Ranfurly family : Papers.
(MS-Group-0756)

Most of these papers relate to Lord Ranfurly's period as Governor of New Zealand, from 1897 to 1904, and reflect his wideranging activities throughout New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands. They comprise correspondence, journals, reminiscences, scrapbooks and other papers compiled by Lord Ranfurly and his staff, particularly his chief aide-de-camp, Captain Dudley Alexander.

Ranfurly family : Papers.
MS-Group-0756
1896-1913
12 folders, 13 volumes.
Manuscript.
Alexander Turnbull Library : Manuscripts & Archives Collection

The Earl of Ranfurly was Governor of New Zealand, 1897-1904.

Most of the papers are from, or relate to, Lord Ranfurly's term as Governor of New Zealand.

The papers comprise:

A series of drafts and copies of quarterly dispatches sent by Ranfurly to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. In these reports the Governor often gives frank comment on local politics and politicians, the South African War, the royal visit of 1901, and other official engagements and concerns. In a longer, final report he expounds on his proposals for a national system for the teaching of empire history and provides a survey of his time in New Zealand. These are drafts of reports now held at the Public Record Office in London.

A typescript autobiographical account of Ranfurly's time in New Zealand comprising two volumes giving a very detailed account of his many activities and a third volume of selected speeches and addresses.

An illustrated volume titled `New Zealand journals' written by his private secretary, Major Dudley Alexander, giving accounts of various expeditions and excursions from 1901-1904. The volume contains many sketches, photographs and other illustrative material and contains many lively, informal accounts of the Ranfurlys in New Zealand.

A small erratically-kept diary from 1898, almost certainly by Charles Hill-Trevor, aide to the Governor.

Several folders of Ranfurly correspondence, including letters to and from the Duke of Cornwall about his 1901 visit; letters from the Premier, Richard Seddon; a series of telegrams from Captain Robert Falcon Scott arranging for Ranfurly to visit the `Discovery' when it was berthed at Lyttelton in December 1903; letters from the British Museum relating to Ranfurly's collecting activities; and letters written in 1905 to the members of the party who accompanied him on his March 1904 expedition to meet Tuhoe leaders.

Various memorials relating to Ranfurly's departure from New Zealand.

An account book maintained by Dudley Alexander detailing the Ranfurly household expenditure in New Zealand.

A series of scrapbooks maintained by Alexander which contain a comprehensive record of the Ranfurlys in New Zealand. In addition to newspaper clippings the scrapbooks include some photographs, correspondence and ephemera.

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