Artist unknown :[Early mission station in Northland, probably James Shepherd's station 'Waitangi' at Whangaroa Harbour. 1838?]

Extensive view by Whangaroa harbour above Touwai Bay with bush-clad hills. In the left foreground is a meandering river with mangrove swamps, and the stumps of several large trees. In the centre and right foreground are several fenced and cleared areas. A style leads over the fence to the right and three men and a dog are following a pathway towards a group of buildings, including a house and several sheds in the middle distance. A woman and child are on another section of the path closer to the buildings. The buildings look down over the harbour. On the water are several canoes, including a long war canoe in the distance.

Identified as Whangaroa Harbour from a photograph in Barry Mitcalf's book "Northland, New Zealand" (1984), p. 32. top of page, showing a view looking down into Whangaroa Harbour from the peak of St Paul's. The right foreground topography appears to match that shown in this drawing. A researcher familiar with Whangaroa (visited 20 August 2008) confirmed the topography as Whangaroa and suggested the likely identity of the mission station. James Shepherd had close links with the Methodist mission station at nearby Kaeo. Compare another view of Shepherd's mission station taken from the opposite side ' N W View of Mr Shephears House in Wangaroa, Nov 13 1841' by Richard Taylor E-296-q-031-3.

Dating: date of 1838 suggested by paper watermarked 1837, in England, before the artist visited New Zealand.

Quantity: 1 drawing(s).

Physical Description: Ink on wove paper 206 x 404 mm

Provenance: From the Methodist Missionary Society, London.