GARDNER, James





"J. G."



The identity of the photographer who initialed his postcards "J. G." is thought to be James Gardner, although this has not been positively confirmed.


Mr. James Gardner
Managing Director of the Christchurch firm of J. Gardner and Co. Ltd.
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 10 March 1908, Page 2


James Gardner was born in Ireland about 1839 or 1841 and arrived in New Zealand about 1873. In 1911 he is shown as an advertising agent of Ferry Road, Christchurch with an office located in the Lyttelton Times Chambers in Gloucester Street. He died at his residence at 103 Ferry Road on 3 February 1914 and was buried in Linwood Cemetery on 5 February 1914. His wife Rose Ann Gardner died on 18 September 1903 aged 52.

His children were Florence Gardner (1880), Arthur Edward Gardner (1883) and Rose Gardner (Mrs William Thomas Maher).


39 - Sunset, Akaroa Harbour
4-? Rolleston Statue and Museum, Christchurch
 


Gardens Christchurch.
no. 48




Entrance to Gardens, Christchurch.
no. 50




Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, N.Z.
no. 51


River Avon and Gardens, Christchurch.
no. 53



The Gardens, Christchurch.
no. 54


56 - Avon River, Christchurch

River Avon, Christchurch.
no. 61

 62 - Botanical Gardens, Christchurch



Railway Station, Christchurch, NZ.
no. 64.
dated on reverse 10 July 1913
(this appears to be a photograph of the arrival of the Sheffield Choir in 1911, see photo below. The Sheffield Choir gave three concerts in Christchurch - 3, 4 and 5 July 1911. They opened their Christchurch season to a house of 3,500 in the King Edward Barracks)


from eBay 2010


Supreme Court, Christchurch
by James Gardner - no. 65
[purchased April 2023]
 

Victoria Square, Christchurch
by James Gardner - no. 67


Manchester Street, Christchurch.
no. 68



High Street, Christchurch.
by James Gardner - no. 69
reverse message dated 1 October 1912
"Here I am still [in] this beautiful city of Ch.Ch."



Victoria St Bridge, Christchurch, NZ
by James Gardner - no. 77


River Avon, Fendalton, Christchurch.
by James Gardner - no. 86
 
88 - Cashmere, Christchurch, NZ
 
 
Trams Crossing Embankment Sumner 
by James Gardner - no. 97


Corsair Bay, Lyttelton
 by James Gardner - no. 110
reverse message dated 2 December 1913
[purchased July 2023]



Lyttelton
by James Gardner - no. 113
post stamped 3 January 1913

 

 
  Lyttelton
by James Gardner - no. 114

129 - Riccarton Racecourse
 
 
Stanmore Road Bridge, Christchurch
[purchased September 2022]
 

146 - Akaroa
147 - Akaroa
152 - New Brighton


 
The Fountain, Triangle, Christchurch
by James Gardner - no. 164

165 - Children's Ward, Christchurch Hospital


 
  Cashel Street, Christchurch
by James Gardner - no. 167



Cathedral Square, Christchurch
by James Gardner - no. 169


 
High and Lichfield Streets, Christchurch
by James Gardner - no. 171


 
  Post Office, Christchurch
by James Gardner - no. 173


Hospital, Christchurch 
by James Gardner - no. 176
reverse message dated 25 August 1913
[purchased April 2023]



Cashel Street, Christchurch
no. 178



Press Office, Christchurch
no. 181

 
St Michael's Church, Christchurch
no. 184
"We went here to 11 o'clock service yesterday, I liked it - don't see why they think its funny. It's high church - they have incense & confession."



Cathedral Square, Christchurch
no. 208



 R. C. Cathedral Christchurch
no. 210


 

River Avon, Christchurch.
no. 218



River Avon, Christchurch.
no. 219
"What about coming on the river tonight in a canoe eh what wish you could, so do I also. Christchurch is not such a bad place & is nicely laid out. Fondest love from [two illegible words] Frank"


 

The Gardens, Christchurch.
no. 227


 

  Botanical Gardens, Christchurch.
no. 228



 

Anglican Church, Papanui.
no. 232
"This is where Uncle Albert & Mrs Ascough are buried."
Albert Edward Ascough died in 1917 aged 44 years (1917/2570) 
 
 
 
Accommodation House, Diamond Habour 
no. 244
[purchased December 2022]


 
Cathedral, Christchurch
no. 253



Lyttelton
no. 268
[purchased from Germany]


 

  The Avon, New Brighton.
no. 271


 

  Government Buildings, Christchurch.



Victoria Street, Bridge, Christchurch

 
  reverse

Dredge Manchester, Lyttelton Dock
J. G. Photo [no number]

Victoria Park, Rangiora
Attributed to James Gardner

Christchurch Municipal Baths
Protected 1 November 1912
Attributed to James Gardner

reverse


2 comments:

Tom Chignell said...

Fantastic to see the photos of the Sheffield Choir. If this was them arriving at the station then I am confident they were arriving from their boat the SS Mararoa which had docked in Lyttleton Harbour en route from Wellington.

I have my Grandfather Philip Henry Chignell's diary of the Sheffield Choir World Tour which has now achieved its century!

Sad to reflect on all the places and building they visited which are now in a sorry state.

The diary is to be published in a book hopefully this year. Feel free to contact me (tomchignell@me.com) if you are interested.

Best

Tom Chignell
Mt Eden Auckland

Early Canterbury Photography said...

Hello Tom, thanks for the message about the Sheffield Choir postcard. Its interesting to see in the photo the large number of people who greeted the choir on their arrival in Christchurch. I looks to have been a big event for the city at that time.

Yes, sadly a huge number of the buildings from that time have now been lost, and the city will be completely different from now on.

Best wishes for the publication of your grandfather's diary, you are lucky that it has survived.

Tony