Places

Date: 1860

By: Harris, Edwin, 1810?-1895; Gold, Charles Emilius, 1809-1871

Reference: C-030-010

Description: Shows the township seen from Marsland Hill with the harbour and Sugar Loaf Rocks in the background and St Mary's Church with the beginnings of the new additions, started in 1860, in the foreground. Also various regiments (including 40th?) and encampments near church, military hospitals, Marsland Hotel, and various other churches. cf. Taranaki Museum's watercolour and pencil drawings of the same scene, and Hocken's col. lithographs, all signed by Edwin Harris, Harris may have copied Gold, and this painting has been attributed to Gold in the past. See Otago Daily Times, 9 Jan 1982, p. 30 for further confirmation of attribution The lithographic copy of this image in St Mary's Church, New Plymouth includes a key to various features. The title is New Plymouth from Marsland Hill. To the left of St Mary's, the two-storied building is Marsland Hotel and military Hospital. To the right, across the road, past the troops, the high-gabled single-storey building with a small porch by its door is the Maori Chapel. The two-storied building opposite the chapel is the Military Hospital. Further off to the right, the tallest building is the Wesleyan Chapel. The flagstaff on the hill between St Mary's and the sea marks the "sailors camp on Mt Elliott". Inscriptions: Mount verso - 40th Regiment, Taranaki, New Plymouth, N.Z. about 1840? Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Ink and watercolour 270 x 560 mm Provenance: George Page Cooper, Melbourne; purchased Joel's Auction, Melbourne, Nov. 1967.

Date: 1860

By: Harris, Edwin, 1810?-1895

Reference: C-030-013

Description: Shows arrival of 40th Regiment (from Australia) on the Victoria with, from left the Airedale (steam sloop), Tasmanian Maid (Paddle steamer), George Henderson (Brigantine), a Schooner (Emily Allison, Tyne, or Travellers Bride), the Victoria (H. M. Colonial steam sloop) a schooner. (This information conflicts with that on the original backing board identifying left to right: HMS Cordelia, HMS Niger, Packet ship Tasmanian Maid). The buoy in the left foreground is the New Zealand Company buoy. New Plymouth is shown in the distance with Mt Taranaki. Troops are being ferried ashore in two small lighters in the immediate foreground with others visible in the distance. (See AT 3/1/1, 13 June 1986) Taranaki Museum has a very similar signed watercolour. Attribution and title based on this work. McArthur's catalogue for 10 May 1985 suggests scene as Feb 1861, but Taranaki' Museum suggest arrival of 40th Regiment on board 'Victoria', 3 August 1860. See TL 3/1/1, 13 June 1986. Exhibited in 'Wide-Eyed: Early Images of New Zealand' exhibition of works by settler artists, held at the National Library of New Zealand Gallery, 18 July - 9 November 1997. Inscriptions: Backing board recto - Identification of ships & N.Z. Company buoy Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour on card image 305 x 495 mm on card 400 x 590 mm Provenance: Purchased by Lawford at McArthur's auction, Auckland, May 1985, lot 100. Processing information: Record updated on 17 October 2023 to remove incorrect reference to Victoria HMS (Ship : 1859-1893).