Places

Date: 1922

From: [Music programmes 1922]

By: A E Purse (Firm)

Reference: Eph-A-MUSIC-1922-01

Description: Programme featuring works by Wagner, Massenet, Weber, song by F David (Sung by Rose Alba), Liszt, Rossini, Tschaikowsky, Alfred Hill ("Waiata Poi"), Percy Grainger, Mendelssohn. The cover shows a head and shoulders portrait of Henri Verbrugghen. Alfred Hill was the assistant conductor. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 16 pages, each 217 x 142 mm.

Date: 1933 - 1935

From: [Ephemera, sales catalogues, and advertising for retail firms, traders, shops and stores. 1930-1939]

By: Simpson and Williams Ltd; Southwell, Cynthia, active 1997

Reference: Eph-A-RETAIL-1934-01

Description: Booklet advertising goods for sale from various Christchurch retail outlets: Provincial Hotel (for liquor supplies), H C Urlwin Ltd (electrical appliances), Ashby Bergh & Co Ltd (household, sporting and camping goods), Butlers (N.Z.) Ltd (Ekco radios), Penrose's Shoe Store, Minson's (tableware and household goods), Knowles (poultry and fish), Blackwell Motors (Chevrolet), Watkinson's Ltd (automobile electrical supplies) , Simpson & Williams Ltd (books and gifts), Alston's (bags and luggage), Stacey & Hawker ("S.X." bread), Smart & Son's Ltd (pavers, concrete and asphalt work), Meltzer Bros (tents), Waddell's (grocers), Canterbury Frozen Meat Co (butchers), Herb Laban Ltd (menswear). Other Titles - Christmas Quantity: 1 album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 20 pages, each 240 x 180 mm. Provenance: Donated by Mrs C Southwell, in 1997.

Date: 1916

By: Smith & Anthony Ltd

Reference: Eph-A-TOURISM-Canterbury-1916-01

Description: One side of the folded sheet shows a bird's eye view of "The road to Hanmer from Christchurch, with labels for Papanui, Styx, Belfast, Chaney's Corner, Whites Bridge, Kaiapoi, Woodend, Waikuku, Saltwater Creek, Leithfield, Amberley, Greney's Road, Glasnevin, Waipara Bridge, Weka Pass, Waikari, Hurunui, Culverden, Montrose, Upper Waiau Ferry, and Hanmer. Also marked are the following hotels (in order from Christchurch to Hanmer): Papanui, Phoenix, Belfast, Royal Hotel (Woodend), Royal Hotel (Leithfield), Railway Hotel and Crown Hotel as well as Frew Brothers Garage (all Amberley), Great Northern Hotel and Star & Garter Hotel as well as Mercer's Garage (all Waikari), Hurunui Hotel, Culverden Hotel, and Jollie's Pass Hotel and St Helen's Station (Hanmer). Rivers are named or shown: Waimakariri, [Kaiapoi], Ashley, Saltwater Creek, Kowai, Waipara, Hurunui and Waitohi, Waiau. The verso includes advertisements for Star Motor Petrol, the 1916 Overland, Ford cars, Goodrich tyres (from E W Pidgeon & Co Ltd), Motorol oils, Dunlop Tyres, Culverden Hotel, W D Berry & Co Garage in Christchurch. Also shown are photographs of the Troopers' Memorial Amberley, Weka Pass, Hurunui Hotel, and Culverden Hotel. Dated from an advertisement for the 1916 Overland, Colonial model. Other Titles - The road to Hanmer from Christchurch Quantity: 1 booklet. Physical Description: Photolithographs on sheet, 235 x 990 mm, folded inside cover to 235 x 110 mm.

Date: 1925 - 1930

From: [Ephemera on tourism and tourist attractions and facilities in the Hanmer Springs. 1920; 1960-1999]

By: Lyttelton Times Company Ltd; Hutchison & Reed (Firm)

Reference: Eph-A-TOURISM-Hanmer-1925-01

Description: Booklet describing the attractions of Hanmer, North Canterbury, with photographs of the town, the Waiau Ferry Bridge; with illustrated advertisements for J Dodds storekeeper, Culverden Hotel, and Mockett's Motors. There is an advertisement for "Hanmer House" accommodation, fees for the baths and tennis courts at the Department of Health's Queen Mary Hospital. Bagnall, H1568. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 12 pages, each 182 x 123 mm.

