Yes these are my Alexander - I believe he emigrated as ship's carpenter on board the Waikato in 1877. His family are all listed on the passenger list.
The children were left in care when Alexander went off to work elsewhere but of Jane I can find no trace.
It would seem strange to me that a mother would leave children so young in the care of another person nor allow their transfer to an orphanage if she were around. The court case does not mention her, which makes me assume she has died, there are no further births to the couple.
The original story posted was related to me by a descendant of Richard (the youngest child), about 10 years ago when I first started researching my "Gollan" family. I can punch holes in the story now with the help of online indexes and Paperspast. But desperately need NZ experienced help in going further.
Of the other son deserted John I can find no trace.
The daughter left behind Euphemia Gunn Gollan (aka Amy) also got herself "in bother" with the law for passing a dud coin. In the article she mentions "her mother" which I found odd ........ until that is I found a possible second marriage - for an Alexander Gollan to Beatrice Jessie Maud Hill in 1891 (there is one child of that marriage Annie Agnis Gollan)
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS18940604.2.39&srpos=1&e=-------10--1----2Euphemia+Gollan--Euphemia "Amy" Gollan also got herself into a bit of bother with a married man Walter Raynard Vallance and had an illegitimate child who was raised by the paternal grandmother it is believed and whose birth was not registered until 1983!! The child was Edward Tapling Vallance born in 1898.
Because of this affair, subsequent birth and a letter she found his wife divorced him.
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=MEX19001123.2.31&srpos=1&e=-------10--1----2Walter+Raynard+Vallance--http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TS19001123.2.38&srpos=2&e=-------10--1----2Walter+Raynard+Vallance--Euphemia went on to marry George Greaves 3 years later in 1901, had 3 further children by him and died in 1940.
Any help tracing the missing family members Alexander, Jane and John would be much appreciated. I haven't sent off for any print outs yet as I have also found Alexander Gollans who may be similar ages but middle names do not match up.