; Auckland 'looks splendid'.

Another copy of J.Weston Smethurst. Diary of voyage on General Roberts (86p.) (File (b))

Henry S. King and Co. Handbook for homeward bound travellers from India, Australia and the East, 1886 (93p., printed with MS additions.) (File (c))