Diary of Tom Newman Evans on his voyage from London to Wellington, New Zealand on board the RIMUTAKA, 23 June 1898 - 4 October 1898. It goes into detail about how time was passed during long distance sea travel at the end of the nineteenth century, from concerts and games to periods of sickness (at one point Newman describes as the ship “looking more like a floating hospital”). The diary includes descriptions of the many places they passed through, including Cape Town (with sketch), the Bay at Funchal, Madeira, and a description of the Aurora. It also includes descriptions of activities for the first and second class passengers such as an egg and spoon race, concerts, plays and other diversions. They experienced some very severe weather, exacerbated by port holes that weren’t properly secured which resulted in some cabins flooding. Newman also describes the layout of the deck (with a sketch) explaining that he shared a cabin with other passengers (including his brother, J. Morrison from Shetland, and Bob Davis). The diary ends with Tom and his brother William landing in Wellington and searching for employment.

Administrative / biographical background
Born 1874 in Liverpool Henrietta and Davis Evans. On 23 June 1898 he boarded the RIMUTAKA Mastered by H E Greenstreet with his brother William Edward B Evans. He married Emma Alice Wheeler in 1904 in Surrey where they stayed and had three children. He died 15 February 1926 in Woking, Surrey.