1. Diary of Ronald James Smith

2. Wednesday 7th February 1835 Dear Diary Its ten days until the ship leaves the port to New Zealand. I will be setting sail on the Randolph. Signed Ronald.

3. 13th February 1835 Dear Diary Now there’s four days until departure and I have already packed. I cannot wait to see what it is like in New Zealand. I have heard so many stories. Signed Ron.

4. 17th February 1835 Dear Diary There’s just a few hours before I leave to my new destination. Wish me luck. Signed Ron.

5. 18th February 1835 Day One on the Randolph Dear Diary So far its been great on the ship, but I do not know how I’ll sleep in my tiny room cramped with four other people. Signed Ron.

6. 20th February 1835 Day Three on the Randolph Dear Diary Over the last few days I have had hardly any sleep because of the four smelly men in my room. Signed Ron.

7. 19th March 1835 Day Thirty on the Randolph Dear Diary I haven’t written for a while because there has been a flu going around. There was a rat in the kitchen that bit the chef. The flu spread and fifteen people died, including the chef. Signed Ron.

8. 22nd March 1835 Day Thirty Three on the Randolph Dear Diary I made a friend. His name is Jeff. I need someone to keep me company because my family is on another boat called the Cressy. Signed Ron.

9. 25th March 1835 Day Thirty Six on the Randolph Dear Diary There is not much room on the ship to play, so Jeff and I just sit and talk. We were looking out a small window in my room when we saw another boat. It was the Cressy, the same boat that my family is on. They were tossing people over board, so we think lots of people got sick and died. Signed Ron.

10. 31st March 1835 Day Forty Two on the Randolph Dear Diary The Cressy has been sailing alongside us for a while now. I don’t know why. It’s like they’re lost or something. Signed Ron.

11. 7th April1835 Day Forty Nine on the Randolph Dear Diary There hasn’t been much going on and that’s why I haven’t written in a while. The other day some dolphins came. I counted seven. They were hopping out of the water like springs. Signed Ron.

12. 17th April1835 Day Fifty Nine on the Randolph Dear Diary I just saw some immensely large birds. They had a short white body with a small pink beak. They had enormous white wings with black tips. I estimate their wing span to be around 3 yards! I asked the Captain what they were and he said that he thinks that they are Albatrosses. Signed Ron.

13. 10th April1835 Day Fifty Two on the Randolph Dear Diary As we get closer to New Zealand we start to see different animals like, half an hour ago, I saw some dolphins but they were different. They had a shiny silver, silky body with a black head and black flippers. Their dorsal fin was black and rounded and their tail was black. Their bellies were white and the dolphins were quite small. The Captain said that they were Hectors dolphins. Signed Ron.

14. 22nd April1835 Day Sixty Four on the Randolph Dear Diary It’s night time now and there is a tremendous storm outside. This is the loudest thunder I have ever heard. Signed Ron.

15. 2nd May1835 Day Seventy Four on the Randolph Dear Diary We’re getting closer to New Zealand, I can see the change in scenery already. I don’t recognise the marine life. They are a lot different to those in Europe. Signed Ron.

16. 14th May1835 Day Eighty Six on the Randolph Dear Diary Jeff and I could see our destination on the horizon. It seemed to be much smaller than the UK. Signed Ron.

17. 19th May1835 Day Ninety One on the Randolph Dear Diary Finally, after 91 days we’ve reached New Zealand. It’s so green and there’s masses of land. There are huge hills covered with trees and bushes that are full of wildlife. Signed Ron.

18. 21st May1835 Day Two on land Dear Diary The Cressy has docked so I have been reunited with my family. We have to find somewhere good to build a house. Signed Ron.

19. 26th May1835 Day Seven on land Dear Diary We got a professional to build our house. He’s making bricks out of clay right now. Signed Ron.

20. 19th June1835 Day Thirty One on land Dear Diary The house has been built and we are settling down in our new house in New Zealand. Signed Ron.