New Zealand Midland Railway Company

Date: [ca 1800s-1900s]

From: General Assembly Library : Miscellaneous manuscripts

Reference: MS-Papers-10077-1

Description: Includes a typescript of ‘Journal of a journey from Nelson to the Port Cooper Plains’ (1850-1851) by Edward James Lee, and a typescript of ‘Wakapapa [sic] of Joseph Robinson with explanatory notes, etc’ (1940). Also included is a brief biography of Dr William Chapman, an early physician in Christchurch and a notice of indenture relating to Edward Corner, draper (1837). Quantity: 1 folder(s). Processing information: Description updated 12 July 2023 following information from a researcher.

Date: [Circa 1880s-1900s]

By: Harper, Arthur Paul, 1865-1955

Reference: PA1-q-113

Description: Photographs of New Zealand, probably taken by A P Harper Source of title - Title supplied by Library Inscriptions: Album page - `To Alec and Flo' from Mother, Hokitika, 1st July, 1897'; Album page - `A.S. Malcolm, "Lossie", Balclutha' Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with red cloth cover, red simulated leather spine and corners; 37 x 28 cm Provenance: No donor information available. Given to Alexander Scott Malcolm and his wife Flora in 1897.

Date: [Circa 1880s-1890s]

From: Godber, Albert Percy, 1875-1949 :Collection of albums, prints and negatives

Reference: PA1-q-104

Description: Images of the construction of the Midland Railway line in Canterbury, and surrounding areas, taken by an unidentified photographer. Views include construction of the railway line, railway tunnels, bridges and viaducts, the use of flying foxes for transportation of men and equipment, and one image of a velocipede (like a railway jigger). Life at the work-sites is shown with types of accomodation, including tents; work-sites under snow; and group portraits of the Midland Railway Rifle Club, and the New Zealand Midland Railway Football Club. Several of the men, chiefly the engineers, are identified. Other Titles - Title printed on spine - Godber Album 111 Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Photograph album with brown buckram cover; 32 x 28 cm

Date: 1906 to 1907

From: New Zealand. Department of Labour :Photograph albums for the International Exhibition, Christchurch, 1906-1907

By: Tibbutt Brothers (Firm)

Reference: PA1-o-374

Description: Views of railway construction on the North Island Main Trunk Line, and the Midland Railway Line in the South Island. The only locations named in the North Island are Waiouru and Oio, and Broken River in the South Island. All the labourers are co-operative workers, who are seen in various capacities working on railway formation including cuttings and deviations, building bridges and tunnels, and in their camps. Many of the views show huge changes made to the landscape; others show close-up scenes of the men and their equipment. Other Titles - N.Z. Department of Labour Other Titles - Views of co-operative works Other Titles - N.I.M.T. & Midland Railways Quantity: 1 album(s). Physical Description: Album with tan leather cover, entitled `N.Z. Department of Labour. Views of co-operative works. N.I.M.T. & Midland Railways. N.Z. International Exhibition, Christchurch, 1906-7'; 25.5 x 30.5 cm

Date: 1900 - 1923

By: Wood, P, active 1890s

Reference: PAColl-0678

Description: Photographs of: the construction of the Otira Tunnel including one of a large group of construction workers in the tunnel itself; a view looking down at the entrance to the tunnel from Mount Barron; a view from the opposite side of the valley from Mount Barron looking down on the construction area; three photographs of the Kowai railway viaduct under construction; a bridge on the Ohakune Raetihi Railway; the opening of the Gisborne Railway at Gisborne Railway Station ca 1900 with a large crowd on the tracks and platform; a man in uniform on a horse, possibly C E J Bell, with a wagon in the background and the caption Klerksdorf M. Streams Rly 1904 on the reverse; and a Christmas card produced by the Midland Railway using a montage of photographs of railway construction and the message `With Best Wishes for the New Year from Paterson's Creek Springfield District The Midland Railway Canterbury PWD No. 0/1903'. Quantity: 11 b&w original photographic print(s). 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s).

Date: [1865, 1900-1905]

By: Macey, William Henry, -1931; J H Bethune and Company Ltd

Reference: PA1-o-1231

Description: Album of views of Picton (including visit of Governor Ranfurly and New Year celebrations); Waimakariri, Broken River (including a workmens's camp) and Otarama from the Midland Railway; Cable Bay (including telegraph staff); Wakapuaka (including native bush); Nelson; Rai Falls; Wellington (showing decorations for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York, 1901); Dunedin (including Larnach's Castle); Masterton (showing earthquake damage to Post Office); Manawatu Gorge Bridge; Wanganui; Taihape; Hamurana Springs; Rotorua; and meeting house at Te Ore Ore. One photograph is copy of an 1865 view of Picton, and the other photographs were taken ca 1900-1905. A number of the Picton images were taken by William Henry Macey. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Date: 1909

By: Stratford, P (Miss), active 1987

Reference: PA1-q-227

Description: Album of railway photographs relating to the construction of the New Zealand Midland Railway in the South Island, circa 1909, probably presented to James Stratford at the end of his year working as wages clerk for the Public Works Department at Springfield. One photograph is entitled "Return of the "Poleseekers"", showing the return of the Nimrod from the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with blue cover, green spine, entitled "Sunny Memories" in black lettering; 32 x 28 cm

Date: [Circa 1860s-1940s]

From: Kennedy, William Alexander, 1865-1950 :Photographs of the Southern Alps area

By: Beken, Charles Albert, 1859-1944; Mundy, Daniel Louis, 1826-1881; Tomlinson, Francis Ernest, 1864-1944; Williams, William, 1858-1949