Date: [Between 1930 and 1935]

From: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives

By: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972; Wildey, Alexander, 1865-1953

Reference: PA1-o-408

Description: Photographs taken by John Dobree Pascoe and others in the Southern Alps. They include views of mountain ranges, glaciers and valleys; mountain huts and life enjoyed by the mountaineers. Most of the photographs are fully described, with names of people usually given with initials and surnames, or nicknames. Landscapes too, are mostly fully described, with peaks and routes traversed marked on the images. The album includes a map of the Rakaia-Mathias River area, drawn by E. Porter; a map of the "Three pass route" across the Southern Alps, drawn by Len Boot (p. 003); two extracts from the New Zealand Alpine Journal hand-written by J D Pascoe (from Vol. IV, no. 18, p. 209-210; and Vol. IV, no. 18, p. 213-214); and a photograph of a painting by A E Wildey, with caption "Artist's versin of Carrington Peak" (p. 028). Pages 89-94 show the preparations and work undertaken by a large rescue party involved in searching for two school teachers, B Robbins and H D Smith, who died while attempting to cross the Harman Pass, en route from Hokitika to the Bealey. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with black cover; "J.D. Pascoe" lettered in gold in bottom right-hand corner; [247 p.]; 26.5 x 32.5 cm

Date: [Between 1914 and 1937]

From: Pascoe, John Dobree, 1908-1972 :Photographic albums, prints and negatives

Reference: PA1-o-406

Description: Photographs taken by John Dobree Pascoe and others, in the Southern Alps, particularly Canterbury region. They include groups of mountaineers; views of mountain ranges and valleys; mountain huts and life enjoyed by the mountaineers; and several scenes showing Canterbury Mountaineering Club annual sports days over a number of years. Most of the photographs are fully described, with names usually given with initials and surnames, or nicknames. Many of the people and places photographed are listed above. Most of the landscape photographs are again fully described, with peaks and routes traversed marked on the images. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with black cover; "J.D. Pascoe" lettered in gold in bottom right-hand corner; [240 p.]; 26.5 x 32.5 cm

Date: Nov 1988

By: Wells, Stanley Peter, 1920?-; McAlpine, Rachel Phyllis, 1940-

Reference: OHColl-0277/1

Description: Stan Wells recalls being sent by Ada Wells to a Salvation Army orphanage for boys in Temuka when he was six. Describes the few privilages, the starvation diet, no play and the work. Explains having his name changed. Recalls corporal punishments. Talks of his sister Alice known as Bim, sister Edna, also the few women who sheltered him. Talks of money provided by the Masons' Lodge for upkeep of this once grand home and its deterioration. Recalls having top marks in drawing and talks of his inability to play cricket or rugby at school later. Describes memorable days when the boys were allowed out of the orphanage. Explains about his holidays in Oamaru, meeting the Fergusons with whom he went to live, the servant - master relationship with Mr. Ferguson. Discusses similarities in the personalities of Harry Wells and Mr. Ferguson, an organist, and talks about their purchase of an organ. Discusses differenes in attitudes between Hazel Armstrong, who took an interest in him, and Mrs Ferguson. Talks about his work as a 15 year old on a farm at Wanganui, his work on a poultry farm with poor pay, and the cost of meals. Describes his jobs as a gardener. Explains that Bim's work was as a masseuse, also a compiler for Stone's Directory, and relates that she cycled to the West Coast during the Depression. Recalls his schooling, going to war in Egypt in artillery and infantry units, his treatment as a prisoner of war when he worked in coalmine and on a railway. Explains that he was sent to a nursery garden in Temuka on his return. Describes his psychiatric treatment after the war, spending time at Hanmer and names Dr. Bevan Brown, Frank Cook, Len Booth. Talks about religion. Describes visiting Ratana Pa, Wanganui and mentions successful health treatments there. Explains about his love of native bush. Recalls Frank Milner of Waitaki School. Talks of cycling, piano playing and his appreciation of music. Relates about girlfriends, his wife and children. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Venue - Christchurch Abstracted by - Linda Bevan Smith Interviewer(s) - Rachel McAlpine Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-002857; 002858; 002859 Quantity: 3 C90 cassette(s). 2.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3852. Search dates: 1920 - 1960

