Edward Dossetter
(1842-1919)
Departed London 25 August 1876 as a second cabin passenger on the N.Z.S.Co's "Ocean Mail" [1], arrived Wellington 12 December 1876 [2]. The "Ocean Mail" was wrecked on the Chatham Islands during its return voyage to England. Departed Wellington on the ss "Taiaroa" 7 February 1877 as a cabin passenger for the South [3]. Due to heavy seas and bad weather the "Taiaroa" returned to Wellington and departed again on 8 February 1877 at 10am [4], arrived Lyttelton 9 February 1877 at 9.30am as passenger "Dossit" [5] or "Dossiter" [6].
Christchurch
1877 - circa 1879
Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 5131, 31 July 1877
Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1408, 20 August 1878
[this notice first appeared in the Globe on 15 August 1878]
Mr Dugald Macfarlane.—
It will be remembered that on the last anniversary of the Battle of
Waterloo, occasion was taken to present Mr Dugald Macfarlane, one of the
few remaining survivors of the Battle of Waterloo, with a birthday
testimonial of considerable value. It may not be generally known,
however, that Mr Macfarlane has since received a letter from the
president of the mess of the Rifle Brigade, with which regiment he was
so honorably connected, containing a request that the mess might be
furnished with a portrait of the veteran. Mr Macfarlane at once
consented, and an admirable photograph of him was taken by Messrs
Dosseter [sic] and Co., and forwarded by the last Californian mail to
Gibraltar, where the Brigade is stationed.
Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1424, 7 September 1878
The "Royal Medal for Artistic Photography" notice continued in the Globe until about 13 December 1878 when it was replaced with a notice headed "Prize Medal for Artistic Photography"
Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1718, 22 August 1879
In the next number of the New Zealand Country Journal, issued under the auspices of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, will appear an interesting sketch of the Moriori race — a race almost extinct, and confined to the Chatham Islands, together with a photograph of one of these peculiar people. The sketch is written by Mr Potts, of Governor's Bay, who recently met with a Moriori, and persuaded him to allow, himself to be photographed by Mr Dossiter [sic], of this city [Christchurch]. The photograph in question presents a splendidly made man of about 50 years of age, with very little appearance of the Maori in his features except that he is slightly tattooed.
Timaru Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 1600, 6 November 1879
Review.
“Country Journal."
“Country Journal."
The November number of the “New Zealand Country Journal,” of which we
have received a copy, presents features of more than ordinary interest. The
opening paper, which forms a valuable ethnographical contribution, is one that
would scarcely have been anticipated in a journal, professedly devoted to
agriculture. It will, however, be heartily welcomed by a large, circle of
readers, who cannot fail to be deeply, interested in the account which Mr Potts
has, given of the decaying race of Morioris. They will, moreover, fully
sympathise with him in his expression of opinion that "If a history of the
Maoris is considered to have no claim on the care of Government, at least it is
a subject which is worthy of the consideration and support of the various
Philosophical Societies and Institutions that have been founded for the purpose
of promoting the study and cultivation of several departments of science, and
philosophy.”
The paper is illustrated by an admirably executed photographic
portrait of a Moriori, who acceded to the request of Mr Potts, “that he would
discard for awhile a portion of his raiment, whilst undergoing photographic
treatment;” Mr Potts considering that “the aspect of his natural covering would
be of more interest than the portraiture of even the best effects of tailor’s
art." Looking at this portrait, it is not easy to believe in Blumenbach’s
sweeping theory, that all the Islanders and tribes in the Southern Ocean are
one distinct variety or species of the human race. Mr Potts also contributes another
of his pleasantly chatty papers in the series of “Out in the Open,” and on this
occasion he has a great deal to say about the New Zealand kingfishers...
Lyttelton Times, Volume LII, Issue 5836, 8 November 1879
The Southern Provinces Almanac 1879
- Dossett, Chester street, Christchurch
- Dossett, Chester street, Christchurch
The Southern Provinces Almanac 1880
- Dossetter, Chester street, ChristchurchWise's Directory for 1880-81
Dossetter Edwd. & Co. Chester street, Christchurch
The Southern Provinces Almanac 1880
- Dossetter, Chester street, Christchurch
Wise's Directory for 1883-84
Dossetter & Co., Chester street, Christchurch.
The Morioris
Original Inhabitants of the Chathams.
The scientific expedition to the Chatham Islands, undertaken by the Philosophical Institute of Otago, may probably obtain further information regarding the original inhabitants of the islands, the Morioris. This possibility gives renewed interest to an article “Meeting with a Morioris,” which was contributed by Mr. T. H. Potts, to the New Zealand Country Journal, dated November 1, 1879. The New Zealand Country Journal was published by the Canterbury Agricultural, and Pastoral Association, and its contents were not rigidly confined to articles on farming subjects.
To Mr. Potts’ article is prefixed a photograph (not a reproduction of a photograph) of the Moriori he met; the photograph is still pretty clear; it was taken (as the text informs the reader) by E. Dossetter, Christchurch, New Zealand, January, 1879. Mr. Potts describes how he fell in with a small party of Maoris at Lyttelton and noticed amongst them a man whose features offered such a marked contrast to those of his companions that his curiosity was aroused. Inquiry elicited the information that the man was a Moriori on the eve of return to his island home.
“The Moriori,” Mr. Potts wrote, “was robust in figure, tall of stature, not darker in colour, perhaps, than many a Maori, but of a dull dusky hue, rather than of the rich brown that distinguishes, the great proportion of the Natives of New Zealand. The brows were prominent, the eyes of an almond or elliptical shape, whilst the somewhat fleshy nose curved with a fullness of form that is characteristic of the Jewish people. A full-face view was especially favourable for noticing the look of the eyes, which showed a contemplative watchfulness; it may be thought fanciful but their usual, or settled expression conveyed the idea that they were patiently waiting for what was to happen; as they might have belonged to some animal which, though not yet attacked, was preparing, or prepared, for defence.
This quiet individual of stolid demeanour proved an excellent sitter before the camera, and some good negatives were successfully taken, from one of which was printed the photograph which appears with this brief notice. We thus possess an excellent likeness, a faithful record of the outer man, a fair type of the doomed Moriori.
"During a visit to Christchurch, in a quiet, undemonstrative way, he appeared much interested in the larger buildings of the town: the traffic of the streets he watched with some surprise. He seemed acquainted with the names of several of the natural features of Banks Peninsula, such as mountains, headlands, etc. —information which, by oral tradition, must have descended with the teaching of many generations. Some of the Raupaki [Rapaki] Natives say that Morioris are descended from natives of this part of New Zealand, a few of their people forming a settlement in Chatham, Island"...
Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 2, 3 January 1924
Timoti Tara (also known as Karaka and Pawa Ngamunga Kahuki). He was one of the signatories of the 1862 petition to the New Zealand Government and was a Moriori claimant to the 1870 land court [identified by Susan Thorpe, Hokotehi Moriori Trust, 2020].
Portrait of a Moriori, January 1879 by Edward Dossetter
Out in the Open, T. H. Potts, 1882, reprinted by Capper Press, Christchurch, New Zealand 1976, opposite page 160.
[1] Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 97, 21 October 1876
[2] Evening Post, Volume XIV, Issue 141, 13 December 1876
[3] Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 31, 7 February 1877
[4] Star (Christchurch), Issue 2764, 8 February 1877
[5] Star (Christchurch), Issue 2765, 9 February 1877
[6] Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 822, 9 February 1877
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