Edmund Wheeler and his son Edmund Richard WheelerThis studio was established in Christchurch in 1863
Edmund Wheeler (c.1800 - 19 October 1877) was born in Ridgway or Inkberrow, Worcestershire about 1800 the son of Richard and Sarah Wheeler, he was baptised on 9 May 1802 in Inkberrow, Worcestershire. In Birmingham in 1837 he married Esther Walker. A daughter Sarah Ann was born in 1840 and a son Edmund Richard in 1842. The 1851 census shows him aged 51 years employed as a maltester, living at 62 Bath Row, Birmingham with his wife Esther then aged 39 and daughter Sarah Ann aged 10 and son Edmund then aged 8 years. The 1861 census shows the family at 30 Bath Row, Edmund was then aged 61 years employed as a corn factor.
Edmund Richard Wheeler was born on 22 October 1842 in Birmingham, England and baptised on 19 January 1848 at Saint Martins in Birmingham the son of Edmund and Esther Wheeler. The 1861 census shows him at 30 Bath Row, Birmingham aged 18 employed as an apprentice merchant's clerk.
Edmund Wheeler arrived in Lyttelton on the "Zambesi" on 20 September 1863 with his wife Esther, daughter Sarah Ann and son Edmund Richard.
In June 1864 his house was one of a number destroyed by fire in Colombo Street. Following a visit to Christchurch in 1869 of the Governor, Sir G F Bowen, E. Wheeler & Son announced they had been honoured with a sitting by his Excellency and copies of the portrait would be available for purchase at their studio in Colombo Street.(1) In May that year tenders were called for the erection of a house in Hereford street for Wheeler and Son. Plans and specifications could be inspected at the office of Mr C. E. Fooks, architect in Lichfield Street.(2)photo above - Wheeler's studio in Colombo Street.
Woodroffe's Glass Steam Engine
A poem by Edmund Wheeler
Oh! sweet Calliope, assist my pen,
Let me succeed the crystal prize in winning;
Forsake me not, nor play me false, for the
My Muse will have to stop at the beginning.
I think I ought - indeed I do not doubt it -
To give of this Machine the faithful history;
The wheels, shafts, cranks, and things there are about it,
But that they are to me the deepest mystery.
I only know that as I stand entranced,
And view with wonder its transparent motions,
I think of time when gladsome fancies danced,
Culled their sweet flowers, and sipp’d their dewy potions.
So " Fragile,” "Bright,’’ and "Delicate,” it seems to say,
No mortal hand e’er gave the least assistance;
I am the choicest work of sprite and fay,
To fair Titania's will I owe existence.
For be it known the dainty Fairy Queen,
Requiring rose leaves ground to make her bread,
Her sprites commanded to invent machine
To do the work—’Twas done as she had said.
The nimble workmen darted to and fro,
And mystic elements in fusion mixed;
Then by the magic arts which fairies know,
The curious parts in one fair whole they fixed.
Ah! but I hear you say it’s no such thing,
The makers of it are within this hall,
Their hands, tho’ mortal, deft in fashioning,
This beauteous thing from the rude glass did call.
If so, then let us give the praises due
To such a triumph of Ceramic art,
Convinced that in thus world there are but few
Who could to glass like strength and grace impart.
E. Wheeler, Christchurch. 1870
Edmund Wheeler died at Christchurch on 19 October 1877 aged 77 years and was buried in the Barbadoes Street Cemetery. His wife Esther Wheeler died in 1906 aged 91 years. (BDM record, Dept of Internal Affairs)
In April 1880 the studio moved to Cathedral Square; a notice that first appeared in The Star of 10 April 1880 advised that:
E. Wheeler & Son have removed to their new studio, Cathedral Square, directly opposite (the) Post Office. The glass-room has been constructed from designs received on the principle of that of the celebrated Adam-Salomon, of Paris, with the special object of obtaining effects of transparent shading so much in fashionable request. The scenery department is constantly being added to, and will be found to contain views of every description and size.
Albums suitable for views are kept in stock, and photographs bought will be mounted in them and lettered free of charge if required. - The Star, 10 April 1880, Page 3.
