Writer and farmer. He was born in England and educated in Surrey and later at Edinburgh University. He spent some time in Yorkshire learning about farming before emigrating to New Zealand on the ship 'Motueka' in 1860. He farmed in Southland from 1860 to 1878, at Ryal Bush, Spar Bush, and later near Otautau. He then moved to Banks Peninsula purchasing land from Thomas Macintosh of Macintosh Bay, which is now known as Menzies Bay. His house, known as Rehutai, was decorated in the style of a wharenui. He built the church of St Lukes at Little Akaloa, carving the font, altar rail and pulpit. He also lived on his Glen Lyon farm at Halswell in the 1890s.
Menzies, John Henry, 1840-1919
There are 5 related items to this topic
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Maori patterns painted and carved, by J H Menzies. [Plate] 26. Hagley Press, Christchur...
Date: 1975
From: [Ephemera and posters relating to book fairs & festivals, and books published 1970-1979]
By: J W Baty Ltd; Hagley Press
Reference: Eph-C-BOOK-1975-01
Description: A poster advertising the republication of J H Menzies' "Maori patterns painted and carved". A plate numbered 26 at to right is reproduced, showing a Maori pattern. Quantity: 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Screenprint on light card, 360 x 487 mm. Provenance: Donated by Mrs June Starke of Wellington, in 2003.
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Photograph of the church at Little Akaloa
Date: ca 1920s
Reference: PAColl-4611
Description: People grouped around the gates of St Luke's Church, Little Akaloa for the commemoration ceremony for the war memorial. Photographer unidentified. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
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Menzies, John Henry, 1840-1919 :Sketches by John Henry Menzies of Menzies Bay, Banks Pe...
Date: 1887
By: Menzies, John Henry, 1840-1919
Reference: E-003
Description: Digital printed copy of a sketchbook of scenes in Te Aroha and Rotorua. Includes a sketch of an interlaced monogram of the letters IHC; Te Aroha from inside the Octagon (which contains a mineral spring), 30 4 87; figures paddling in water; panoramic sketch of Lake Rotorua and the Tarawera Mountains seen from the bush near the top of Ngongotaha; a panorama of Mahanga, Ruawahia, Tarawera and Lake Rotomahana from the trig on Ngongotaha; Lake Rotorua sketched from the Balcony of Lake House; the hill at Ngongotaha; the Maori Church Ohinemutu; boating a sailing on calm water; plan of Te Aroha; two plans of Ohinemutu; sketch of clematis flowers. Title from back cover of booklet. Quantity: 1 sketchbook(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 11 leaves, 142 x 232 mm Provenance: Ms Hector is a descendant of John Henry Menzies
Online
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Perham, J, fl 1860-1870s? :McIntosh Bay, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury. [1860-1870s].
Date: 1860 - 1879
By: Perham, J, active 1860s-1880s; Christie, John Hellard, 1897-1985
Reference: B-163-014
Description: Shows a view looking down at a bay with a farmhouse, outbuildings and adjoining paddocks, and another building in the corner of the bay's curve. The view includes a close study of the grass and plants on the foreground hillside. The house shown may be Rehutai, the home of John Henry Menzies, built and decorated in the style of a wharenui. The bay (between Pigeon Bay and Little Akaloa Bay on the north side of Banks Peninsula) was named Mackintosh Bay when owned by Mr Mackintosh, 1860-1880. In 1880, Mr John Henry Menzies bought the property at the head of the bay, and the name for the head of the bay changed, although the larger inlet remained Mackintosh Bay. Other Titles - Mackintosh, Menzies Bay Quantity: 1 drawing(s). Physical Description: Pencil drawing, on sheet 390 x 545 mm. Transfers: From Manuscripts & Archives - 85-097 - Other material from the same provenance is at MSS 85-097, PAColl-0931, NegColl-246, A-367-028/029, B-163-015/026, C-081-003/009 and E-787 and E-788..
Manuscript
Inward correspondence - J-N
Date: 1855, [ca 1899-1931]
From: Best, Elsdon, 1856-1931 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-0072-04
Description: Identifiable correspondents entered in Name Field. Includes Preface to Second Edition of `Memorandum' by Sir George Grey, 1855 with newspaper cutting relating to Maori manuscripts in the Cape Museum (Cape of Good Hope, South Africa). Letter from Gilbert Mair to Augustus Hamilton re Maori musical instruments, 1900. Letter to A Hamilton from J H Menzies (1899) regarding the trapping of birds including weka. Language - Some of these pieces are in Maori Quantity: 1 folder(s). Finding Aids: Inventory available.