Through Tuhoe Land.
(PA1-q-634)

Photographic record of the state visit of Lord Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand, to the Bay of Plenty and the Far North in March 1904. The vice-regal party, which comprised Lord Ranfurly, his secretary Dudley Alexander, James Carroll, Dr Maui Pomare, Gilbert Mair, and the journalist Malcolm Ross, travelled on horseback through an unroaded region via Lake Waikaremoana and the Huiarau Ranges, to attend a meeting of the representatives all the Maori Councils of New Zealand, at Ruatoki. The party then returned to Auckland and sailed on HMCS Iris to the Far North, where they attended a number of hui. Most of the photographs were taken by Malcolm Ross, whose pamphlet "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), describes the journey.

"Through Tuhoe land", by Malcolm Ross (Christchurch Press, 1904), says of this occasion: "Once over the bar the steamer swerves into the broad river, and glides onward round a bend to the township of Wairoa. As we near the wharf the well-known strains of a Maori song of welcome to the Governor break the stillness, and a moving line of gesticulating Maoris, men and women, greet the Governor. As the steamer proceeds they advance along the bank in a line, keeping up the strange gesticulations of the haka and the weird melody of their chant in a minor key."

Malcolm Ross, in "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904) states that "...The trail wound up the face of the mountain between the gnarled trees of the sombre forest, and then dived into some deep declivity only to ascend again with startling suddenness, but it was all the same to those marvellous Maori horses. Time after time, as July had said, it seemed as if we might have to say "Good-bye to light", but with never a slip nor stumble the Governor's grey, old Socrates, Tori, and the rest, took us through it all in safety..."

In "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), which describes the vice-regal expedition which is the subject of PA1-q-634, Malcolm Ross states that the party crossed the Huiarau Range and descended the northern side, when "shortly after noon we emerged from a forest into a clearing at the foot of the valley, and presently we came upon a small kianga [sic], where a number of Maoris were cooking their mid-day meal. Pigs and dogs, Maori women and children, were mixed promiscuously about the fire...". Later that day the party reached Ruatahuna.

In "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), which describes the vice-regal expedition which is the subject of PA1-q-634, Malcolm Ross states that the party crossed the Huiarau Range and descended the northern side, when "shortly after noon we emerged from a forest into a clearing at the foot of the valley, and presently we came upon a small kianga [sic], where a number of Maoris were cooking their mid-day meal. Pigs and dogs, Maori women and children, were mixed promiscuously about the fire...". Later that day the party reached Ruatahuna.

Malcolm Ross, in "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904) states that "All day our horses had proved their mettle in a most surprising manner. By this time also, we found that they possessed individualities as diverse as our own. The Governor rode a wonderful grey pony, that never made a mistake, and willingly and uncomplainingly took the rough with the smooth. Lord Ranfurly subsequently declared that this pony could go anywhere that a goat could go, and I verily believe he could.

In "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), which describes the vice-regal expedition which is the subject of PA1-q-634, Malcolm Ross states that as the party approached Ruatahuna they "left the stream and started across the clearings on the outskirts of the village. There was little cultivation .... Pits of kumaras, recently dug, and tobacco drying in the sun were the only signs of husbandry."

Malcolm Ross, in "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), states: "Mr Carroll rode a dark bay, of a contemplative turn of mind, and because of this, and the wisdom he displayed in plucking any chance bit of tender herbage met with by the way, we called him Socrates".

Malcolm Ross, in "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904) states that , after leaving their camp at Kopuriki "The Governor had decided to get to Ruatoki by a short way, over a mountain range; so, instead of keeping to the main road, we drove along a track on the right side of the Wairohau [sic] Valley .... After proceeding some ten or fifteen miles, we turned in towards the range on our right, and, leaving the wagonettes, continued the journey on horseback. The track zig-zagged up a steep mountain side, and as the cavalcade of some hundred men and women climbed up in single file, the effect was most picturesque.

Malcolm Ross, in "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904) states that "Late in the afternoon the Governor and his party rode through the broad, swift-flowing waters of the Whakatane, here a noble river, and rode slowly forward towards the native village of Ruatoki, where were gathered about a thousand of the tribespeople and the representatives of all the Maori Councils of New Zealand.

In "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), which describes the vice-regal expedition which is the subject of PA1-q-634, Malcolm Ross describes this scene in Ruatoki; 'Turning in another direction we witnessed a quaint and interesting ceremony, the food for the evening meal was being brought in with all the old ceremonial, and as the bearers advanced ith it they sang the song of "Kai".'

