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Before the 1860's, Hokitika was a quiet Maori village on the West coast of the Southern island of New Zealand. When gold was discovered there in 1864, thousands left the gold-fields of Australia and rushed to Hokitika to seek their fortune. Within a…

On Friday, 3 October, the Sisters sail through Cook's straits and cast anchor near Wellington, where they meet with Mother Gertrude and Sr Xavier. They go to the Cathedral where they receive an address of welcome from Father McGuinness, followed by…

On August 27th, 1878, the S.S. Garonne casts anchor at Table Bay, where the Sisters admire views of Table mountain and Devil's Peak. The Bishop of Cape Town, Dr John Leonard (1829-1908) sends a boat to the Garonne to take them ashore for a visit. …

On 1 August, 1878, ten Sisters of Mercy, including eight professed Sisters and two postulants (young women preparing to enter religious life) embarked on the S.S. Garonne at the beginning of their 13,000 mile journey to Hokitika. They were Srs Clare…

Messrs Cleary and Clarke, members of Catholic committee come out to welcome us and accompany us to shore, get into tender at 6.30 p.m. and soon are beside wharf crossing the dreaded Bar so quickly that we are quite unconscious of it at the time. It…

[Sunday arrive at Nelson in time for] Mass - Rev Mother of Sisters of Mission with one of the Srs come for us, spend a day at their lovely convent - Nelson is a charming place - grapes grow in the open air it is so mild, here we meet our dear good…

[Friday in Cooks Straits at] early dawn and cast anchor near Wellington - on wharf at 11 a.m. Rev. Mother M.M. Gertrude and Sr M. Xavier are to meet us with a great many of inhabitants - drive to Cathedral where we have an address of welcome from…

[we are most cordially welcomed and entertained by the dear] Nuns - leave at 2 p.m. and return to the Albion accompanied by his Lordship and Father Larkin. They come on board and stay some time with us. Dr Moran gives us his solemn blessing and…

getting round by the Solander rock; fearful night, many made up their minds that they were going down - very few slept - morning breaks - very dull and dark- all anxious - at 10 a.m. the Sun peeps thro' clouds and all things assume a brighter aspect…

Busy all morning seeing luggage etc. to rights - at noon M.M Cecilia comes out in tender and gets on board the Garonne - welcomes us warmly to Australia. We spend a week in Melbourne, during which time good kind priests and nuns vie in showing…