Date: 1927

Reference: PA-Group-00431

Description: Views of the 1927 Royal Tour of New Zealand by the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Includes displays viewed and events attended by the royal couple, as well as travelling between towns by car and train. Places visited include: the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wigram airport, Canterbury University, the view over Lyall Bay from Truby King's house, Dunedin war memorial and the war memorial at Waitaki Boys' High School, Government House in Wellington. Photographer unidentified. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Arrangement: Negatives housed at 1/4-048049 to 048258, 049253 to 049455, 1/2-175202 to 175220 Quantity: 386 b&w original negative(s) glass. 27 b&w original negative(s) film. Physical Description: Glass and film ¼ plate negatives Processing information: Archivists notes - Originally arranged and described in 2002. Reference number changed from PAColl-6909 to PA-Group-00431 in 2009.

Date: 1924-1937

From: Furkert, Frederick William, 1876-1949 :Photographs of Hydro schemes and the Murchison and Hawke's Bay earthquakes

Reference: PA1-q-769

Description: Opens with views of the site of the Arapuni Hydro scheme and the Paturuahine Gorge which was flooded to form Lake Arapuni. This is followed by images of the repairs to the one of the water channels that took place in 1932. The rest are photographs of the dam at various stages of construction, the dam completed, views of the new lake, water flowing over the spillway, and the Arapuni falls created below the dam Two views of Atiamuri show the Pohaturoa Rock in the background Ten images of Stewart's Claim, a location south of Okarito, show scenic views some with gold dredging equipment lying around, a beach and a river estuary on which is a barge loaded with pipes. Eight images record before and after effects of controlled blasting on a limestone bluff at Cobden Quarry, Greymouth, photographed on the 15th of January, 1932 The last section are views of the construction of the Waitaki Hydro, and the new Lake Waitaki. There are also several images of the Mokau Falls at Waikaremoana Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Date: 1866-1872

By: Shaw, Charles Reginald, 1829-1906

Reference: MS-Papers-3803

Description: Shaw's diary covers the period 10 Dec 1866 to 5 August 1872. The brief daily entries describe the land he surveyed (the number of acres and the owner), and his activities around his home (gardening, maintenance of the house and furniture, and paying for household purchases). He also records information relating to the health and recreation of his wife and children. Source of title - supplied title Shaw came to NZ in 1853. He was a surveyor living in Timaru. Quantity: 2 folder(s) (172 leaves). Physical Description: Holograph (photocopy)

Date: between 1934 and 1935

Reference: PAColl-6619

Description: 46 images of the Duke of Gloucester's tour of New Zealand in 1934-5 including: nine of his visit to Rotorua including Maori kapa haka; one of veterans at the bridge of remembrance in Christchurch; one of him opening Tekapo bridge and another of the party at Tekapo House hotel; one of him in a crowd outside the railway station in Hokitika; one of him inspecting a parade of nurses; one of him visiting a traditional whare; two of him as a jockey at a race meeting; three of the felling of a kauri tree; seven of his stay at Longbeach sheep station, Ashburton County; and two of him at the Waitangi memorial. Photographer unidentified but possibly Hall Raine. Arrangement: Negatives housed at 1/4-019066 to 019078, 019082 to 019107, 019111, 019113, and 059505 to 059509 Quantity: 46 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Glass negatives

Date: [ca 1872-1880s]

By: Perkins, J (Mr), active 1967; Burton Brothers (Dunedin, N.Z.); Edmund Wheeler & Son (Firm)

Reference: PAColl-4608

Description: Photographs of Mount Taranaki; Mount Cook; Tasman Glacier near Malte Brun hut site; lower Tasman Glacier with Mounts De La Beche, Minarets, Green and Elie de Beaumont; Tasman Glacier with Mounts Cook, Tasman and Haidinger behind; main divide south of De la Beche with Glacier Dome and the Rudolf Glacier on the lower left; and the junction of Ball and Tasman Glaciers with the Anzacs ridge in the background. Photographs taken by Burton Bros. Photographs of view down Princes Street with the Colonial Mutual building on the left and the Exchange building on the right; Victoria Bridge over the Avon, Christchurch, with the Supreme Court building on the right; the Glacier Hotel at Bealey with a carriage and four pulling up; and Jackson's on the West Coast Road. Photographs taken by Wheeler & Son. Photograph of the flood in Mawhera Quay and Catholic School in Greymouth. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 album(s). 14 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Photograph album, photographic prints