The Greymouth photographer Hanwell Williams of Williams's Portrait Rooms worked for E. Wheeler & Son for several years.(7)
A handsome three-storey brick building is in course of erection in Cathedral Square for Messrs. Wheeler and Son, next to their present premises. - New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 465, 10 March 1882, Page 11
The 1882 Exhibition - Season tickets are now obtainable at the Exhibition offices. They consist, as I said in my last letter, of a signed form, attached to the "carte de visite" photo, of the holder. Messrs. Wheeler and Son have arranged with the promoters to supply two of these photos, for the sum of 2s. Gd. But here a difficulty may occur. Many persons have the greatest possible dislike to have their likenesses taken; in fact, some never will consent, under any circumstances ; what is to be done in cases of this nature? - New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 467, 24 March 1882, Page 11.
Following an unsuccessful attempt to reach the top of Mt Cook in 1882 by a visiting Irishman, Reverend William Spotswood Green, and two Swiss, Emil Boss and Ulrich Kaufmann, a dinner was held for them at Coker’s Hotel in Christchurch. The New Zealand Tablet reported that “a very good photo of the group has been executed by Messrs. Wheeler; they are attired as when they performed their ascent (sic), with ice-axes in their hands, and coils of rope round their shoulders.” - New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 467, 24 March 1882, Page 11.Photo left - Ulrich Kaufmann, Reverend William Green and Emil Boss - Otago Witness, Issue 2130, 20 December 1894, Page 20. This photograph also appears in New Zealand Explorers - Great Journeys of Discovery, Philip Temple 1985 page185, but the photographer is shown as Guy Mannering.
Portraits of Rev. W. P. Green (sic) and his two Swiss guides, in climbing attire, can be obtained at the studio of the undersigned, those gentlemen having favoured Messrs Wheeler with a sitting. Cabinet size, 2s 6d each. E. Wheeler and Son, Cathedral square. March 15, 1882.- Star, 16 March 1882, Page 1.
A copy of the photograph of Lyttelton Harbour, taken by Messrs Wheeler and Son on March 24, when the port was unusually full of shipping, in order to show the extensive accommodation of the harbour for berthing large vessels, has been prepared, by order of the Harbour Board, to be placed in the Parliamentary library at Wellington. The photograph is an excellent one, and has been framed by Mr W. H. Jewell. The frame is a very handsome one, composed of bog matai, honeysuckle, and white pine, which blend exceedingly well, and form an extremely suitable border to the picture. -
Star , Issue 4413, 16 June 1882, Page 2
In 1883 a photograph was displayed in their window in Cathedral Square of Mount Cook and the surrounding ranges taken by Dr. Robert Lendlmayer von Lendenfeld (1858-1913) during his cartographic studies in the Southern Alps, it presented "a comprehensive view of the Tasman Glacier and neighbouring ridges, in all their massive and solemn grandeur."(4)
above: Clearwell, near Mayfield, Canterbury the farm of Claude Mainwaring Strachey by E. Wheeler & Son, Photographers, Cathedral Square, Christchurch.Edmund Wheeler, photographer, was charged with employing two young persons after 2 p.m. on Saturday last. The Inspector under the Act said he had found two boys with aprons on; he understood from defendant that the boys were printing photographs. Mr Wheeler now said that the boys were employed as messengers and were simply doing a bit of cleaning up when the Inspector called. The Bench advised Mr Wheeler to read the Act, and have a notice of the hours of labour posted in his workroom. The present information was dismissed. - Star , Issue 5387, 13 August 1885, Page 3
Christmas greetings to friends at Home will, of course, be forwarded even more numerously than in former years; and "Christmas cards" will, once more, be in universal request. The question arises, can anything that is at once novel and appropriate be obtained? For answer, we recommend our readers to examine the series of photographic picture-groups just issued by Messrs E. Wheeler and Son, of Cathedral square. Their plan has been, to select suitable groups of their now well-known series of illustrations of New Zealand scenery, and to combine each group into one card-picture of cabinet size. Tastefully arranged borders, &c, serve to produce a charming effect, and some happily conceived titles have been selected, such as "Christchurch, the City of the Plains;" "Under the Southern Cross;" "The Land of the Golden Fleece;" "Glimpses of New Zealand." It is scarcely necessary to say that the technical work has been uncommonly well done. We compliment Messrs Wheeler upon their excellent carrying out of a well-conceived idea. - Star , Issue 5434, 7 October 1885, Page 3
