GIFT TO CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 10

GIFT TO CITY

_— . HISTORIC DRAWINfSS " EARLY AUCKLAND SCENEB x f PICTURES FROM ENGLAND • Several historically important water colours and drawings of Auckland as it was over 96 years ago, obtained S recently in England, have been pre. rented to the city by Sir Cecil Ley g> They include one unique view of tho old Auckland waterfront, which j$ shown from a somewhat different angle and treated more comprehensively than in other drawings of the period. The drawings Were made in 1843 and 1844 by Mr. Edward Ash worth, who came to New Zealand in 1842 and built his own house on tho slopes of Shortland Street. The artist's son, Mr. Charles Ashworth, an architect, of Richmond, Surrey, brought them to the notice of Sir Cecil Leys during the latter's visit to England. They have now been received by the city librarian, Mr. J. Barr, through the High Commissioner in London, as a gift by Sir Cecil to the city. They will be hung in S" the Old Colonists' Museum. The collection numbers 17, and eludes several colour and line drawings made in the Waikato district, Thero are also five drawings of old Sydney, a group which includes street and harbour scenes in the New South Wales ycapital. An Outstanding Picture • What is probably the outstanding view of early Auckland is a sepia wslsh drawing of Commercial Bay, as it was then known, showing the sweep of tho beach from the vicinity of Point Britomart to Smale's Point, where the foot of Albert Street is now situated. Tho shore line then reached to what is now Fort Street, which is shown in embryo in the picture. This picture was made from an elevated vantage place on Smale's Point, and shows SJiortland Street, then the principal thoroughfare, flanked with buildings and rising to the crest where some of the buildings of Fort Britomart are seen. Old St Paul's Church is a prominent landmark. A number of small craft are shown moored in the bay. The date on the picture is 1843. Another drawing, also dated 184.3— ; although there appears to be. some difficulty in reconciling the date with that of the previous drawing—is a view from beach level in the vicinity of Smale's Point. It shows in detail the beach frontage in a more advanced' state of development, with the Caledonian Hotel prominent in the foreground. In this picture the young city appears to have commenced its encroachment upon the bay, for the waterline has receded in comparison with that shown in the first drawing. The Waikato Scenes Other sketches show details of the area in the vicinity of Shortland Street, and one interesting view is depicted from the lower end of Princes Street, overlooking the harbour. On the left of the street is Wood's Royal Hotel, a building still standing. Other buildings shown are the premises of the New Zealand Banking Company, the military barracks and the residence of the Consul for Belgium. A larger picture, in colour, entitled "Auckland, New Zealand, from the 'Government Domain ' shows a panorama of the present city's site and the harbour, with the North Shore in the background. When he made it the"artist was evidently at a point somewhere below the main drive and,looking in the direction of Stanley Street. Officialßßat.y t . where now stand the Auckland railway station and yards, is shown. This picture gives an excellent impression of the original bareness of the hills on which Auckland stands, and corroborates contemporary descriptions which say there was practically no vegetation of any size on the area. All that can be seen in the picture are flax bushes,, fern and a patch of manuka. The W r aikato scenes include one of "Kaitoteke or Tukupoto," showing the Waikato River with the hills and Taupiri Mountain in the background. The title of another' states that it is the principal residence of the Maori chief Te Wherowhero at Tukupoto. There is also a drawing of the Orua church missionary station on the Manukau Harbour, while another depicts in colour the heads of a, Maori man and woman. In stating that the pictures wpuld be placed in the Old Colonists' Museum, Mr. Barr said it was unfortunate that the museum accommodation was inadequate for the treasures already there. The wall space was so heavily taxedthat it was literally necessary to use a ladder to make an adequate inspection of some of the exhibits there, while to view others properly visitors had to bend down.