In "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), which describes the vice-regal expedition which is the subject of PA1-q-634, Malcolm Ross writes: "No sooner had we taken our seats in front of the Runanga House than the warriors, most of them stripped to the buff, and wearing rare mats of dogskin, flax or feathers, rushed into the village square, brandishing their staffs and meres with that strange trembling motion of the hand and wrist that only a Maori can acquire.... In perfect time they sang and waved their staves and meres till, panting from their exertions, they flung themselves with startling suddenness on the ground in a crouching position....

In "Through Tuhoe land" (Christchurch Press, 1904), which describes the vice-regal expedition which is the subject of PA1-q-634, Malcolm Ross writes: "In marvellous time the light poi balls, made from reed fibre, and attached to strings of twisted flax, were swung with lightning quickness through the air, anon hitting palm or thigh, or foot, with a light patting sound, but never one fraction of a second out of time.

Lord Ranfurly attanded a meeting at Ruatoki at which were present "representatives of all the Maori Councils of New Zealand". Source: "Through Tuhoe Land", by Malcolm Ross (Christchurch Press, 1904).

Malcolm Ross, in "Through Tuhoe Land" (Christchurch Press, 1904) states that "Next day being St Patrick's Day, our landlady, who hailed from the Emerald Isle, presented us with shamrocks and bits of green ribbon. The Governor drove to the Whakatane race meeting, a smart native contingent under white officers forming an escort.... Arrived at the course we were conducted to a pretty little grandstand, roofed and walled with interwoven fern and leaves of nikau palm.

After attending the St Patrick's Day race meeting at Whakatane, the vice-regal party left for Te Teko at 4pm, and reached their destination by nightfall (source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party left Te Teko on the morning of 18 March 1904, reaching Auckland (by coach and train) the same evening. They then boarded HMCS Iris and cruised up the east coast. After first landing at the Doubtless Bay cable station, they returned south to Russell. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

After attending the St Patrick's Day race meeting at Whakatane, the vice-regal party left for Te Teko at 4pm, and reached their destination by nightfall (source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party left Te Teko on the morning of 18 March 1904, reaching Auckland (by coach and train) the same evening. They then boarded HMCS Iris and cruised up the east coast. After landing at the Doubtless Bay cable station, they "proceeded inland from Mangionui to a village where a native meeting was held for the purpose of bidding farewell to Lord Ranfurly." (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

After attending the St Patrick's Day race meeting at Whakatane, the vice-regal party left for Te Teko at 4pm, and reached their destination by nightfall. A few miles past the Whakatane River "a big culvert had been entirely washed away, leaving a great gap across the road." (source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party left Te Teko on the morning of 18 March 1904, reaching Auckland (by coach and train) the same evening. They then boarded HMCS Iris and cruised up the east coast. After first landing at the Doubtless Bay cable station, they returned south to Russell. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party left Te Teko on the morning of 18 March 1904, reaching Auckland (by coach and train) the same evening. They then boarded HMCS Iris and cruised up the east coast. After first landing at the Doubtless Bay cable station, they returned south to Russell. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party left Te Teko on the morning of 18 March 1904, reaching Auckland (by coach and train) the same evening. They then boarded HMCS Iris and cruised up the east coast. After first landing at the Doubtless Bay cable station, they returned south to Russell. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party left Te Teko on the morning of 18 March 1904, reaching Auckland (by coach and train) the same evening. They then boarded HMCS Iris and cruised up the east coast. After first landing at the Doubtless Bay cable station, they "proceeded inland from Mangonui to a village where a native meeting was held for the purpose of farewelling Lord Ranfurly". (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party sailed from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei in HMCS Iris. After a day in Whangarei they drove to the Wairoa River, where they took a steamer to Dargaville. From here they took a steam tug to Pouto, near the North Head of the Kaipara Harbour. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party left Te Teko on the morning of 18 March 1904, reaching Auckland (by coach and train) the same evening. They then boarded HMCS Iris and cruised up the east coast. After first landing at the Doubtless Bay cable station, they returned south to Russell. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party sailed from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei in HMCS Iris. After a day in Whangarei they drove to the Wairoa River, where they took a steamer to Dargaville. From here they took a steam tug to Pouto, near the North Head of the Kaipara Harbour. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party sailed from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei in HMCS Iris. After a day in Whangarei they drove to the Wairoa River, where they took a steamer to Dargaville. From here they took a steam tug to Pouto, near the North Head of the Kaipara Harbour. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").

The vice-regal party sailed from the Bay of Islands to Whangarei in HMCS Iris. After a day in Whangarei they drove to the Wairoa River, where they took a steamer to Dargaville. From here they took a steam tug to Pouto, near the North Head of the Kaipara Harbour. (Source: Malcolm Ross, "Through Tuhoe Land").