One of the most instructive, and in all probability most attractive, exhibits to be sent from Christchurch to the Indian and Colonial Exhibition at London, says the Lyttelton Times, should be the large frame of photographs prepared for the New Zealand Shipping Company, This is some 8ft long by 5ft in width, and contains twenty-four pictures, admirably taken by Messrs. Wheeler and Son. They comprise views of the principal ports of the Colony, and of some of the improvements made therein, such as the Lyttelton dock and the New Plymouth breakwater. There are also photographs of Christchurch and its Cathedral. Several of the magnificent steamers of the Company are also represented at sea, at the wharf and in dock. Their gorgeously decorated saloons have also been photographed for the inspection of intending passengers to the shores of New Zealand. Altogether the pictures are admirably calculated to give a good idea of the harbours and towns of the Colony, and of the resources of the powerful Shipping Company which takes its name from this Colony. - Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 6981, 3 February 1886, Page 2
About one o'clock this afternoon the spectacle of half-a-dozen large tilted waggons, each drawn by six powerful horses, assembled on the western side of Cathedral square, excited a good deal of interest among the frequenters of that locality, and many were the conjectures hazarded as to what the gathering might portend. Some persons fancied it connected in some way or another with the West Coast Railway — why it is not easy to imagine, except it be for the fact that that subject is uppermost in people's minds just now, and therefore enters into all their thoughts. Others thought that the waggons represented an attempt organised on a large scale to compete with the railways already constructed. The fact was that Messrs Murray and Forbes, carriers, of Amberley, who are giving up business, had brought their waggons and teams to the square for the purpose of having them photographed by Messrs Wheeler and Son before they are offered for sale. - The Star, Issue 5604, 28 April 1886, Page 3
A Remarkable Photograph. — The finest photograph (sic) of its kind we have ever seen — and that in these days of enterprise is saying a good deal — has just been produced by Messrs Wheeler and Son. It is a comprehensive group-picture, of course an instantaneous one, of all the firemen now assembled in Christchurch, the band, and various members of the general public. The remarkable point about the picture is that although some hundreds of figures are included in it, not a single face is indistinct. What is more, these faces are for the most part excellent portraits, recognisable at the merest glance. It is unquestionably a remarkable photograph, and to our thinking constitutes an artistic curiosity. - Star , Issue 6168, 22 February 1888, Page 3
Swallows on the Heathcote. — Assuredly, it will be news to our readers that swallows are to be seen skimming along the calm surface of the river Heathcote, and that a photograph by Messrs Wheeler and Son, of Cathedral Square, is cited as authority. The Illustrated Australian News of April 28 contains a full-page engraving, "On the Heathcote, near Christchurch — from a photo by Wheeler and Son, Christchurch," and an uncommonly pretty picture it is. The artist, however, has evolved details "out of his inner consciousness" in the way of birds and flowers, and he happens to have made a swallow the most prominent foreground detail. This notwithstanding, the swallow's exquisite flight and charming twitter may still be sighed for in vain.- Star , Issue 6227, 2 May 1888, Page 3
Photographic Art. - Messrs Wheeler and Son have just completed a set of the portraits of the one hundred and thirteen members of the present Diocesan Synod. The pictures, which are very good likenesses, are arranged round the photograph of the Most Rev the Primate, the name of each member being placed beneath his portrait. The firm have prepared a handsomely framed copy of this work of art, which they have presented to His Lordship. - Star , Issue 6335, 5 September 1888, Page 3
In 1889 a photographer named Cooper from Messrs Wheeler and Sons spent a few days photographing the Tasman Glacier. Later with Guy Mannering he ascended to 7000ft on the Ball Glacier spur of Mount Cook, where further photographs were taken. The party also included Marmaduke John Dixon, Percy Hawkins Johnson and two others(5) (perhaps - W. Low and J. W. Annan - refer photograph Timefames -National Library of New Zealand reference number:1/2-002045-F)photo right - Guy Mannering, Maraduke Dixon and Percy Johnson in 1889, Making New Zealand vol.1, no.10.
At the 1889-90 New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition held in Dunedin, E. Wheeler and Son received a special award for their photographic enlargement showing a panoramic view of Tasman Glacier and Mount Cook.
In 1890 they advertised in the Timaru Herald:
PORTRAITS OF BISHOP JULIUS.
HIS LORDSHIP THE BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH having favoured Messrs Wheeler and Son with a sitting, capital CABINET PORTRAITS can be had 1s each. Also, Cabinets of BISHOP HARPER, 1s each. E. WHEELER & SON, Cathedral Square, Christchurch.- Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4854, 27 May 1890, Page 1.The Glaciers of the Tasman Valley.
