Places

Date: 12 Nov 1845

By: Forsaith, Robert, 1820-1883

Reference: MS-Group-0831

Description: Illustrated letter from Thomas Forsaith to 'Bob' (almost certainly his brother Robert, in England), describing a month-long journey through the Waikato region via Thames in 1845; Forsaith remarked on `the lamentable' British ignorance of the `Natives' here mentioned in the report. He writes of his companions, his journey through Thames and the Waihou River, Matamata, the Maunga Tautari mountain, Otawhao, Waipa, Kawhia, Aotia, Waingaroa, Waikato, Manukau Harbour and the settlement of Te Karaka to Auckland. His adventures included wading through swamps, travelling up and down rivers and creeks, giving a political harangue using `mob oratory' to `a large concourse of Natives', finding shining stones on the path (which turned out not to be diamonds), getting separated from his companions and becoming seriously lost. After enduring a night in wet clothes, making his own shelter, eating raw `native cabbage' and demolishing a hut in order to build a raft to cross a river he was reunited with his companions. The text is interspersed with ten watercolour drawings depicting his party, Maori and topographical scenes; it would seem the man dressed in blue is Forsaith. The illustrations are (1) a group of four travellers including four Maori and one European; (2) Rangitoto with two vessels close by; (3) waka with eight people in including three speaking, with bubbles `E te Potete ngarea...Mr Forsaith urge 'im on', `Come pull away boys, "Tena e tama mia hoea'" and `Tena ku me-a'; (5) officer wading through swamp; (6) Forsaith displaying `mob oratory' to a group of Maori; (7) Waikato beach, cliffs and land with travellers; (8) man wading through swamp; (9) man on raft following demolition of hut; (10) and an eel trap Source of title - Supplied The letter is written by Forsaith, probably to his brother, Robert, whom he calls Bob and Dr Bob, who had sent him British Parliamentary papers which included a report on the state of Maori Quantity: 2 folder(s). 0.02 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph with watercolour illustrations, and colour laser photocopy Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Purchased from Sotheby's, London, 1993 10 watercolour illustrations as described in scope and contents

Date: 1840 - 1845

By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895

Reference: MapColl-832.1a/[184-?]/Acc.23011

Description: Map covers area from Waitemata Harbour south to Aotea Harbour, and shows harbours, rivers, mountains, settlements, mission stations and surrounding islands. Key text notes walking distances in miles to three locations eg from Waingaroa to Waikato Head to walk 45 miles. Sea edges depicted in blue watercolour wash. Quantity: 1 manuscript map(s). Physical Description: Ink on paper, hand coloured, scale indeterminable, 32 x 20 cm. Provenance: From W B D Mantell papers Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - MSA qMS Mantell, W.B.D. Scrapbook no. 1, ca. 1840-1860 (Now in Drawings and prints).

Date: 1845

From: Hutton, Thomas Biddulph 1824-1886 :Book of New Zealand sketches. Purewa, 1845, 1860.

By: Hutton, Thomas Biddulph, 1824-1886

Reference: E-137-q-015

Description: A tent and a group of four men, three Pakeha, one Maori, seated on the ground, having a picnic in a clearing in bush, hills beyond them and water below them. One of the men, seated with his back resting on a tree-trunk, is either drawing or making notes; one, possibly William Cotton, with spectacles, seated on the left is handing out food from a plate; one is reclining on the ground, the fourth, a Maori student, is seated and is being passed food The four men are likely to be students and /or teachers at St John's theological College, Purewa, Auckland. The man wearing glasses and facing the viewer may be William Charles Cotton, while the man showing sketching may be a self-portrait. The location of Potato Bay is not known, but is likely to be in Auckland, possibly near Meadowbank, where Hutton and Cotton were teaching. T. B. Hutton arrived in New Zealand in 1843 and taught at St John's College at Waimate in the Bay of Islands until 1844 when he moved to Auckland. Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour 220 x 280 mm in sketchbook