Auckland, New Zealand
Tinder Box brings you the Discovery Box Resource, boxes of Pioneer fact and basic knowledge. Tinder Box is an interactive education resource supporting the Social Studies and Technology curriculum within 150 kms of Auckland , New Zealand through Visits to schools and taking pioneer crafts to Museums and Historical houses.
Start your Discovery Box journey by learning About the different types of boxes
The arrival of a 'box' from England was for a settler family a great occasion in pioneer times. More often than not the box contained items that could not be bought in New Zealand. Boxes contained not only exciting gifts and essential items but news from relatives at 'Home.' The arrival of 'a box' was a time of great excitement for the early settlers and their children
The emigrants box provides knowledge of a different type of box. Emigrants, the steerage passengers were the working lower class who came to New Zealand. Emigrants did not have cabins on board the ship but lived communally in the 'tween deck area. Assisted emigrants were allocated limited space in the hold of the ship for their box of possessions.
Colonists, middle and upper class people with capital, traveled by cabin class . They had individual cabins. Colonists fitted out their cabins prior to departure and brought the items of the middle and upper classes in their boxes. Colonists boxes therefore differ considerably from the emigrants box - colonists had more possessions and brought more boxes. Colonists could afford to buy additional space in the hold of the ship for their boxes.
Previous boxes of knowledge - 'awaiting collection' may be accessed through the index at the top of the page and are identified by year or content i.e.
'The 1847 Box' of laundry, cloth and clothing information
The 1852 Box of miscellaneous knowledge.
The contents of the the Tinder Box "Discovery Boxes" are changed regularly. We hope they provide you with useful information.
Top of Page
The Arrival of a Box
"The arrival of "a box from England" is an event which creates still more lively and exciting pleasure; but it is an event of rare occurrence, and confined in its interest comparatively to a few. The degree of pleasure enjoyed by the receiver of "The Box" may be imagined when it is known that it is quite worth while to be but present at the opening of a box received by another, for the sake of the reflected pleasure to be enjoyed from witnessing the animated delight of the happy recipient, as she draws out, and unfolds to view, one by one, its various contents." From Auckland, the Capital of New Zealand By W SwainsonWilliam Swainson was Attorney General of the new colony of New Zealand. He came to Auckland in 1841. His book was published anonymously in 1853 and was intended as a guide for intending migrants.
We are pleased to announce the arrival of:
An emigrant passengers box.
The emigrant, his wife and son traveled as assisted passengers with the New Zealand Company.
The Box -construction
Let everything you care about be cased in tin,' a woman wrote from Port Nicholson (Wellington) 'as the air spoils all.'
The emigrant box varied. All passengers were warned to pack their possessions with particular care, and if possible 'in a tin box'. 'Those who do not like to go to the expense of this, will find boxes lined with pitch paper answer the same purpose. 'Bullock trunks were recommended and said to be impervious to sea air.
Leather trunks were expensive and liable to mildew. Cabin class passengers used brass-bound sea-chests of cedar or mahogany. '
Source: The Women of New Zealand Helen M Simpson
The Box sizeSteerage passengers were allowed 20 cubic feet of space free for each adult. A husband and wife would have space for several boxes (40 cubic feet.) This may seem a lot of space, but 40 cubic feet equates to 2 boxes of approximately 2 foot 9 inches square. Passengers could purchase additional space in the hold
Clothing .The New Zealand Company issued lists of the minimum stocks of clothing with which their emigrants would be allowed to embark.
Scale of Emigrants Outfit
The articles may be obtained by payment of the under-mentioned Prices, at the Company's Office (Emigration Department) or of Messrs Dixon and Co., No 12, Fenchurch- Street, London.
N.B. No other mattrasses, or bedding, will be allowed to be shipped, except such as have been approved by the company, as understated
MALE
2 fustian jackets, lined 6 coarse towels
2 pair fustian trousers 1 pair of boots with hobnails, etc.
2 pair duck trousers 1 pair shoes
2 round frocks 4 lb. soap
12 cotton shirts 1 pair blankets
6 pairs worsted stockings 2 pair sheets
2 scotch caps 1 coverlet
6 handkerchiefs
FEMALE
2 gowns or 18 yds printed cotton 6 neckerchiefs
2 petticoats, or 6 yds of calico 6 towels
2 petticoats flannel, or 6 yds flannel 1 pair stays
12 shifts, or 30 yds long cloth 6 pairs black worsted stockings
6 caps, or 3 yds muslin 2 pairs shoes
6 handkerchiefs 1 bonnet
6 aprons, or 6 yds check Needles, pins, buttons, thread, tapes etc.
