[Merrett, Joseph Jenner] 1815-1854 :Maori feast at Remuera. Star Steam Litho., Auckland. [Auckland, H Brett] 1890

Extensive view of a plain with volcanic cones in the background, including Mount Hobson and Mount Eden, showing a feast given by Waikato Chiefs in 1844, attended by about 4000 Maori and many Pakeha. A 400 yard-long shed is in the background and Governor Fitzroy is shown visiting the scene with many other Pakeha on 11 May 1844. Features and incidents are numbered and described below the work. A haka is being performed on the right for Fitzroy, Sheppard (the colonial Treasurer) and William Swainson (the Attorney General). Tribal groups are named as Ngatihaua, Ngatikoroki, Ngatimahuta, Ngatiwhatua, Ngatikoura and Ngatiruru and the plain is covered with large numbers of people, the majority Maori.

Features noted include: Mount Hobson, Mount Eden, Captain Scott's farm, The positions of each tribe and their huts, the tribes which gave the feast carrying out provisions to their guests, a structure bedecked with handkerchiefs and shawls used as flags, an immense quantity of dried sharks, the chief police magistrate, Epiha a native chief on his own horse, Captain Fitzroy, Mr Sheppard the Colonial Treasurer, Mr Swainson the Attorney-General.

A lithograph presented with Brett's Almanac for 1890, which is derived from an earlier lithograph published by Samuel Augustus Tegg in 1845, (with title The New-Zealand festival), which in turn is after an original watercolour of the event made in 1844 by J. J. Merrett in the Hocken Library, Dunedin.

Words below the image read: The Maori feast depicted in this picture was one of then largest ever held in New Zealand. It was given by the Waikato chiefs. The site chosen was in the vicinity of Mt Hobson, at Remuera, near Auckland. About four thousand natives were present. A shed 400 yards long had been erected and was covered with blankets; and tents decorated with little flags, dotted the ground. The provisions comprised 11,000 baskets of potatoes, 9,000 sharks, 100 pigs, and large quantities of tea, tobacco, and sugar. A thousand blankets had been provided as presents. Governor Fitzroy, with his suite, visited the meeting on the 11th May 1844, when 1,600 natives, armed with guns and tomahawks, danced the wardance. The assembling of so large a force near the infant capital caused some uneasiness among the settlers, but admirable order was maintained throughout. The various tribes were accompanied by their missionaries, and religious services were well attended. The feast lasted about a week.

Other Titles - The New-Zealand festival

Inscriptions: Recto - "Presented with Brett's Almanac for 1890"

Quantity: 1 colour art print(s).

Physical Description: Lithograph in two tints 220 x 840 mm on sheet 285 x 890 mm