HISTORY BY CAMERA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22210, 10 September 1935, Page 12

HISTORY BY CAMERA

OLD AUCKLAND PICTURES GIFT TO THE CITY SCENES IN THE 'FIFTIES An interesting collection of New Zen land photographs, mostly between 70 and SO years old. has been presented to the Old Colonists' Museum by Mrs. Alexander Aitken, of Devon port. The pictures, which are mounted on leaves from a large album, are nearly all 111 good condition, though more or less yellowed by time. It is intended to have negatives made from those considered of most value, so that they may he preserved from further deterioration. Prints from several will be hung in the museum. In the collection is a fine panoramic view of Auckland, taken from the old windmill in Symonds Street about IS/0. A noticeable feature of this is the laruo number of blueguni trees which grew on the higher areas of the city in those days. The Albert Barracks were then still in existence, and the high stone wall which enclosed them can be seen following an angular course down what is now the southern slope of Albert Park. A good idea of the military buildings can be obtained. Most of them were small wooden structures, but, two large two-storeyed stone buildings, one of which occupied the site of the central police station and housed the Auckland Grammar School for some years, stands out prominentlyViews of the Waterfront The tower of the newly-erected Supreme Court, not yet weathered by time, can be seen above the trees in the grounds of Government House. Airedale Street—then named Alexandra Street —is shown lined with cottages. a surprisingly large number of which are still standing. Another panoramic picture is of Official Hay and the Wynyard Pier, looking toward Mechanics' Hay, before the cutting-down of Point Britomart. This neighbourhood to-day is completely transformed, and not a single old landmark remains. Some large pohutukawa trees which appear in the picture stood between Heach Road and the hill until about 20 years ago. They were removed with great difficulty to allow the street to be widened. Smaller views are of the central part of Auckland in 1857. One, looking up Wakefield Street from what is now the Civic Square, shows that Queen Street dipped into a fairly deep transverse gully ahove the junction of Grey Street. As the ground to-dav falls away on both sides of this pai t of the street, the presumption is that a large filling was made across the declivity, possibly with material excavated higher up the hill. In other pictures the Methodist chapel m High Street and the Roman Catholic chapel on the site of St. 1 atrick's Cathedral arc conspicuous. A view of Lower Queen Street from the head of the wharf shows nothing but wooden buildings, with a ''ship biscuit manufactory" on the right. Tauranga and Thames Goldfleld The collection includes views of early Tauranga, and one of the Gate Pa with a squadron of mounted troops in the foreground.- There is a remarkably fine series taken in the heyday of the Thames goldfield, depicting surface workings among the wild hills, with bearded miners, and women in crinolines; batteries and streets in Shortland and Grahamstown. Another series is of bush scenes around Whanjiarei, including the Wairua Falls. The remaining photographs are of early New Plymouth, Dunedin and various townships in Otago. Mrs. Aitken's gift is a reminder that there are many early New Zealand photographs in old albums which might vcrv well be given to such institutions as the Old Colonists' Museum, or at least lent so that negatives may be made from them for preservation. Such pictures are of historical value, for they represent scones that are gone for ever. They are certain to be more and more prized as the colonising era recedes further into the past.