4 lbs marine soap, 2 lbs starch
Bedding
One mattrass and bolster for each couple, of coloured wool Knife, and fork, plate, spoon, drinking mug etc.
Children must be provided with a proportionate outfit, including mattrass, &c., which may be had upon payment of the under mentioned sum for each child.
One year of age, and under £1.0.0
Nine years of age, and under fourteen £1.10s.0d
Notes: It is interesting to note that the company encouraged women to bring the material to make the garments they did not have; this appears to have been to keep the women occupied.
The further suggestion is made that men while abstaining from 'anything which might appear like begging', should try to obtain from their friends or relatives any 'half work garments they might be willing to spare.' These would save them much expense, and the making up anew would form an employment for women and girls on board.'
Source: Information Relative To New Zealand. Ward
Notes of men's clothingSpelling: as in the original document for example: mattrass
Duck
Strong untwilled linen or cotton fabric for small sails and outer clothing especially of sailors (pl) trousers of this.
Concise Oxford Dictionary.
Frocks
Man's long-skirted coat, not cut away in front; military coat of like shape.
Concise Oxford Dictionary.
Fustian
Thick twilled short -napped cotton cloth usually dyed dark
Concise Oxford Dictionary.
Notes of Women's clothing
Stays Corset
Concise Oxford Dictionary
Worsted Woolen yarn
Concise Oxford Dictionary.
While all these items have been included in the box, it should be noted that some, but not all of these items would have been in a strong canvass bags which the emigrants had with them in the tween deck living area. Boxes were not allowed in the steerage living area. Boxes were only available from the hold in suitable weather, and the opening of the hold to retrieve items was not a regular occurrence, being available to steerage passengers every three of four weeks and cabin class passengers several times a week.
Find out more information about the pioneer emigrants by booking a Tinder Box school visit
Contact Tinder Box
Phone +64 09 5765796
Mob 021 117 2068
Box contents - work relatedThe New Zealand company wanted tradesmen and women to come to New Zealand. Emigrant tradesmen would bring the tools of their trade with them. So what were the trades? The following were trades of people on the ' Lord Auckland' which sailed from the West India docks on 21st September 1841 and arrived on the 7th February 1842 in Nelson, New Zealand.
Dressmaker, baker, bricklayer, tin man, joiner, carpenter, farm labourer & coachman, agricultural labourer and lime burner, servant, tailor, shoemaker, cabinet maker, sempstress.
Our Victorian steerage passenger is a shoemaker. Items in his box relating to his trade are:
A bradawl - for making holes in leather,
Brads (thin flat slightly-headed nails) nails.
A last - for putting the shoe on while the sole is nailed in place or to hold the shoe in shape while it is sewn together..
Patterns - for marking out the leather.
pencil,
French chalk
Needles of various sizes for sewing,
Knives for cutting leather.
Thread for sewing up shoes.
Beeswax,
Polish.
Still want to find out more from Tinder Box about the contents of the emigrants box? go to Box contents - Household related
Box contents - Household related.
The tailor's a wife packed everyday household items in the box. The type of items she would have brought with her can be seen by booking: the Tinder Box Food for Thought activity through a Tinder Box Visit to School Museum and Historical House visit
Emigrant families and their boxes came to New Zealand by ship and the Food for Thought activity links well with the Pioneer Transport activity which addresses transport to, and within New Zealand.
Still want to find out more from Tinder Box about the contents of the emigrants box?! go to Box contents Child related
Box contents - Child related.
The tailor and his wife have a son. In the box is a toy called an acrobat. He has additional toys in the canvass storage bag mentioned earlier. Would you like to see more toys? Book the Toys before electricity activity ( Victorian toys) through a school visit for a wonderful interactive experience!
Other Tinder Box educational activities include Butter making
Copyright RPL 11/2/2007
Would you like more information about a Tinder Box visit to your school?
Would you like a copy of the Tinderbox Interactive education school visit programme?
Please email here
It is helpful in processing education inquiries to know:
- the teacher/contact persons name,
- the name of the school/organisation
- the school/organisation address and contact details.
If you wish to contact us by phone, our contact numbers are:
09- 41282356
021 117 - 2068