Included in the proceedings of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, says the Christchurch Press of Monday, is a lecture to be given next Friday on "The Glaciers of the Tasman Valley," by Mr. G E. Mannering. In order to illustrate the lecture with lantern slides, Mr. F. Cooper, operator to Messrs. Wheeler and Son, has visited the locality, and obtained about five dozen plates of the Murchison and Tasman glaciers, of the scenery round the Hermitage, as well as photographs of the mountain lily. We have all been made acquainted with the difficulties of mountaineering by the reports of Mr. Mannering, and now from Mr. Cooper we learn of the troubles which accompany the photographic artist in obtaining the pictures. Mr. Cooper received great aid from Mr. Broderick, the Government Surveyor, and his party, who have placed flags in numerous stations, among the highest being Classon saddle, 7500 ft, and Leibig range, 8000 ft. The party have perfectly surveyed the Murchison, which is named after Sir Roderick Murchison, and from their survey the Government are having a track made to the Ball glacier. This is eight miles up the Tasman glacier, and where Mr., Green established his fifth camp a hut is to he built of corrugated iron lined with felt. Apartments are to be provided for ladies and gentlemen, and supplied with provisions and furniture for the convenience of tourists desirous of seeing the Alpine scenery to advantage. While Mr. Cooper was at the Hermitage, his Excellency the Governor and his aide-de-camp arrived in a covered coach driven by Mr. J. Rutherford, which was nearly blown over in the nor'-wester when coming from Pukaki. The party, with Mr. F, O. Huddlestone, visited the terminal face of the Mueller glacier, Kea Point, Governor's Bush, where Mr. Huddlestone brought the native birds round them, and on the 7th instant they started for the great Tasman Glacier, intending to go as far as Ball Glacier, after which His Excellency was to return to Pukaki, where Lady Onslow awaited him. Mr. Cooper was fortunate enough to obtain photographs of the group before leaving.Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 11, 14 January 1891, Page 3
Photographing Ostriches. — After two days' hard work and an exercise of patience which would have daunted less determined persons than Messrs E. Wheeler and Son, that firm has succeeded in getting a really good photograph of a group of the adult ostriches as they appear on the farm at Harewood road, where they are now running. Having photographed every other known animal in New Zealand, Messrs Wheeler and Son were determined to succeed, and they have secured a capital picture. Copies are now on view at Messrs Acland, Dudley and Co.'s office, and at Messrs Wheeler and Son's studio. - Star, Issue 7206, 3 July 1891, Page 2
Panoramic Views.— We were this morning shown some very fine panoramic views of Christchurch, which are being published by Messrs E. Wheeler and Son. The views were taken from the Cathedral tower, and form a very handsome panorama in two series. - Star , Issue 5066, 27 September 1894, Page 3
The New Zealand Scenery Publishing & Co. begin the publication in 1896 of the “The Imperial Album of New Zealand Scenery” with photographs by Wheeler & Son. This was published over 12 months in 24 parts for 1s 6d each or 24s for the whole series. Each part contained sixteen photo-engravings nine inches by seven. The printers were McKee & Gamble of Wellington. The photographs included those of New Zealand towns, harbours, mountains, lakes, fiords and
glacier scenery, and pictures of industrial, social and rural life. The first proof copy was sent to the Queen.(6)
Fine Fish Caught by Tourist Anglers.-
Mr Wheeler, photographer, has presented the Tourist Office with a photograph of a trout caught in the Rakaia last December by Captain Studdy, weighing 15lb, and of a length of 28in and girth 17in. The photograph will probably be framed and hung up in the office, to show tourists the sort of sport they may expect in New Zealand waters.
Otago Witness, Issue 2549, 21 January 1903, Page 54 Papers Past
advert right from: Progress, Volume I, Issue 10, 1 August 1906, Page 288
A PHOTOGRAPHER'S BANKRUPTCY.
Competition, arising out of modern improvements, was the cause given for the failure of Edmund Richard Wheeler, photographer in Cathedral-square, at the I meeting of his creditors yesterday. The bankrupt stated that he had been in business as a photographer for fifty years, and up to five or six years ago his business had been successful. During the past five years it had steadily declined. He had been engaged for the most part in photographing Now Zealand scenery, but the introduction of postcards and photo-engraving interfered with the sale of photographs, and the illustrations in weekly newspapers robbed his business of a lot of interest to the public. He attributed his bankruptcy to the introduction of postcards, to the facilities given by the Government Tourist Department, and to the weekly papers satisfying the public want to the detriment of his special business. - Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 136, 10 June 1914, Page 3
Edmund Richard Wheeler died on 16 January 1933 aged 90 years, he was living at that time at 8 Stoke Street, Christchurch.
above - the headstone of Edmund Richard Wheeler andhis sister Sarah Ann Wheeler in Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch.
