Patricia Thomas (Director Postgraduate Studies, Institute of Communication Design, College of Creative Arts, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand) kindly contacted (in 2011) the Virtual Museum regarding a poster printed by W Franklin, Printers and Booksellers of 2 Bridge Street, in June 1840.

It was advertising a meeting at the White Hart Inn in Charnham Street, when the Directors of the New Zealand Company would receive applications from "sober and industrious mechanics and labourers" for free passage to emigrate to New Zealand.

It is not yet known how many Hungerford men (and women) took up the offer.

Much more information on this topic can be found in "English Emigration to New Zealand 1839-1850", by Dr Paul Hudson, 2001.

Poster advertising a meeting at
The White Hart Inn, Hungerford
for men interested in
Free Passage to New Zealand, June 1840.

From New Zealand Company Scrapbook, 208/291 68, National Archives, London.