Early New Zealand Photographers

Mundy & La'Mert

Cartes de visite of Members of the General Synod,

Christchurch, 1865.

General Synod.— The meeting of this body, which has been called this year in Christchurch, will commence to-morrow, unless circumstances should arise to cause a postponement, of which due notice will be given. We understand that the Metropolitan Bishop of New Zealand, accompanied by other bishops of the different sees of this colony, is expected to arrive in time for the Synod, in the mission schooner.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1391, 25 April 1865, Page 4

General Synod.—The session of the General Synod will commence its sittings on Wednesday next in Bonnington's room. This is the first occasion on which this body will have met in Christchurch. Bishop Selwyn, accompanied by the Bishop of Waiapu, Bishop Pattison, Sir William Martin, and several of the clergy and members of the General Synod were to have left Auckland on Tuesday last in Bishop Selwyn's yacht, the Southern Cross, and were to call at Wellington for the Bishop of Wellington, and the Rev. Archdeacon Hatfield. The Southern Cross is expected to arrive in Lyttelton to-day...

Press, Volume VII, Issue 776, 25 April 1865, Page 2

Otago, s.s., 457 tons, William Smith, from Wellington. Passengers: Cabin — Mr. and Mrs. Moreton, Mr. Dransfield, Rev. F. Tripp, Mr. Stocks, Rev. and Mrs Cannell, Mrs Floyd, the Bishop of Wellington, Mrs Abraham and son, Miss Butler, Rev. F. Floyd, Mr. E. C. Wyvell, Mr. Andrew, Mrs. Brown and nurse, the Bishop of New Zealand, Bishop Pattison, Bishop Williams, Sir W. Martin and Lady Martin, Mrs Selwyn, Mrs. Williams, Rev. Mansell, Mis Mansell, Rev. Burrows, Rev. Clarke, Mrs. M'Gee, and 9 for the South...

Press, Volume VII, Issue 777, 26 April 1865, Page 2

General Synod of the Church of England
Tuesday, May 16. The Synod met at 11 a.m. The Primate having opened the sittings with prayer, the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Primate read a communication from Messrs. Mundy and LaMert, requesting to be allowed to take the photographs of the members of the Synod.

Press, Volume VII, Issue 795, 17 May 1865, Page 2

Press, Volume VII, Issue 806, 31 May 1865, Page 1

Press, Volume VII, Issue 807, 1 June 1865, Page 4

[this notice continued in the Press until 16 June 1865]

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1407, 1 June 1865, Page 6
[this notice continued in the Lyttelton Times for one month until 1 July 1865]

We have been shown some excellent photographic likenesses of the Right Reverend Prelates and others who attended the late meeting of the Synod at Christchurch.

Messrs, Mundy and LaMert are the artists. The Right Reverend the Primate of New Zealand occupies the centre. The firm determination of his character is capitally produced. It is the portrait of a most remarkable man — the man of an age - one who, if he had chosen to remain in England, and to have followed out the path his talents fit him for, might, instead of the doubtful and onerous honours of a colonial Episcopate, have occupied the palace of Lambeth.

Then we have likenesses of our own honoured and respected Bishop, the kindly and genial face of the good Bishop of Waiapu, the intellectual countenance of the Lord Bishop of Wellington, and the earnest, thoughtful head of the Missionary Bishop of Melanesia.

There is also, a very good portrait of one who has, perhaps, in his own sphere, done more to help on the work of the Synod than almost any other man—Sir William Martin. To his advice and counsel the Synod is indebted for the reconciliation of those unfortunate disagreements and differences which at one time threatened the unity, if not the existence, of the Colonial Church.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1407, 1 June 1865, Page 5 and Volume XXIII, Issue 1412, 13 June 1865, Page 3

Literary Society.
The Town Hall was crowded to excess last evening on the occasion of the Conversazione given by the Literary Society. The Hall was decorated in a very tasteful manner with evergreens and flags, and the walls were hung with paintings and photographs ... Mundy and LaMert displayed photographs of the members of the late Synod of the Church of England, and many of the leading men in Christchurch...

