Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1885
J. A. Heginbotham, draper, of Cuba street, and Te Aro House.
Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 114, 15 May 1891
Tea Gardens and Hall, Kilbirnie
A novel and welcome addition to the natural attractions of Kilbirnie has been made in the opening there of tea gardens, to which there will be free admission, and where refreshments will be obtainable at moderate charges. The gardens are under the superintendence of Mrs. Heginbotham, senr., and are part of her property, which is beautifully situated on the rise near the hotel, commanding an unrivalled view of Evans Bay and the Straits. The greatest taste has been displayed in laying out the gardens, which are now looking splendid in their wealth of colouring from a variety of flowers and shrubs. A summer-house offers tempting rest and shade to visitors, while children will find, no doubt, endless amusement in the antics of the monkeys in a cage in the gardens. Kilbirnie will distinctly gain by this added attraction to its other charms.
Evening Post, Volume XLII, Issue 111, 6 November 1891
The tea gardens at Kilbirnie, which are to be opened to the public on Monday will agreeably surprise those who pay them a visit. Considerable taste has been displayed in laying out the grounds, and there are a number of shady nooks where visitors may rest themselves from the sun’s rays. There are also several summer houses, furnished with rustic chairs, and a monkey house, in which are a couple of monkeys, should provide amusement for children. The entrance to the gardens is gained by a road which branches off to the right from the main road just after passing through what is known as the cutting at the tap of the Kilbirnie hill. The view from the locality is both extensive and charming, and takes in part of Cook Strait, Lyells Bay, Pencarrow Head, and a large portion of Evans Bay. The Kilbirnie Gardens will be under the superintendence of Mrs Heginbotham, and the - proprietor intends making improvements from time to time until he has succeeded in forming the place into one of the prettiest resorts in the district. One of the principal features in connection with these gardens is that the public are admitted free of charge, being only required to pay for refreshments, such as tea or coffee, etc.
New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9445, 7 November 1891
A new hall has been recently erected at Kilbirnie for Mr J. A. Heginbotham of that suburb by Messrs Derby and Darlington. The hall is 60ft by 30ft, and has a stage 10ft deep. The formal opening of the hall took place last night, when a concert and dance were held, the proceeds of which were in aid of the Kilbirnie Cricket Club. There was a very large attendance, Mr H. D. Crawford, president of the club, presiding. In opening the proceedings Mr Crawford congratulated Mr Heginbotham on his enterprise in supplying a long felt want in Kilbirnie...
New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 9723, 1 October 1892
Monkeys, a northern contemporary remarks, do not, as a rule, breed in confinement, and one of the curiosities at Heginbotham's tea gardens, Kilbirnie, is a youngster just born to the pair of monkeys kept there by the proprietor. It is understood to be the first of its kind to see light in Wellington, if not in New Zealand, and it is stated that in seventeen years only one was born amongst the many simians kept in the Acclimatisation Society's Gardens at Sydney.
Star, Issue 5704, 24 October 1896
Heginbotham's Tea Gardens, Kilbirnie, too, is a pleasant place to spend a happy day. Picnic parties can get refreshments at a moderate charge. The photographic studio will be open during the Christmas holidays as usual.
Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1898
Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 150, 22 December 1900
Wellington Camera Club
The Wellington Camera Club was formed in November 1892
Wellington Camera Club - Secretary
Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 98, 22 October 1897
Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 121, 18 November 1897
1898
Exhibited at the Wellington Camera Club, Annual Exhibition - October 1898.
Awards:
Landscapes
"Stormy Twilight” by J. A. Heginbotham, first
“Behind the Windy Town" by J. A. Heginbotham, very highly commended
Seascapes
“On the Sands,” by J. A. Heginbotham, very highly commended
Carbon and Kindred Processes
"Declining Day'" by, J. A Heginbotham, second
Platinotype
“Shades of Evening,” by J. A. Heginbotham, very highly commended
New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3561, 13 October 1898
The Wellington Camera Club's exhibition at the Exchange Hall was opened last night by Mr. W. T. L. Travers ... [who] ... delivered an interesting address on photography. He laid special stress upon the advantages cf the platinotype and carbon processes, illustrating his remarks with references to the excellent results obtained by Messrs. J. A. Heginbotham and T. Pringle...
Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 91, 14 October 1898
Camera Club Exhibition
The Judge's Report
...The landscape class, for a club exhibition, is certainly of a high order, and Mr Heginbotham's picture - “A Stormy Twilight” - which is awarded first prize, would, I feel sure, take honours in a much more important exhibition. This I regard as the picture of the exhibition, and it shows how, with the exercise of a little artistic judgment, both the negative and the enlargement can be improved by mechanical means ... Mr Heginbotham’s picture I may remark that the composition is good, and that there is about it breadth and vigour of treatment that are both pleasing and effective. Mr Pringle’s second prize picture is somewhat weak in composition in one corner, and, though not what might be termed a “strong” composition, it is redeemed by its excellence of tone and atmosphere. It is quite a different type of picture to that which Mr Heginbotham has turned out; but it is a class of work equally worthy of encouragement. Indeed many artists will prefer it, and were this picture only a little stronger in composition, it might even have secured first prize...
New Zealand Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3563, 15 October 1898
October 1898 re-elected as secretary of the Wellington Camera Club
Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 97, 21 October 1898
1899
The Suter Art Gallery, Special Opening Exhibition - June 1899
...The club, next to the Nelson Club, contributing the largest number of exhibits is the Wellington Camera Club, and the secretary of the club, Mr Heginbotham, has not less than twenty photos exhibited. Most of these are carbon prints, and among the number of exquisite pictures he shows may be mentioned "On the Sands," "Behind the Windy Town," "The Rivers Ford," "End of an Autumn Day," and "Sibyl," the latter an enlarged portrait...
Colonist, Volume XLII, Issue 9497, 5 June 1899
Wellington Camera Club - intercolonial exhibition of photographs
There are over 600 pictures on view, including photographs from New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. in addition to the numerous pictures from other parts of New Zealand..
...The judges have awarded the honour of the best picture in the exhibition to “The Smithy,” by J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington.
Class A, landscapes.
“The Meadow Stream,” J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington, highly commended
“Solitude,” J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington, highly commended
Class D, genre.
First prize £2 2s, second £1 1s, third 10s 6d:
“The Smithy,” J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington first
“Toilers of the Field,” J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington, highly commended
“At Play,” J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington, highly commended
“On the bands, J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington, highly commended
Class E, animals.
“Hesitation,” J.A. Heginbotham, Wellington, [highly commended?]
...The genre class boasts possession of “the picture of the exhibition” in “The Smithy,” an interior by Mr Heginbotham (Kilbirnie). All photographers must share the enthusiasm with which the judges regarded this remarkably successful photograph...
New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3770, 19 June 1899
Photography as an Art
Some Comments on the Camera Club's Exhibition
...in genre studies, work of a very high class has been done by Mr. Heginbotham and others. Mr. Heginbotham's picture of The Smithy might very well be an engraving of a first-class painting. There is hardly a fault to find with it, and the judges were from the first decidedly of opinion that, everything considered, it is the most meritorious picture in the Exhibition.
Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 148, 24 June 1899
Mr Heginbotham has the best picture in the gallery, a wonderful interior of a smithy, with the smith at work.
Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 6272, 27 June 1899
Dunedin Photographic Society's Exhibition
Class I. Landscape.
4th J. A Heginbotham
Class IV.-Genre
4th J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington.
Class VI.— Portraits.—
1st J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington
4th J. A. Heginbotham, Wellington
The Best.- The judges have picked out No. 117, ‘The Smithy," by J. A. Heginbotham lington) as the best picture in the exhibition. The reason why this exhibit did not win in its class is that it is an enlargement.
Evening Star, Issue 10993, 25 July 1899
Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 135, 10 June 1901
