Description
Lower right (l.r.) with brush: Wanganui N. Zealand W. Fox 1857; on sketchbook mount in ink in Dr Hocken’s hand: English Church and houses on site of the Avenue. Beyond are two large houses built and fortified in 1847 for the refuge of the inhabitants. Outskirts of the Putiki Pa on the left bank of the Wanganui. T.M. Hocken; label: Na te Hakena tenei tiki; label in ink in Dr Hocken’s hand: Wanganui in 1857 drawn by Mr (Sr Wm) Fox. Settlement commenced early when 200 settlers finding they could not gain possession of their sections at Wellington, migrated towards the end of the year. They were always harassed with native trouble & in 1845 the town was stockaded. Matters culminated with the Gilfillan murders in 1847. The Missionary settlement was founded in 1839 at Putiki, the splendid iron bridge 600 feet long was opened in 1871. T.M.H.; on flypage of sketchbook in ink: Thomas Morland Hocken from Sir William Fox. Sir William Fox who well knew the interest I took in old New Zealand & was a frequent visitor at my house, promised to bequeath me these sketches which he commenced to take from the time of his arrival in New Zealand in 1842.