Press, Volume VII, Issue 832, 30 June 1865, Page 2

Literary Society.
A Conversazione, in aid of the funds of this society, was given on Thursday, at the Town Hall, and was in every sense of the words a complete success ... The walls were covered with pictures and photographs ... and Mundy and LaMert had, perhaps, the greatest show of photographs, including portraits of the members of the Synod, the Provincial Council, and likenesses of the leading celebrities of the province. They also sent in a beautiful bust of the gentle and graceful Princess of Wales, and some other elegant busts. These were arranged on a long table immediately below the dais.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1420, 1 July 1865, Page 5

Bishop of Melanesia - John Coleridge Patteson (1 April 1827 – 20 September 1871)

by Mundy and La'Mert

Bishop of Waiapu - William Williams (18 July 1800 – 9 February 1878)

by Mundy and La'Mert

Bishop of Wellington - Charles John Abraham (1814 – 4 February 1903)

by Mundy and La'Mert

Bishop of Christchurch - Henry John Chitty Harper (c. 1804 – 28 December 1893)

by Mundy and La'Mert

Those attending the General Synod, Christchurch 1865 included:

Bishop of New Zealand - George Selwyn (5 April 1809 – 11 April 1878)

Bishop of Christchurch - Henry John Chitty Harper (c. 1804 – 28 December 1893)
Bishop of Wellington - Charles John Abraham (1814 – 4 February 1903)

Bishop of Waiapu - William Williams (18 July 1800 – 9 February 1878)
Bishop of Melanesia - John Coleridge Patteson (1 April 1827 – 20 September 1871)

Sir William Martin - Auckland

Archdeacon of Christchurch, Archdeacon of Waikato, Archdeacon Maunsell - Auckland, Rev. James Wilson, Rev. John Charles Bagshaw - Nelson, Rev. F. Tripp - Nelson, Rev. A. Stock - Wellington, Rev. R. Taylor - Wellington, Rev. E. G. Edwards, Rev. J. F. Lloyd - Auckland, Rev. E. B. Clarke, Rev. R. Burrows - Auckland, Rev. Cannell, Rev. Tudor - Nelson, Rev. Wilson

lay members
Hart - Wellington, Williams - Wellington, Grigg - Auckland, McKellar - Auckland, King - Auckland, Dutton, Mason, King, Fitzgerald, Stocks, Tancred, Hawkins, Ross, Quick, Hon. John Hall - Marlborough, Mr Clark, Mr Mason

Five bishops of the early Anglican Church in New Zealand assemble in Christchurch in 1865 for the church's General Synod (national council). They are (from left) the first Anglican Bishop, George Selwyn; the Bishop of Christchurch, Henry Harper; the Bishop of Wellington, Charles Abraham; and the Bishop of Melanesia, John Patteson. Seated in front is William Williams, the Bishop of Waiapu (East Coast).

photograph by Alfred Charles Barker

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Bishop George Augustus Selwyn and Sir William Martin

Credited to the photographer Harley Webster this photograph should correctly be credited to Alfred Charles Barker. The chair known as the "Godley Chair" and the table appear in a number of other Barker photographs including five Bishops photograph above.

Portrait of Bishop George Augustus Selwyn and Sir William Martin - Photographed taken by Harley Webster. Abraham, Charles John (Bishop), 1814-1903: Photographs. Ref: PAColl-10135-1. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/32377982

Mary Ann Martin, Caroline Abraham and Sarah Selwyn

Photograph of "The Three Graces" - Caroline Harriet Abraham, Lady Mary Ann Martin, and Sarah Harriet Selwyn. Abraham, Charles John (Bishop), 1814-1903: Photographs. Ref: PAColl-10135-3. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/32377984

In 1870 Mundy's negatives were acquired by William John Grand of the Christchurch Fancy Bazaar. Following the death of the Bishop of Melanesia, John Coleridge Patteson on 20 September 1871, Grand advertised that portraits of the late lamented Prelate could be had at the Christchurch Fancy Bazaar.

From an advertisement in another column it will be seen that those desirous of possessing a memento of the late Bishop of Melanesia can do so at the Fancy Bazaar, where photographs may be obtained. The picture is really a good one, and is pronounced by those who knew the deceased prelate to be a very good likeness.

Press, Volume XVIII, Issue 2661, 9 November 1871, Page 2