WELLS. B. [association copy]
History of Taranaki
New Plymouth: Edmondson & Avery 1878. [4]p, vii, 311p. 220mm with the book plates of The Churchill Auction [1942] and Fred Butler. It has been rebound, loosely enclosed is the original binding with the name Thos Cottle Havelock North [Editor NZ Illustrated Magazine] on the endpaper.
There are extensive contemporary notations in the margins and and tipped in are 24 leaves of original ink sketch maps and descriptions relating to the Taranaki Wars and events leading to them including various Pa and battle sites, they include sketch titled ‘Otaka or Ngamotu Pa, sketched by W.H. [William Henry] Skinner’; Another 2 sketches illustrating the rescue and routes taken by HMS Alligator when freeing Mrs Guard and children from hostile natives; Pa Mataiaio initialled WFG. [W.F. Gordon] with two leaves of notes tipped in describing the Battle of Mahoetahi. Another notation regarding The Battle at Okutuku signed ‘W. Gordon Aug /97 ‘memo - Constable Lister told me that McDonell himself and 2 others carried Major Hunter out when wounded and he died whist being carried under fire’.
The sketches are all on notepaper with the address verso 49a Devon Street East, New Plymouth New Zealand. Contents are generally clean a little light browning and marks.