Reference: PAColl-6338

Description: Postcards of King Street, Temuka; Invercargill Railway Station; the water tower and pumping station in Invercargill; Dee Street, Invercargill; Invercargill Hospital; the botanical gardens in Invercargill; Dunedin from Bell Hill, passengers on the Waikare just before the shipwreck; an elevated view of Clyde; the shelter on Stop Island built by the passengers of the Waikare after the shipwreck; Waratah and Mt Bischoff, Tasmania; Magnet Mine ore shed, Tasmania; fountain in Princes Square, Launceston, Tasmania; and a river near Latrobe, Tasmania. Photographer for some of the images was Muir & Moodie. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 16 b&w photo-mechanical print(s) postcards. 1 b&w copy negative(s) of Dunedin from Bell Hill. 1 b&w original photographic print(s) postcard.

Date: [ca 1908]

By: Muir & Moodie (Firm)

Reference: PAColl-6408

Description: Postcards of St Mark's Church, Remuera; the Waikato River at Hamilton; HM fleet in Lyttelton harbour; two of the Pavilion baths and grounds in Rotorua; the view from the grounds from the tower of bath house, Rotorua; an evening view of the Marine Parade gardens, Napier; the anglican church at Onehunga; a commemorative postcard of the dash to the south pole by Shackleton in 1908; Ferry Bridge over the Waiau River at Hanmer taken by Muir & Moodie; three views of boating at Hamurana Springs; Lakelet in the park, Queenstown; main street in Cust; Auckland Exhibition Grounds; Somerville Memorial Church at Remuera; Myers Park and Kindergarten; St David's Presbyterian Church; beach at Sumner, Christchurch; sanatorium and band rotunda, Te Aroha. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Arrangement: Prints also housed at PA5-0109 and PA5-0085. Quantity: 8 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). 8 colour photo-mechanical print(s). 14 b&w original photographic print(s).

Date: 1926

By: Parker, I W (Mr), active 1970s

Reference: Eph-A-MUSIC-1926

Description: Includes the Rules of the Wellington Band Contest Society Incorporated. 1926/27 Includes programmes featuring: Aeolian Club. (President Ernest Empson, Treasurer Mr F Page). First public recital. Choral Hall (Christchurch). 31 May 1926. Band of the 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's). Conductor F J Ricketts. New Zealand tour. Souvenir programme. ca 1926.(2 copies) Dame Clara Butt & Mr Kennerley Rumford. New Zealand tour 1926. Souvenir book of words. Programme Dame Clara Butt & Mr Kennerley Rumford. New Zealand tour 1926. Souvenir book of words. Programme no 2 (2 copies) Dame Clara Butt & Mr Kennerley Rumford. New Zealand tour 1926. Souvenir book ofwords. Programme no 3. Souvenir book of words Hubert Carter, the famous New Zealand tenor. Open for engagements, opera, oratorio concerts, miscellaneous, Scotch-Irish [1926]. Pamphlet listing New Zealand performances 1922-1924, and performances in the british Isles 1925-1926 Chaliapin concerts. Direction J & N Tait. Second concert. Souvenir programme and book of words (2 copies) Chaliapin concerts. Direction J & N Tait. First concert. Souvenir programme Toti dal Monte; direction J & N Tait. First programme. Souvenir book of words. (Cover autographed). Christchurch, A E Purse, printer, 1926. Toti dal Monte concerts. Town Hall Auckland. Second concert. Souvenir programme and book of words. 1926 Toti dal Monte concerts. Town Hall Auckland. Third concert. Souvenir programme and book of words. 1926 Toti dal Monte concerts. [Town Hall Wellington]. Third concert. Souvenir programme and book of words. 1926 Dominion Artists Club. Programme of concert. Spring Gardens Galleries London. 15 March 1926. (Features Hubert Carter, and Rita Alexander from New Zealand). Eroica Club. Recital. (First concert, 1926-27 season). Jellicoe Hall. 29 November 1926. Evans, Dorothy. Pianoforte recital by the students of Dorothy Evans. Cesaroni Concert Chamber, 27 Panama Street. 31 May 1926. Kendall String Quartet. Farewell concert. Town Hall Concert Chamber. 5 June 1926? Orpheus Musical Society. Conductor Mr Len Barnes. Second concert "The May queen" and "The New earth". Concert Chamber Town Hall. 20 April 1926. Orpheus Musical Society. Programme. Third concert. Concert Chamber, Town Hall. 12 August 1926. Bernard F Page (Wellington City organist). Organ recital. Town Hall Wellington, 4 July 1926. Programme Palmerston North Orchestral Society. Second concert of the 32nd season. Opera House. 25 October 1926. Port Nicholson Silver Band. Grand final recital. Grand Opera House. 14 November 1926. Royal Wellington Choral Union. Handel's "Messiah". Town Hall. 11 December 1926. (2 copies) Society of Musicians Orchestra. Sixth orchestral concert (2nd concert, 1926 season). Wellington Town Hall Concert Chamber. 25 September 1926. Trio evening (Ava Symons, George Ellwood, Gordon Short). Concert Chamber, Town Hall. 2 June 1926. Wanganui Garrison Band. Band of the 2nd Battallion Wellington and West Coast Regiment. Hon Members' concert. Opera House, 22 November 1926. Wellington Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association Male Voice Choir. First concert 1926. Concert Chamber, Town Hall. 29 May 1926. Wellington Professional Orchestra. Conductor Leon de Mauny. Second concert 1926. 4 July 1926. Wellington Professional Orchestra. Conductor Leon de Mauny. Third concert. 15 August 1926. Wellington Professional Orchestra. Conductor Leon de Mauny. Fourth concert. 26 September 1926. Wellington Professional Orchestra. Conductor Leon de Mauny. Fifth concert. 24 October 1926. Wellington Theatrical Employees' Sick and Benefit Society. Annual concert tendered by theatrical professional and leading artists. Grand Opera House. 20 June 1926. (2 copies) Quantity: 27 album(s) Album(s). 1 booklet. Physical Description: Printed programmes, up to octavo size, some illustrated.

