Williams, Edward Arthur, 1824-1898 :Mount Egmont, Taranaki. [1864-65].

Shows a view upstream towards Mount Taranaki shown in haze in the distance. In the foreground a footbridge crosses the stream, and there is a sawmill driven by a waterwheel, at the left end of the bridge. One man crosses the bridge, and several men work around the sawmill, amongst sawn timber. The terrain on the right bank has tree ferns growing on it.

Ron Lambert of Taranaki Museum, believes this is the Alpha Mill, which started as a flour mill in 1844, and converted to a timber mill in the 1860s, and then to a bone/saw mill in about 1871. The position of its wheel at right angles to the stream was confirmed by excavation in 1986, although this picture does not show this position clearly. (See AT 13/14/1, 14.5.1997).

Other Titles - In New Zealand

Inscriptions: Backing board recto - top centre - In New Zealand / Sketch by Col. Williams, R.H.A. / Given to Col. C. V. Shuttleworth 1872.

Quantity: 1 watercolour(s).

Physical Description: Watercolour, 339 x 242 mm.

Provenance: Note on now discarded backing (photograph accompanying the work), records that the picture was given to Col. C U Shuttleworth in 1872. According to Brian Groshinsky who attended the Christie's auction, the work was sold there by Philip Hales, a descendant of Shuttleworth. There is also a note on the discarded backing that a possible future home for the painting might be Marlborough House, London SW1 (a Commonwealth Centre) - note dated 1960.