Traumatic time for the Beach family in 1880
It was around 1880 that things began to unravel for Milson and Lucy in Southbridge, NZ. They appear to have got into financial difficulties, domestic arguments occurred and Lucy took out a Protection Order in December 1880 whilst at the same time Milson was sentenced to 1 month jail for drunkenness and resisting arrest. By May 1882 they were declared insolvent and their acquired properties over the 16 year period since their arrival in NZ placed on the market by administrators.
A decision was taken to move to Auckland and undertake a fresh start. Some stability returned to the family and Walter was born in 1883 some 7 ½ years after the previous child. It is known that Milson undertook another work contract in Fiji during this period, no doubt in an attempt to re-establish the family finances. This may have been successful as a decision was then taken to move to Australia.
