Christchurch, New Zealand, 2nd May 1888

2nd May

Anna is writing to Elliot by this mail, so I will not write to him, but will you tell him with my love that I have asked several people I have met if it was possible for officers in the Army at home to get an appointment out here, but I have been always told 'no'.

There seems to be no army here at all. There are a few volunteers, and I have seen a few mounted infantry riding about, but I think these are volunteers also. The government is too poor to go to much expense for the soldiers and almost everything is left for the people to do for themselves.

There is a retired Colonel of the English Army here who has been trying in vain to get an appointment, but he has been told in answer to all his applications that the Government cannot afford at present to employ any paid people. The country is in a very bad way just now and I do not know how the troubles will end. There is almost manhood suffrage here, so that in fact the people govern.

Their one remedy for all this evil is Protection!

What they want Protection for I do not know. They have no manufacturers to think of, and the only things they export are frozen meat and wool. Everything else they have to import and why they want to put a high duty on them, so as to make the things dreadfully dear for them to buy, is more than I can understand.

If they had started any manufacturers that they wanted to protect against foreign competition I would understand it, but they make nothing in this country except a few woollen goods. This will not be interesting to you.

General Algar has given Anna some rabbit skins of the silver grey rabbit. They are very pretty and will make a nice lining for a cloak for her. It is a great pity we cannot have them made up, but I was told it would cost too much. Anna has gone off to spend the evening at the Nidwills and the General is in the Coffee Room writing letters home for the mail tomorrow so I am alone. I am sending Elliot a paper which I should be glad if he would send on to your uncle John. I have marked a letter that I think will give you all a laugh.

Mail day. No more news. Good bye dear Mamie,

With much love to you both,

love your very loving Mother,

Eliza C Cairns