Ruth - or babsandpete - I noted with interest your listing regarding Colin and Catherine Mcrae. Recently my cousin from the Marlborough Sounds forwarded me several letters written by our 3xgreat-grandmother, an excerpt as follows:

Anne Boyd, Octavia St., St Kilda, 6th August 1886, to son James Milne Boyd, NZ

...I wonder if Macrae whom you mention in your letter is anything to Colin Macrae who kept a dairy in Prahran. I gave music lessons to his daughters, who turned out two of the finest looking girls in the colony, and who both married gentlemen, and I received great kindnesses from poor Colin who was rather eccentric in his habits. His wife was a fine body and very goodlooking…

I am unable to contact you via this site as I am not a full member. If you receive this message, I would appreciate hearing from you - my email is tarewarota at
gmail dot com

Many thanks.