Date: [circa 1905 to 1912]

By: New Zealand. Tourist and Publicity Department

Reference: PA1-o-498

Description: Photographs of a range of industries in New Zealand, possibly related to the Christchurch International Exhibition in 1906-1907. Industries include animal related products including wool, from fellmongery to transportation and finally weaving; meat works, including the slaughter house, the mutton cooling room, shipping fozen mutton, the beef cooling room; butter, at the Hautapu Butter Factory, showing butter in the factory, and delivering butter at Ngaruawahia Railway Station; the Waikato Bacon Factory, and pig carcases. Other industries include flax, with scenes showing a flax mill, carting flax to the mill, stripping, washing and drying flax, and also grading hemp and loading bales of it at Auckland wharves; kauri timber industry, from felling the trees, hauling logs by bullock, floating logs over the Wairoa Falls, sorting timber at the mill booms, timber mill on the Wairoa River, and a million feet of sawn timber at the mill. The latter part of the album shows scenes of gold dredging on the Buller Gorge, hydraulic gold-mining at Ross, Westland; coal mining at Brunner; kauri gum diggers and a warehouse storing kauri gum; and finally views of the Sugar Refinery in Auckland, and a warehouse filled with sacks of sugar. Other Titles - New Zealand scenery Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with red cover, leather corners and spine, entitled "New Zealand scenery" in gold lettering; 26.0 x 34.5 cm

Date: [Between 1933 and 1945]

From: Paddy, Laurence George Malvern, 1906?-1971: Photographs relating to the Lauri Paddi Band

Reference: PA1-q-182

Description: Photographs relating to the dance band scene in New Zealand in the 1930s and 1940s, largely associated with Lauri Paddi (aka Laurence George Malvern Paddy] and various bands. Many of the images are signed by musicians in the bands, not all the signatures being legible. Names have been listed where possible. Musicians with signatures Ian H Pitcaithly, W O Pritchard, and Jeffrey Madden, are probably the same as musicians listed on a poster for the Auckland Peter Pan Orchestra (Nin Pitcaithly, Billy Pritchardt, and Johnny Madden). One series of photographs shows musicians performing with Lauri Paddi going on tour in the South Island, including two views taken from a car, following a train on the road/rail Rakaia Bridge. The stage show 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' was performed at the Paramount Theatre, Wellington, in 1944. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with light brown mottled pattern, entitled `Photographs'; 25.5 x 31.5 cm

