Searle album 2

Album of photographs chiefly taken by Roland James Searle, circa 1930s.

The first subject is the opening of the Wellington Citizens' War Memorial (Cenotaph), and includes a programme of the dedication and handing over on Sunday 17th April, 1932 (p 001-012). That is followed by the consecration ceremony for the National War Memorial and War Memorial Carillon (again with a copy of the programme), held on Anzac Day, April 25th, 1932 (p 015-023).

Pages 029-033 show the arrival of the Wellington Jubilee Dock in 1931, the floating dock which was towed from England by two Dutch tugboats.

The next sequence is entitled "The Express pulls out - Thorndon", and follows the Express to Wanganui where views show a river-boat trip up the Whanganui River (p 037-056), and include a map of historical areas on the river compiled by Annabell & Marchant, surveyors of Wanganui (p 055).

The train trip is continued in the next section, and includes an illustrated diagram of the Raurimu Spiral, then arrival at the new Beach Road Auckland Railway Station.

Photographs of Auckland include the Auckland Institute and Museum, Auckland University, Grafton Bridge, a sailing ship at the wharves, and the Auckland Zoo.

Further North there are scenes of ploughing, a mine entrance, rock formations at Waro, and the Taheke Falls; before travelling to Rotorua and the surrounding thermal regions. A number of images were taken at Whakarewarewa, including photos of Paul Thomas and his wife, along with scenes showing women washing clothes in hot pools, a woman with a baby on her back holding a rope with a food basket cooking in the pool, children in a hot pool, and men at work carving. Paul Thomas wrote to thank Searle for sending him copies of photographs (p 101, written on May 1st 1932).

Later photographs again with the train often in view show timber felling and milling, and views of the Arapuni hydroelectic power station.

Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Physical Description: Album with textured grey cloth cover, entitled "Snapshots"; 28.5 x 39.0 cm