Bertha Victoria JULIUS [542]

  General Notes:

Bertha is described by her daughter Di, as a warm but stern mother with a love of music. She was an accomplished violinist and owned a beautiful instrument made in 1753 by Guadagnini. She, and her sister Ella on the piano, spent much time playing for their own and others pleasure. Bertha was mistress of a large house and garden, and enjoyed drawing and painting. A prolific letter writer, she learned to type in her 70's to maintain her correspondence.

Dermot Elworthy (in 2012) remembers his grandmother: ". . . . . selling her fiddle. She went to London in 1960 to sell two instruments to Hill's who were then at the top of Wardour Street. I was with her at the time and have an idea that in addition to the 1749 Guadagnini, she also parted with a Guagagnini. She had been a fine player in her time and worthy of these instruments".
He also remembers "Gordon's Valley was a large house of some 13,000 sq ft, and having had most of the furniture removed, was a cavernous place in which we children and the occasional possum played. Some of the pre-War labour-saving gadgets in the old kitchen and pantry were wondrous curiosities; I particularly liked the Spong knife polisher". Despite its emptiness and advancing neglect, it was plain that this place as I remembered it before Willie and Gran retired to Havelock North, had been a centre of great social consequence, the large rooms and halls echoing the confidence and stability of the colonial landed class in the dying days of Empire. I became aware of a profound sadness at the loss of something which I did not yet understand."

Bertha and Percy in the mid 1940's left Gordon's Valley under the management of Robert Johnston, and moved to Havelock North NZ, Bertha spent her final years in Taupo NZ near her daughter Diana.

Julius Jottings June 1901 No 5.
We were sorry to hear, a few months ago, that Bertha Julius was down with typhoid fever.

Two Miss Julius's sailed 21 Feb 1908, from London to Sydney on board the Omrah. One was probably Bertha, as the researcher understands she broke into her engagement to Percy Elworthy to travel abroard.
Ref: Findmypast.co.uk

Bertha's father writes to her while travelling his Diocese on the West Coast of NZ in 1899 ;
Madam,
The Yellow Lamb, a corresponding member of the Club, desires me to send you a few extracts from our monthly report.
I am etc.,
Cruso (Dog)
Sec; "Four Legged Club"

July 14 1899 Brother Turpin (Horse)
Yes that is my name. I was so called after a famous missionary Bishop Julius on the box seat. I was instructed by the Club to take note of him. He is much like other men only his fur is rather different. He is heavy - very heavy. Says he is cold. Why doesn't he get down and pull? He smokes. So do I when I am hot. I like smoking, drivers never whip hard when they are smoking.

July 14 Tabitha (Cat)
I am the cat at the Bealey - THE cat, mind. Of course there are other cats. I sit in front of the Bealey fire . That is my place. I don't like the Bishop. He turned me out. Men are so selfish. Poor Turpin seems very tired tonight. He says it is the Bishop. But the Bishop isn't so heavy. I have found out what it is. He opened his bag and I saw he had six of his sermons inside. No wonder the handle gives way.

July 15
I am a spider at the vicarage Kumara. You will wonder how I come to be a member of the "Four Legged Club". Well two of my legs were cut off by a traction engine, so they admitted me to the Club. And I have eyes; - Oh, yes. I saw the Bishop go to bed in his clothes. Well not all his clothes. Dirty habit, I call it. Then he reads in bed just when I want to walk about. There is a blue bottle on his pillow, asleep I think, I mean to have it.

July 16 Snap (Dog)
I am Snap, a Dog, and I belong to Waimea. At least, Waimea belongs to me. I went to church with two other dogs to hear the Bishop. We joined in the singing. Then the Bishop preached. It was very dull; so we got up a fight, and they turned us out. I don't think much of the Bishop.

