Early New Zealand Photographers: Scottish born

James Mearns Spence

James Mearns Spence born 1 November 1849 Montrose, Angus, Scotland son of James Spence and Margaret Blues Mearns, arrived Auckland, New Zealand about 1861, died 23 June 1919, Deveron Street, Whangārei aged 70 years, reg. 1919/3878.

The Late Mr. J. M. Spence.
Interred at Whareora.

The funeral of the late Mr. James Spence took place yesterday afternoon, the remains of the deceased being first conveyed to the Church of England, where service was conducted by Mr J. C. Johnson, after which the cortege left for the Whareora cemetery.

Amongst those present at the funeral were the two sons as well as many of the old-time friends of the deceased, and an abundance of floral wreaths testified to the esteem in which he was held.

Mr. Spence was a very old resident of Whangarei. He was the only son of Captain Spence, a seafaring man from Montrose, Scotland. At the age of about 13 years he arrived with his parents in Auckland in 1861, and after a short stay there journeyed north to Whangarei, where Captain Spence took up land at Parahaki. The holding in those days was covered in dense bush and the young lad found himself faced with plenty of hard work for many years. He then took up various other occupations and upon the death of his parents came into Whangarei to live, doing accountancy and other work. He was married to Miss McKenzie [Christian McKenzie], sister of Mr. J. D. McKenzie, chairman of the Harbour Board, and they reared a family of three sons and two daughters. The eldest, James, was killed at Gallipoli, while the youngest, Hector, was severely gassed. The second son, William, is resident in Wellington. The two unmarried daughters live in Whangarei with their mother.

Friends of the deceased gentleman say that the death of his eldest son had a serious effect upon his health and that he began to fail from that date. Mr. Spence took a great interest in the collection of coins and stamps, and he is reported to have gathered some very valuable specimens. As a landscape photographer he showed great skill and he has left many beautiful records of Whangarei scenery.

Northern Advocate, 25 June 1919, Page 2

Panorama of Whangarei by James Mearns Spence
[purchased February 2022]

Panorama of Whangarei by James Mearns Spence
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19171004-39-1
Showing a panorama of the town of Whangarei on the banks of the Hatea River in 1917.
Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 4 October 1917 p039

Whareora ...Capt. Spence has left this district after a residence of over a quarter of a century amongst us. Capt. and Mrs Spence were much respected here and carry with them the best wishes of the settlers of this neighbourhood. They have gone to reside in Mairtown, Whangarei.
Northern Advocate, 5 November 1887, Page 2

John Low

born 18 July 1847, Scotland, died 5 November 1895, Whangarei, New Zealand [or reg. as 6 November 1895, reg. no. 1895/5712 aged 47 years].

Marriage.
Low — Fuller.-On February 27, at Whangarei, by the Rev. Alexander Thomson, Mr John Low, photographer, of Waikato, to Eliza A. Fuller, of Whangarei.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1044, 4 March 1879

Birth.
Low.— On the 15th inst., at the America [sic] Portrait Rooms, 13 Grey street, Auckland, the wife of Mr John Low, Photographer, of a daughter.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1437, 17 September 1881

Greymouth
1867-1869

Judging from the specimens which have been submitted to us, Mr Tensfeld's successor will fully and efficiently supply the local demand for photographic views and portraits. Mr Low comes from Auckland, and his portfolio contains many excellent specimens of the photographer's art, and will interest any of our Auckland friends. We wish the newcomer every success.

Grey River Argus, Issue 254, 29 August 1867

We have had submitted far our inspection a series of photographic views of the town of Greymouth as it appeared during and after the flood of Wednesday. They have been executed by Mr Low, and are excellent specimens of the art of photography, and will form interesting mementoes of the late disaster.

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 285, 9 November 1867

Greymouth by John Low, 1867
refer Hidden Light - Early Canterbury and West Coast Photography by Ken Hall with Haruhiko Sameshima page 83, where this carte de visite is identified as being by John Low.

View of Greymouth taken during the great flood of 6th November 1867.

The following two cartes de visite are attributed to John Low and possibly part of his series of views of the 1867 Greymouth flood.

Shown here with a flag pole outside is the Greymouth Post Office, the smaller building next door is the Telegraph Office completed in 1866

The Greymouth Post Office was never a very magnificent structure, but it has lately become not only insignificant, but exceedingly inconvenient for the public and its official occupants, by reason of alterations in the level of the footpath. The matter having been represented to head-quarters by Mr M'Beth, an improvement has been agreed to, and it is intended by the expenditure of a small amount, to raise the building, and to improve the facilities for posting and receiving correspondence. It is to be hoped that, at the same time, the convenience of the Postmaster and his assistants will be consulted, for more limited and less convenient accommodation for the extensive work of such an office as that of Greymouth could scarcely be contrived. Judged by its exterior, at any rate, the office is one which is more suited for the accommodation of hens than men.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1668, 9 December 1873