Public servant, politician, naturalist. The eldest son of Gideon Mantell, Walter was born in Lewes, Sussex (England). He was apprenticed to a surgeon, but left aboard the 'Oriental' for the Wellington settlement of the New Zealand Company in 1839, arriving in Wellington on 31 Jan 1840. After an attempt at farming, Walter became clerk to the Bench of Magistrates and Deputy Postmaster for Wellington. In 1845 he took charge of building the Horokiri (Horokiwi) military road, and in 1848, was made Commissioner for extinguishing native land claims in the Middle (South) Island, with the responsibility for setting aside Maori reserves within Kemp's Block which straddled the Canterbury and Otago regions. In 1849 he purchased two blocks and attempted the purchase of the Akaroa Block. He purchased the Murihiku Block (Southland) in 1853 and was appointed Commissioner for Crown Lands for the Southern District of New Munster in 1851. In 1856 Walter was in England to settle his father's estate. After an acrimonious correspondence with the Secretary of State over the Kai Tahu question, he resigned his position in Aug 1856. He met Geraldine Jewsbury through their mutual friends, Jane and Thomas Carlyle and corresponded with her until he left for New Zealand in Oct 1859, arriving in Jan 1860. He was elected to the House of Representatives for Wallace in 1861 and served on three successive ministries, that of Fox 1861-1862, Domett 1862-1863 and Weld 1864-1865. He retired in 1866 and took up a seat on the Legislative Council, which he retained until his death. Walter was a keen naturalist and the Notornis (now Porphyrio) Mantelli is named after him.
Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Kakaunui River looking West from camp. [18...
Date: 1848
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant 1820-1895: [Sketches]
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: E-281-q-010
Description: Looking south-west along the coastline towards the hills north of Moeraki, past the mouth of the Kakanui River. In the foreground are a tent, and a raupo shelter, a man standing and a group of three men seated Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pen and wash, 58 x 200 mm.
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant], 1820-1895 :Design for a cottage, barring the perspec...
Date: 1839 - 1841
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-067
Description: A two-stored thatched cottage with a carriage outside and other houses nearby, probably English. It is drawn on buff-coloured blind-embossed card with a design around the edges of roses across the top, a Cupid with bow and arrow lower left, birds, flowers and torches along the bottom, possibly intended for use as a Valentine's Day card. Also embossed at the base is the name Dobbs. One of the foreground birds has been coloured in in ink by the artist Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Ink sketch on embossed card, 72 x 115 mm.
Green, George 1810-1872 : Correspondence and petition
Date: 1868-1869
By: Green, George, active 1860
Reference: qMS-0881
Description: Annotated copy of petition to Legislative Council covering land on Stewart Island that the South Island claimed to have been purchased between 1830 and 1840. Letters from Green to W B D Mantell and Andrew Buchanan; copies of letters to Green from Alfred Domett and Land Claims Commission. Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 1 volume(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss and printed matter (31 cm, ¼ red morocco, pink boards) Transfers: Transferred from qPAM, 22 April 1976.
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Tues Ev[enin]g. Hua 3 Sept 1845. [ca 1850]
Date: 1850
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-043-1
Description: Shows Mount Egmont in the distance with houses, a seated cow in a paddock and a man standing to the right. There is also a low flat structure on legs in the centre. 'Hua' may be an abbreviation for Huatoki Stream. Other Titles - Huatoki Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil 145 x 229 mm
[Wills, Alfred fl 1846-1852] :Kakaunui river looking west from the camp. No. 9 [October...
Date: 1848
By: Wills, Alfred, active 1842-1852
Reference: A-228-009
Description: Looking across a broad rivermouth, with hills in the background. Two tents in the foreground on the bank of the river, with flax bushes. One man (possibly Walter Mantell) stands by a tent and a group three men are seated together to the right. Two distant birds in the sky over a bluff to the right mark the spot from which a previous view, no. 8, was drawn. See also: E-281-010 Descriptive note Other Titles - Kakanui Inscriptions: Recto - top right - No 9. Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Ink and wash in two colours, 60 x 200 mm
Domett, Alfred, 1811-1887 : Recantation or an humble petition from the gentlemen & inha...
Date: 1844
By: Domett, Alfred (Hon), 1811-1887
Reference: qMS-0617
Description: An unpublished poem satirising Governor FitzRoy and his attitude towards the Maori after the Wairau tragedy. This particular copy was made by W B D Mantell, and contains alterations of his own, the original wording being given in footnotes. Quantity: 1 volume(s) (8 pages). Physical Description: Holograph (31 cm; ½ black calf, blue linen)
Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :SDNM, 31 Dec 1852. Te Kakahol. Mass 1 foot ...
Date: 1852
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-051-5
Description: A cross section and side view of two different fossils SDNM = South (or Southern) Districts New Munster i. e. Otago Other Titles - Southern Districts New Munster Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pen drawing, 108 x 77 mm
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :[Wellington Harbour showing Somes Island a...
Date: 1850
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant 1820-1895: [Sketches]
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: E-281-q-044-3
Description: View from the hills of Wadestown looking north east towards the Harbour. A tree trunk is sketched in on the slope in the foreground Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil & watercolour wash on cream wove paper, 124 x l56 mm
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Polhill's Gully. 19 Feb. [1850]
Date: 1850
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-009-1
Description: Shows track into valley, with a tall tree fern on the right Extended Title - In: Mantell, W B D Scrapbook. No. 8. p. 7 Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil sketch 210 x 175 mm
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Kanga maiterangi. Cliff at Howick. 1 Sepr ...