Reference: PAColl-0959-05

Description: Scenic photographs of Cass & Craigieburn, Midland Railway, Waimakariri Gorge taken between circa 1860s and 1940s by various unidentified and identified photographers. Photograph (no. 13) shows the hut owned by the Canterbury Coleege Mountain Biological Station; photograph (no. 25) of the old Benmore Station (no. 25) was taken by D L Lundy circa 1860s, and view (no. 26) shows the same site much later with fully grown macrocarpa trees, and the house in poorer condition; the views of the Midland Railway Line including when under construction, with the line, tunnels, and viaducts seen over a number of years were possibly taken by William Williams who was a photographer and who worked for the Railways Department; other images were probably taken by Charles Beken including one of "the meeting of the Arthur's Pass tunnel headings" with two men and a woman beside the dark opening. Quantity: 44 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Silver gelatin prints Finding Aids: Typescript inventory of this box held in Photographic Archive backfile under "Kennedy, William Alexander.".

Date: [Circa 1931]

By: New Zealand Railways; Hinge, Leslie, 1868-1942; Ryan, Thomas, 1864-1927; Gilmour, John Henry, 1892-1951; Andrew, Stanley Polkinghorne, 1878-1964

Reference: PA1-f-056

Description: Mainly publicity photographs for New Zealand Railways, most taken by unidentified photographers, though there are several portraits taken by S P Andrew (Stanley Polkingorne Andrew); also a number of images near the beginning of the album have a pencilled note which says "Mr Hinge's negative". There are a number of photographs of advertisements and posters for New Zealand Railways, including one promoting safety at railway crossings. In this scene a young woman is holding up a banner "STOP! Safety first", wearing a hat labelled "Stop", a sash labelled "Safety first" and wearing a skirt with the image of a car crash at a railway crossing. At the end of the album there are several photographs of postage stamps. Several photographs were taken at the opening of the Auckland Railway Station. Then a number show luggage or goods being loaded onto the interislander ferry; and near the back of the album a series showing racehorses, with one view of a horse being lifted onto a ship in a crate. A large section shows the Wellington rally for Lord and Lady Baden-Powell at the Basin Reserve in 1931, and later in the album views of them laying a wreath at the Citizen's War memorial (Cenotaph). Pages 38-43 contain 20 black and white photographs of water colour paintings by Thomas Ryan, from the 1890s. The subjects are mostly lakes and mountains in the South Island, including Lakes Mahinapua, Wakatipu, Te Anau, Wanaka and Manapouri; Teremakau River, Bealey River, Teremakau River and Clinton Valley; and in the North Island Lakes Rotorua and Tikitapu, and two of the Uruwera. On page 64 there is a photograph of a barred window. In front there is an ice-axe, a pair of skis, a fishing rod, 2 rifles, and a lidded straw picnic basket. It seems to have been used as the basis for a New Zealand Railways poster advertising outdoor life in New Zealand (see p 65). There are a number of pages of portraits of children, several of which have been formed into montages of images. None of these are identified. Some portraits of dignitaries involved with New Zealand Railways are identified with surname, but many are not identified at all. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with canvas cover, green spine, entitled `Miscellaneous Book C2'; 36 x 52 cm

Date: 1887-1925

By: McParland, Frank, active 1900-1920s; Carter, Gilbert, active 1950s-1980s

Reference: PA1-o-908

Description: Album of photographs of sporting activities and personalities, especially boxers, compiled by Frank McParland, proprietor of the Tramway Hotel in the 1920s, and a noted Wellington sporting personality. Also included are photographs of the cabinet and politicians of Seddon's Liberal Government, various horses and carriages, and views of the arrest of Rua and scenes in Wellington. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Provenance: Frank McParland was a friend of Gilbert Carter's father, to whom he gave this album.

Date: Jun 1888

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-146

Description: Most correspondents identified and entered in the Name field; also includes petition from Hororata freeholders against access to fish on any private land; letter from G A Keyes nominating Hall to Annat School Committee vacancy; letter from [?] W Willis, Willisden, Southbridge Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Sep-Oct 1888

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-149

Description: Most correspondents identified and entered in the Name field; also includes a small plan of land blocks probably near Rakaia Station Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Apr-May 1893

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-196

Description: Correspondents entered in the Name field; includes papers relating to the Cadman-Smith affair and fundraising for Thomas Latham's injury Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Aug 1888

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-148

Description: Most correspondents identified and entered in the Name field; also includes letter from St John's Parsonage, Christchurch, from H W Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Apr-May 1891

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-176

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Jun 1893

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-197

Description: Correspondents entered in the Name field Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Jul 1892

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-187

Description: Identified correspondents entered in the Name field; also includes telegram from [?] F Jamieson, Leeston; letter regarding the Rakaia Road Board; letter from [?] Embling written from the Wellington Club; letter from Rev Father McDonald or O'Donnell, Catholic Presbytery, Darfield; and letter from Lewis [?] Hotop, Queenstown, regarding tree planting and taxation. Several letters relating to the women's franchise bill. Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Piece-level list available.

Date: 15-30 Jun 1894

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-206

Description: Identified correspondents entered in the Name field; also includes letters from Mrs [?] Haines, and Gertrude H [?] Tydd, Willesden Language - Letter from Dr Louis Frank in French Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Oct-Nov 1893

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-200

Description: Correspondents entered in the Name field Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: Nov-Dec 1891

From: Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers

Reference: MS-Papers-1784-181

Description: Correspondents entered in the Name field; also includes letter from Mrs Scott, Women's Suffrage Committee, Lynton, Sydney Quantity: 1 folder(s).