29-01-1900

S.S.Maori King
Albany Australia
29-01-1900

Dear Mother We have arrived safe at Albany after some pretty rough weather. Today was very hard for the horse's poor things how tired they must be standing all the time; it was awful how they had to stand it, but they will be glad when we land.

I have had a lot of seasickness I am nearly as bad a sailor as father. When the ship stops I am fine. I get on well with the men they are an agreeable lot.

Dodd has gone on shore shooting. There is no mistake I have been unlucky I have been on duty at every port, I am on picquet for 4 days and we have a lot of work to do. We hear that Bullie driving them Boers up into our quarters. A lot of the men are afraid the war will be over before we get there, but I think not. I think there will be some stiff fighting before Pretoria is down.

Albany rises up a hill from the harbour. They say there is sports on and nearly all the people go to them, it is very tame.

Nearly all the buildings are made of stone. It is so pleasant when we came in this morning. It was quite cold but inland they tell me it is very hot.

Well I can't find much to tell you that would interest you like horses have 2/6 ft to stand in and the rails can be taken out, and there is a spare stall in each division. We shift the horses over to clean them and the stall. Well dear Mother, Father and all the rest I must say goodbye. I am always thinking of you all, tell father to write a bit the spelling neednąt be good for me and I should love to see his handwriting. It is grand to get your letters it is almost as if I was talking to you.

I am your loving son
Ted