Transcription of a letter sent by Alfred Copley to his brother William Copley on June 28th 1877 from Christchurch New Zealand,

                                    Christchurch  June 28/77

Dear Brother

            You will be thinking that I am not going to write again but better late than never. We were glad to hear that you were all in good health and hope you are still keeping so - I hope you received the Albatross' foot all right it will be a rare curiosity in Tickhill I do not suppose anyone else has one or ever saw one in Tickhill. I got it off one of the birds which was caught in our voyage out it was a tedious job to part the two skins and take out the bones - I have also sent you another lot of seeds which I hope you will be successful in raising especially the one which bears a large scarlet flower they will make nice pot plants it will be too cold for them outside. If Sarah keeps them in the window looking down the garden I think they will grow. I hope you will succeed with the flax I think it would grow outside in a sheltered place it is like the flag which grows in brooks and most surprisingly strong I forgot to say that the bird's foot is intended for a tobacco pouch and wants lining with silk - We are now in our winter season Sun rises 7,38 am - sets 4.26 pm. in December it rises 4.20 and sets 7.34 it gets dark very soon after sunset - I had a pass and holiday on Queen's birthday and went to one of the terminus' of the railway cable & White Cliffs a place at the foot of the middle ranges there is some beautiful scenery I brought home 3 cabbage trees which I have planted in the garden likewise a root of fern. Cabbage trees grow to 20 ft high a straight stem and at the top is a large bunch of leaves like flags and I got some nice specimens of fossil shells about 40 ft above the sea level bedded in sand. There are plenty of wild pigs there I saw the head of one that had been killed by one of the ... men it had tusks as long as your finger his skin was 3/4 " thick I measured it - enclosed is a bit of fern I brought home - Dear Brother you speak of yourself as an old man between 46 & 70 I could not have thought you was so much it only seems the other day since you played the Ophicieide and Jim Whittaker the Bugle in the band and now I hear of you being elected a Gov official I hope you will support all progressive measures - We are all in good health and hope this will find you all the same

                                                I remain

                                                     Your Affect brot                                                                                                            Alfred Copley

Mr Wm Copley

    Tickhill

            Write soon and let me know if you got those things alright