Date: 1844
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-021-4
Description: Study of geological layers in a cliff Inscriptions: Recto - top right - 'Kanga maiterangi'; also bottom right 'Cliff at Howick, 1 sept'. Both inscriptions in pencil Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil, 65 x 125 mm
Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :[Panorama]. From Kawakapu taputa Stream. 13...
Date: 1852
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-107-2
Description: View across the tops of hills from north of Bluff towards Stewart Island and the high points of Ragged and Codfish Islands Other Titles - Hinetui. Omaui. Bluff. Rarotoka. Raggedy. Rugged. Codfish Id Inscriptions: Recto - above image - title and date in ink; also the names of various high points Quantity: 2 drawing(s). Physical Description: Ink on 2 sheets of wove paper, each 28 x 259 mm
Mantell, Gideon Algernon 1790-1852 :Country of the iguanodon. Ca 1830 to ca 1850.
Date: 1830 - 1850
By: Mantell, Gideon Algernon, 1790-1852; Mantell, Mary Ann, 1795-1869; Dinkel, Joseph J, active 1830s-1860s; Scharf, George Johann, 1788-1860; Basire, James, 1796-1869; Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895; Mantell-Harding, Alton Cyril William, 1896-1975
Reference: E-330-f
Description: Includes watercolour by George Scharf "Reptiles restored", watercolours by Joseph Dinkel, watercolours and drawings by Gideon Mantell and Mary Mantell, engravings and lithographs by Scharf, Dinkel and James Basire, chiefly of fossil remains (particularly of the iguanodon) and geological drawings and including reprints or proof prints from the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. Quantity: 1 sketchbook(s). Physical Description: Scrapbook and sketchbook 52 cm high Provenance: Mantell family; Probably the 'Book of sketches by G A Mantell' donated by Mrs A C W Mantell-Harding, Wellington, on 29 6 1948 Transfers: transferred from the Manuscripts Collection 1970s?.
Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Ruapuke. [1848 or 1849?]
Date: 1848 - 1849
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-111-3
Description: Looking along the shoreline at Ruapuke Island, with a small house in the distance, presumably that of Rev. J. F. Wohlers Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Sepia ink on cream paper, 85 x 131 mm
Nairn, Francis Edward, 1819-1910 :Watitiriti, Waitara [1847?]
Date: 1847
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-041-2
Description: Looking north up the coast from a kainga at Waitara with a whare to the right Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - title Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil sketch, 110 x 172 mm
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Waiwiri from Muhunea. [ca 1850]
Date: 1849 - 1851
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-015-3
Description: A night scene with a fire burning near a pataka. A lake and hills are to the right. Muhunoa is alongside the 38 m high knoll Ohau and this is likely to be the hill formation shown in the background Other Titles - Muhunoa Inscriptions: 'Waiwiri from Muhunea' inscribed on the album page, now discarded. The inscription can be seen in the photographic copy of the watercolour Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour, 130 x 85 mm
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Taranaki, distant 16 miles W. [1847?]
Date: 1847
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: A-049-017
Description: Shows two Maori beside water; Mt Egmont; and a distant view of Mt Egmont Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Ink on paper 184 x 114 mm Transfers: Transferred from Mantell Papers (MS-Papers-0083).
[Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant] 1820-1895 :Omata. N. P. 1847. Volcanic conglomerate.
Date: 1847
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-025-4
Description: The beach at Omata with an interesting rock formation of rounded lumps on a base, a human figure at the right giving it scale. The view looks south and there is a flax plant to the left One of 9 small drawings on this sheet Other Titles - New Plymouth Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Sepia ink, 80 x 110 mm
Mantell, Walter Baldock Durant, 1820-1895 :McCoy's, Oue, New River [1852?]
Date: 1852 - 1853
From: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant, 1820-1895 :Scrapbook. 1840-1872.
By: Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant (Hon), 1820-1895
Reference: C-103-103-3
Description: A small thatched roof cottage and a low shelter in a clearing in bush New River was the original European name for the Oreti River, Southland Other Titles - Oreti River Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil, 56 x 106 mm
[Wills, Alfred fl 1846-1852] :View from Commissioner's cave Ototara (looking south-west...
Date: 1848
By: Wills, Alfred, active 1842-1852
Reference: A-228-006
Description: A Maori man seated on a high flat rock in a limestone shelter, looking out to a plain with ponds in the distance See also: E-281-007; see also E-333-026/027, Mantell's version of the same view 'The Commissioner' referred to is Walter Mantell Inscriptions: Recto - top right - No 6. Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Ink and wash, 60 x 140 mm
[Wills, Alfred fl 1846-1852] :Calcareous Caves at Kakaunui. Tuesday Morng. Novr. 7th [1...
Date: 1848
By: Wills, Alfred, active 1842-1852
Reference: A-228-019
Description: Four men close to or sheltering under limestone caves in a low hillside. Two flax bushes on top of the hill. A nearer group of rock shelters is marked A to indicate Mantell's and Wills' sleeping place; the more distance shelters are marked B to indicate the other men's sleeping places Notes: A. Mantell's & my sleeping place. B. The men's. Inscriptions: Recto - top right - No 5B; Recto - beneath image - title and indicative notes re locations Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Pencil and wash, 190 x 230 mm