Date: ca 1870s

Reference: PAColl-4511

Description: Photographs of Queen Street, Auckland; sailing ships moored in Auckland harbour; Government House, Auckland; the Auckland Supreme Court; Lyttelton, with a church in the middle distance and commercial buildings in the foreground; Dunedin Hospital (built in 1864); view looking down Princes Street towards the Exchange Building (built as the Post Office but never used as such) with business premises on either side of the street and a sign for a dentist's on the right; the Exchange Building with a horse and cart to the left; and the town reservoir, Dunedin. Photographer unidentified but they have similar captions below the image. Arrangement: Negatives at 1/2-002193, 002206, 002207, 002215, 002367, 002368, 002370, 002379, and 002838 Quantity: 9 b&w copy negative(s). Physical Description: Film copy negatives

Date: 1868-1949

By: Rolleston family

Reference: 79-287

Description: Family and other personal correspondence. Includes some of William Rolleston, his wife Mary, but mainly their son Francis Joseph; also including other family members. There are some letters of political, social and community significance relating to the careers of William Rolleston, and his son F J Rolleston. Writers include Professor J B Condliffe, Sir Francis Bell, Sir James Parr. Added in 1980 to this accession were 11 letters 1891-1893 from J D Ormond, Harold Kemp, E J Watts etc; 15 letters of family to F Rolleston at school, 1881-1889; various records of F Rolleston's life at school; his `Parodies on Gilbert and Sullivan' etc. Later in same year further Rolleston letters, 1868-1949 were added, including letters relating to the political career of John Christopher Rolleston. Source of title - Supplied title Other - Rosamond Rolleston was the author of `William and Mary Rolleston; an informal biography' which was published in 1971 Relationship complexity - See also MS-Group-0377 (1971 accession) Arrangement: The bulk of the letters had been arranged chronologically before they were deposited. Quantity: 3 box(es). 1 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescripts, printed matter and photographs Finding Aids: When the papers were still with Rosamond Wilson, Steven Eldrid-Grigg listed those letters that seemed to him of chief interest, and this list is in a back file. These letters have been merged into the chronological sequence. Loose photographs

Date: [ca 1873-1875]

By: Gaul, John, -1876; Lindt, John William, 1845-1926

Reference: PA1-q-330

Description: Includes views New Zealand, Pacific and Australia, including images of indigenous houses and plantations, and a series of 12 studio tableau portraits of Aboriginal Australians, taken by John William Lindt in 1873-1874. Kai Colo (Fijian people) - name for the people who live in the mountainous interior of Fiji. It's literal meaning is something like "mountaineer". This information was given by Dr Vicki Lukere (Luker), specialist in South Pacific history, Victoria University, 1997. A series of 12 studio tableau portraits of Aboriginal Australians by John Wiiliam Lindt, including three not found in this album, are at Library reference PA1-q-1317 Quantity: 1 album(s). Physical Description: Photograph album. Provenance: Written comments in the album indicate that it might be associated with Commodore J Goodenough RN, who was appointed as a commissioner by the Crown to investigate the events that led to the annexation of Fiji. This album was compiled by an unidentified member of the Australian Division of the Royal Navy based at Sydney in the mid 1870s. The Australian Naval Station was responsible for policing the Pacific and supporting Britain's interests in the region. The one date associated with the album (1875) as well as some of the images, suggest that it was compiled soon after the cession of Fiji to the British Crown. The two ships associated with the album, HMS Blanche and HMS Pearl, were both stationed at Sydney and both were involved with events in Fiji before and during cession. HMS Pearl was Commodore Goodenough's flagship. He was the officer in charge of the Australian Naval Station at that time. He also played an important political role in the process of cession in Fiji. In the album he and his officers are shown swimming on Ovalau. The compiler of the album on the other hand, seems to have been personally associated with HMS Blanche. There are two pictures of this ship in the album as well as pictures of memorials erected by the captain and crew to one of their members. HMS Blanche had been active against the traffic in cheap labour in the South Pacific. In 1873 her paymaster, Lieutenant Nettleton, had acted as temporary British Consul in Fiji after the recall of E B March.