The British flag first hoisted on the shore of the Waitemata, September 18th, 1840.

The British flag first hoisted on the shore of the Waitemata, September 18th, 1840. No I. J.J. 1840. [By E.M Hocken after John Johnson. n.d.]

Hocken Pictorial Collections - 12,954

a42

Lower right (l.r.) in ink: J.J. 1840; margin below image l. - r. in ink in Dr Hocken's hand: The British flag first hoisted on the shore of the Waitemata, September 18th, 1840. T.M. Hocken; margin above image in ink: No I; label in ink in Dr Hocken's hand: The Township of Russell proved utterly unsuited for the Government so Cap Hobson entrusted his friend Captain William Cornwallis Symonds of the Scotch Company at Manukau to select a suitable site. The latter recommended the Waitemata. The spot chosen was purchased from the Chief Te Kawau of Orakei & named Auckland after the British Prime Minister. A staff came down from Russell in the Anna Watson to take possession & on the 18th of September 1840 the flagstaff was hoisted by Cap Symonds on what was afterwards called Britomart Point & saluted with 24 guns from the Anna Watson & 15 from the Platina, Cap Hobson being then saluted with 7 guns. Those also present round the flagstaff were Felton Mathew, the Surveyor General, Dr John Johnson, William Mason, Superintendent of Work, Charles Logie, formerly of India & the Customs at Sydney (later at Dunedin), McCarthy also of the Customs (later at Port Chalmers) & Mr Edward Williams, son of Rev. Henry Williams. The lady in the fashionable bonnet is Mrs Mathew. Governor Hobson came down from Russell to Auckland in January 1841. Mr Mason gave me this information. T.M.H.

145 x 200 mm; on paper: 227 x 357 mm (sight size, pasted to card)

watercolour, pen & ink on paper

Dr T.M. Hocken’s Collection.