(block 10, plot31)
(1) The Star 18 January 1869, page 3(block 10, plot31)
(2) The Star 4 May 1869, page 3.
(3) The Press 17 August 1881
(4) New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 4, 18 May 1883, Page 21
(5) Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4519, 20 April 1889, Page 3
(6) Timaru Herald, Volume LX, Issue 2079, 12 May 1896, Page 2
(7) Grey River Argus, Volume XXIII, Issue 6870, 22 January 1881, Page 3
(8) The Star 16 August 1881, page 3
The
Eruptions in the North Island. EXPERIENCE OF A PHOTOGRAPHER.
Mr Sorell (sic), photographer for Messrs E. Wheeler and Son, has kindly furnished our reporter with the following narrative of his trip to the volcanic district in the North Island :- I started 
from Ohinemutu with a Maori, as guide, and an Englishman who has lived a number of years in the district. We made several expeditions. The first was to Tikitapu bush, about seven miles from Ohinemutu. We went on horseback, as a buggy could not travel through the mud, which was about a foot deep when we started, and gradually deepened until it was about double that depth at the bush. We got as far as the bush on horseback, but once there had to alight, as the road was quite impracticable to horses any further. This was demonstrated to me most unmistakeably, for my horse fell or stumbled, and went up to her shoulders in the mud, throwing me into the trunk of a hollow tree. I fixed my apparatus, and took a couple of good views of the bush as it now is, and they give you a very good idea of -THE DESOLATE APPEARANCE OF THE WHOLE DISTRICT.
You know now the country looks at Home in the middle of winter when there has been a very heavy fall of snow. The trees are stripped of their leaves and even of their branches; all the land marks are obliterated or strangely altered, hedges and fences have disappeared, rough places have become smooth, amid the whole landscape is of a uniform colour. At Home that uniform colour is white, at Tikitapu it is grey. In the one case the snow, after a good frost, has a moderately firm crust, upon which you can walk; and in the other case, the mud, when there has been a good wind blowing over it and no recent rain, has a fairly hard surface, over which a man can make his way, though a horse often finds it treacherous enough. THE BLUE LAKE.
After I had succeeded in getting the views, we saddled up again, and got back to Ohinemutu in good time. A day or two afterwards we made another start, our destination being the Blue Lake at Tikitapu. I managed to get half way on horseback, but found that the horse could go no further. The mud had formed a crust as I have just described and this was pretty stiff, but the horse’s legs went through it or his knees gave way, and after my former experience, I did not want to risk being thrown again. I tied the horse up to a tree, put my instrument on my back, and trudged the rest of the way. This time I was accompanied by a gentleman friend who had lived at a small settlement there, which he had left when it was destroyed, or partially destroyed, by the eruptions. We pushed along, seeing on our way the dead bodies of horses, calves, cows, &c. On reaching my friend’s whare - what, at least, there was left of it— we had some refreshments, which we had brought with us. We found no water after leaving Rotorua, the Government township. Here I took some photographs, showing the Blue Lake, as it now is, with the destroyed whares. One of the pictures shows a large wagon, for which, as I understood, the Government had given £70 the day before the eruptions began. It could be taken no further than where it is, and there it remains, up to the floor of the wagon in mud. I also took several views of the destroyed bush here. We got back to the horse, and my friend and I put our respective packs on his back. My friend was Mr. Lakin, a well-known fern collector, and he had a heavy pack of some £10 worth of pressed ferns which he had saved. We had started on our return journey and had got along very well for some distance, until we came to where there was a steep incline. On one side of us was a lake with a precipitous side about 150ft down. Here the horse by some means contrived to burst his girth, and immediately began rearing, kicking and plunging, and soon got rid of the packs, which were fast descending the embankment. Fortunately the supports of my tripod stuck in the mud before the packs had gone far down, and we saved everything all right. I led the horse till we came to better part of the road, where we lashed the girths together with ropes, and we finally reached Ohinemutu at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, having be travelling ever since 6 o’clock that morning.TARAWERA.
The next trip we made was out to Tarawera. On the first occasion we got as far as Pareheru, to a piece of bush there. From there we took a number, of negatives of the volcano, showing Tarawera emitting vast volumes of steam. At the same time we could hear the loud roaring from what I may call the blow-holes. I also took another photograph at the mount Kakaramea. We were then obliged to return, as the hour was getting late. When crossing Earthquake Flat, we experienced several shakes, which were accompanied by loud rumbling noises. Here we found, extending right across the Flat, a large fissure some twelve or eighteen inches wide, and having a depth we had nothing long enough to test. 
