1870 S Scandinavian Imigration to Nz

edmondsallan - hello - We have many races who migrated to New Zealand from the far side of the world . This journal is to remind us that many of them became hard working New Zealanders and since the time they arrived they and their families have been a credit to our country. I consider them to be decent " Kiwi's " When did they arrive ? Do you Know ? . I still got " Old faithful " switched on . I'll give it to her , make a cuppa & see what she comes up with . ( Don't go away . " faithful , - won't take long and I'll be only a short time )--- I am back .Lets see what my fellow worker has found - Good - Gosh , great how you forget what you store away - several articles with Notations on them - OK lets get underway .
In 1870 New Zealand's migration agent General - " Isaac Featherson"
toured Norway , Sweden , Denmark recruiting settlers. Prospective
migrants were promised, = a Free passage to NZ plus 10 acres of ground . In 1871 the first of the Government assisted Families ( Total 18 )
from Scandinavia arrived in Wellington , a board the " Celaeno "
These eighteen ( 18 ) families were settled on 40 acre sections between Palmerston and Foxton . To get to their land the Government had opened a road & tramway through the bush that gave access to Palmerston . ** > ( I have in hand a copy of parts of a letter one of these settlers sent back to his folks in Norway . I won't read it word for word , just take out the interesting bits and translate them to English >>> ( ' Translator program ' )
Dear Mum & Dad . wish you were here. In winter its like our summer. The ground is Very G-ood. Trees are Huge and straight They call them " Kiure's " Lots of flightless birds , I haven't seen a snake yet . We now have a cow for milk . We are making butter / cheese and is g-ood to drink " ( I'll stop their as the rest gets a bit personal .) Time for a break - I'll be back - regards - edmondsallan