Letters to Harold Fenn.
Ringstead
Havelock North
Tel Hastings 3169
Jan 26th (1956)
My dear Harold
Thank you for writing. Our first reaction to the news of Vans release is happiness - be sure we can have no regrets as he could not have looked forward to a normal life in spite of yours and Margots love and attention, he must have been very weary of being an invalid. One can think of him so truly as going "home" - He never seemed to be quite of this world with his beautiful character - which was reflected in his face, his gentleness and unselfishness - I know what sadness his death will cause to those whom he had helped so much - Percy and I, who saw him so seldom learned to love him and felt in him a responding affection - though perhaps like Dick Shepherd - he loved all the world.
I know what his going must mean to you - his coming to New Zealand and into your lives seemed to be "heaven sent" for him and I think for you both who made him so welcome and one likes to think that he had the great happiness of real family life at the end of his days. One wished that it could have come sooner and that it had not ended so tragically. You and Margot must feel comfort in the thought of all that you did and were to him.
With our love and as always
Yr affect Cousin
Bertha

As from the Midland Hotel
Wellington
July 17th
My dear Harold
I knew that you and Margot would be thinking of Percy and we were so pleased to get your letter of commiseration and good wishes - it is three weeks today since he was brought to this hospital - Wellington Hospital - and, for the first a few days his recovery did not seem possible - I think the trouble began with a violent flu bug but his heart played up on the night of his admission here - I was sent for at 3 a.m. when he was in a deep coma, and was allowed to remain for four days and nights sitting in his room - by some miracle he pulled through and has made steady, if slow progress ever since - his heart has little "to come and go on" but all conditions have improved - he sits in a chair for most of the day and looks well, in spite of his thinness - he has a nice room here and inspite of a terrible shortage of staff kind and good nursing - & I can't be too grateful that I am allowed to come each day at 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to sit with him and do little odd jobs that the nurses have no time for. The doctor is hoping to get him into Bowens Street hospital some time this week which would be an improvement as it is near my hotel & P would be more comfortable - but we have had much to be grateful for here.
I hope that you are all keeping well - that your lameness does not increase. I fear that you are seldom out of pain & wish so much that there was some alleviation.
Our love to you & dear Margot
Yrs
Bertha Elworthy

Ringstead
Havelock North
Tel Hastings 3169
Aug 18th
My dear Harold
Percy and I are so distressed at your news. Surely you and Margot have had enough to bear over this last year without this added misery and anxiety. Does this mean much suffering and those agonising attacks? You do not mention the arthritis which continues unabated, I fear. It is particularly sad news as my Percy has so completely overcome his trouble and we are wondering whether the doctors hold out any hope of your heart improving.
How quickly your children are growing up! they must be such an enormous interest to you both and it is splendid that Katharine's music is proving more than a passing fancy - so many get wildly enthusiastic until it comes to hard work and examinations and she is obviously making great progress both in her practical and in theory - you must both be very proud.
We liked your Edward so much when we saw him and feel sure that he is a son to be proud of too.
We came home a little over a fortnight ago Percy stored the 200 mile journey miraculously and since then has made steady progress. The last Cardiograph (is that the right word?) showed a sound heart! and the doctors simply can't get over it as they have seen those taken in Wellington when all hope of his life had been given up. Percy is still weak but if he lives a reasonable life as he means to do, all should be well and I would love to think that some such miracle could happen to you.
I am much involved in holiday comings and goings of Diana's children who are our responsibility while she and Hame are in England - the six-year-old who lives with us has gone to John and Hester for three weeks and the other two come and go in between visits.
We think of you much but in one thing you are wonderfully blessed that is the possession of such a wife as Margot.
With our best love to you both
Your affectionate cousin
Bertha

  Other Records

1. Bertha Victoria Julius: Her youth to her marriage.
Marriage 1 Oct 1908, Bishops Court Christchurch NZ.
L to R: Carlisle Studholme, Ada Julius, Bertha, Percy, Muriel McDonald, Pat Lindsay.
Flower girls: Betty Gould, Rachel Sinclair-Thomson (Nieces of the Bridegroom)

Bertha married Percy Ashton ELWORTHY [544] [MRIN: 157], son of Edward ELWORTHY [633] and Sarah Maria SHORROCK [2057], on 1 Oct 1908. (Percy Ashton ELWORTHY [544] was born on 27 Mar 1881 in Timaru South Canterbury NZ and died on 10 Jul 1961 in Ringstead Havelock North N Z.)