Heaphy, Charles, 1820-1881: Mere-Mere from Whangamarino Redoubt

A view from above Whangamarino Redoubt with three cannons in the foreground. The left one is firing out over river and plain. The river bends at the extreme right, or may join another. The gunboat (Pioneer) is in the river in the centre distance, near a fortification or pa with a flag flying.

In a note on the back A W F Fuller quotes G W Rusden's History of NZ 1883, vol. II, page 167: "On the 29th October 1863, General Cameron with Commander Wiseman, reconnoitred Mere-Mere. Two 40 pound Armstrong guns had been previously landed at Whangamarino to command the landing place at Mere Mere. That stronghold was on a low ridge which approached the Waikato river. Traversed rifle-pits occupied the descent of the ridge to the river. Swamps almost encircled the ridge, & the Whangamarino & Maramarua rivers, or creeks, were available to the east for the possible retreat always aimed at by Maoris in their plans of fortification. The swamps were more water-laden than usual. The Maori flag floated in a pah where the ridge was 130 feet high. Every slope & projection from the ridge to the swamps was traversed with rifle-pits..."

The mention of the flag appears to mean that the Maori pa is the one with the flag flying in the centre distance.

Other Titles - Meremere

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - [Title]; Recto - bottom right - Heaphy; Verso - centre - [Notes by A W F Fuller, 7 May 1941].

Quantity: 1 drawing(s).

Physical Description: Sepia wash, 490 x 760 mm