Robert M. Grogans - To Auckland by the Ganges

In 1863 there was only one method of mass movement of people from Britain to the other side of the world: by sailing ship, on a journey, depending upon the vagaries of wind and weather, that could take upwards of four months. A speedy passage in most cases would only be achieved by travelling non-stop, spurning the opportunity to break the tedium of the long voyage by calling at ports such as Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, or Cape Town in southern Africa.

Anyone who was prepared to take the time and risk the dangers of travel to such destinations invariably did so on government, professional or military service; or to seek out a better life through emigration, or a better climate for the good of their health. Until 1868 almost the only other group of people to travel such distances were convicts being transported. Tourists and leisurely travellers to the southern hemisphere were few and far between during the mid-19th century.

At that time in New Zealand the offer of grants of parcels of land was used by the British government and the colonial administration as a means of enticing emigrants to the fledgling colony, particularly if they possessed capital and a useful physical, mechanical or professional skill. One example was the eight hundred members of Nonconformist churches who emigrated to New Zealand, setting sail from London in June and July 1862, aboard four vessels, the Matilda Wattenbach , William Miles , Ida Zeigler and Hanover . Every emigrant who paid his or her passage was granted forty acres of land in a newly established area of the colony named Albertland. There had been some scrutiny by the House of Commons in earlier years regarding an alleged scandal over the land grants scheme; it was, however, still in operation during the summer of 1863.

For one emigrant, a combination of health problems allied to a desire to seek better prospects for his family were the reasons for migrating to New Zealand. As an inducement he and his family had been allocated 120 acres of land, probably near to Auckland.