The photographic team of W. E. Sorrell (Wheeler & Son) by Lake Rotomahana.
Christchurch City Libraries, File Reference: CCL PhotoCD 3, IMG0028
THE PINK TERRACES.
A few days after that, when we had had some fine weather, I went out again, as I thought the roads would now be better, and we could get to Rotomahana, at the back of the late site of the Pink Terraces. We went from Ohinemutu to Pa Kakaraka a distance of twelve miles. Here we had some refreshments—a sort of rough and ready picnic. We then pushed on to Pareheru, whence we sent back our horses. I forgot to say that on this occasion we had to have a horse each - for myself, my guide and the Maori, as well as a pack-horse — four horses altogether. We had to take everything with us in the shape of provender, as also a tent. We pitched our tent at Pareheru and sent the horses back to Ohinemutu. We then had to tramp it. As the crow flies the distances is, I suppose, about two miles and a half, but we must have gone over ten miles, over hills and through deep gullies all covered with a deposit of mud, most of which, however, had by this time a pretty firm crust. It was blowing a hurricane, and several times we had to lie down to prevent our being blown over a ridge. We made our way to the edge at the crater, of which we obtained several excellent views. Here is one showing a boiling fountain of mud. We also obtained photographs of the Terraces as they now appear. This done, we packed up our instruments and started back for our camp. Before reaching it, however we were benighted, and lost the track. We got into a deep gully of mud, and found great difficulty in extricating ourselves. In fact, we began to think we should have to give it up as a bad job, but we had a small dog with us, and it seemed to recover the track. We followed it till it brought us on to the road again, and, after a great effort, we managed to make our way to our tent, which we reached about half-past six o’clock, having taken about five hours and a half going to and returning from the craters. We lay down for the night, but, tired though we were, we had no sleep, owing to the continuous heaving of the earth, accompanied by thunderlike rumbling and lighting all night long. Occasionally the roarings were terrific. My guide, who was thoroughly acquainted with the neighbourhood, said next morning that he was convinced there must have been another eruption. On reaching Pa Kakaraka we saw some Maoris on their way to Rotomahana from Kaiteriria, and they told us that there had been another explosion at Ti Teko. We reached our horse about half-past one o’clock, and started off back for Ohinemutu. On the way I was once more thrown from my horse, the wretched condition of the road making the animals frequently stumble, but we arrived at our destination about 5 o’clock. 
OHINEMUTU. DR HECTOR.
The Natives had an idea that Dr Hector was come there to caulk up the volcano. His visit, instead of inspiring the Maoris with confidence, disappointed and intimidated them when they found that he could do nothing towards fulfilling their expectations. I am told that Dr Hector has given it as his opinion that the volcano emitted no fire. I think, however, there is not the slightest doubt that it did. All the residents assured me that there was, and the surrounding country gives every evidence of it. In some parts you come across large patches of fern covered with cinders, similar to this (showing a decided piece of cinder). A man who was in the hotel at Taupo at the same time that Dr Hector was there, told me that the doctor asked for a bucket of water to be taken to his room at night. The girl, to whom the request was made, did not answer him, apparently thinking he was not serious. But Dr Hector asked her a second time, and the girl turned round and told him she thought he was joking. He answered— “Indeed no; in case of another earthquake or eruption, the place might be on fire, and I ought to be prepared for this.” He also requested the people in the hotel not to close the doors of their rooms, as, should there be an earthquake, the doors might get jammed, and they would be imprisoned in their rooms and be unable to escape. This I heard from the lips of a man who said he was in the room at the time. DEPTH OF THE MUD.
Within five or six miles of the volcano there is an average depth of mud of, you may say, two to three feet; that is to say, for five or six miles in the direction which the wind was blowing at the time of the eruption. But I believe, from what I have heard, that in some parts the mud is very much deeper. I met a gentleman who came from Taupo through the Opepe district, who said that there was as much as thirty feet of mud, cinders and pumice. At the terraces there was quite three feet in some places. 
THE NATIVES. WAIROA.
I see that you mention, in a paragraph published this morning, that we were not able to get to Wairoa. That is true so far as my list attempt goes; but before we came away from the district the roads had greatly improved, and we obtained very good photographs indeed there.also see: New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 December 1900, Page 160
The Mount Magdala, Magdalen Asylum, Christchurch
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