Mary Humphreys, Photographer: Part 5

A Plethora of Publishers (1907-1912)

In 1905 and 1906 several local and national firms had published postcards depicting Tauranga scenes, including a series of black-and-white and colour collotype cards depicting scenes photographed by Mary Humphreys. They were printed in Germany, published by local stationer T.S. Duncanson in early 1907 and appear to have sold well.

“Post Office, Tauranga”, postmarked 20 December 1907
Black-and-white collotype print, photographed by Mary Humphreys, unidentified publisher
Collection of Brian Ducker

Another series of Tauranga scenic postcards, this time printed in Berlin by monochrome collotype, were published in late 1907, of which two views are known – although there may be others as yet unidentified. We can be sure that at least one of them – a new view of the second Tauranga Post Office – was taken by Mary Humphreys, since she later published it as a real photo postcard under her own name.

Back of Berlin Series postcard by Mary Humphreys, published c. 1907
Image courtesy of Brian Ducker

Although the publisher is not identified, it is possible that they were published and sold by Duncanson’s competitor T.E. Wayte. An advertisement which Mary Humphreys inserted in October 1909 showing her readiness to execute orders for the Christmas season clearly indicated that she had business relationships with both stationers.[i]

“Strand, Tauranga”, c. 1906-1907
Black-and-white collotype print, attributed to Mary Humphreys, unidentified publisher
Collection of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 04-246

The other was a view of The Strand looking north, the pavements in front of the shops and the balconies above full of people, and unusually there is not a horse or wheeled vehicle in sight.

“The Basin at Mount, Tauranga,” c. 1907, attributed to Mary Humphreys
Black-and-white collotype print, published by T.S. Duncanson, November 1908
Collection of Brian Ducker

In November 1908 Duncanson announced the arrival of yet another series of eight new Tauranga views.[ii] These were printed using the collotype process in black-and-white in England rather than Germany, probably as a result of British political pressure discouraging trade with Germany at around this time. “Harbour” was a reissue of number 103 in the A.G. Series, while the views of “First Avenue” and “The Spit & Mount” were also issued by Mary Humphreys as real photo postcards and exist as prints mounted in albums. It can probably be assumed that Mary took the photographs for all eight views.

Back of English Series postcard by Mary Humphreys, published November 1908 by T.S. Duncanson
Image courtesy of Justine Neal

English Series of postcards published by T.S. Duncanson, Tauranga, November 1908

The craze in postcards had by then gripped New Zealanders – the reduction in postage for a postcard from a penny to a half-penny in December 1907 helped to fuel the rising demand.[iii] That month the Sydney general post office was forced to suspend delivery of postcards due to the sheer volume received – half a million cards weighing almost two tonnes.[iv] In New Zealand a peak was reached in 1909 with over eight million cards sent through the post.[v] Throughout the country it was an opportunity which photographers and postcard publishers were keen to exploit, and Tauranga was no exception.

Souvenir of Tauranga, view of Tauranga waterfront from the Redoubt
Multi-view fold-out postcard “booklet” published by T.S. Duncanson, c. 1912
Collection of Justine Neal

Ten views of Tauranga on multi-view fold-out, black-and-white collotype printing

Back of “Souvenir of Tauranga” postcard, phototyped in Saxony (Germany)

Some local postcards were still being printed in Germany as late as 1912. Although we have no posted or dated examples to indicate when it was used, this fold-out collotype-printed multi-view issued by Thomas Duncanson could not have been produced prior to 1912, when the Coronation Fire Brigade Station was built. In December 1912 Duncanson announced, “a new series of post cards, picturesque Tauranga views.”  It includes at least one view – “Harbour South Tauranga” – published as a real photo postcard on Kodak Austral cardstock with Mary Humphreys’ characteristic lettering used for the title “Tauranga N.Z.” on the front (below). Another view – “Wharf and Strand” was published around the same time in FGR’s “Humphries Series” (see below), and was also likely her photograph. Some or all of the others may also have been taken by her, but definite attributions have yet to be made.

Women seated on foreshore, The Strand, Tauranga, c. 1910-1912
Photograph attributed to Mary Humphreys, printed on Kodak Austral cardstock
Collection of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 04-574

Tauranga, photographed by Mary Humphreys, c. 1908-1914
Real photo postcard, published by F.G. Radcliffe as “Humphries Series” No 7
Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0112/09

Sometime around 1911 to 1914 several of Humphreys’ photographs were released as real photo postcards under the “F.G.R.” imprint of prolific publisher F.G. Radcliffe, who operated from premises in Auckland between 1909 and 1923. Radcliffe used a number of photographers around the country, and often titled a series with the photographer’s name.[vi] In Mary’s case he made a mistake in the spelling of her name, resulting in the “Humphries Series”, numbered from 1 to 13 (although only four of these have so far been found).

Wairoa River and Bridge, photographed by Mary Humphreys, before October 1901
Real photo postcard, published by F.G. Radcliffe as “Humphries Series” No 13
Collection of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 03-048

No 13 in the series is her view of the Wairoa River and bridge previously published in the Weekly Press (1901) and as a collotype postcard by Duncanson (1907). Mention has already been made of No 4, while No 7 was a south-easterly view over downtown Tauranga, also published by Humphreys herself as one of a four-part panorama.

Back of “Humphries Series” No 13, published by F.G. Radcliffe, c. 1911-1914

Collotype printed postcards from abroad and half-tone local printings were well suited to general scenic views, but more topical subjects with perhaps more limited demand were better served by real photo postcards, which had better definition and quick turnaround times. Photographs could be taken of events, for example, and small numbers of prints produced from them and be ready for sale on shop counters within a matter of days. In the next article we will see how Humphreys ventured into that market on her own account.

References

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[i] Mary Humphreys, “Photographic Christmas Cards. Advertisement,” Bay of Plenty Times, October 11, 1909, Volume 38 Issue 5420 edition.

[ii] Thomas Sanderson Duncanson, “The Novelty Depot. ’Xmas Season, 1908. Advertisement,” Bay of Plenty Times, November 20, 1908, Volume 37 Issue 5285 edition.

[iii] “Untitled [Half-Penny Post Cards],” Bay of Plenty Times, December 16, 1907, Volume 36 Issue 5145 edition.

[iv] “Australian News. Sydney, Dec 28,” Bay of Plenty Times, December 30, 1907, Volume 36 Issue 5148 edition.

[v] Alan Jackson, “Early History of the Picture Postcard in New Zealand,” in Post Marks: The Way We Were - Early New Zealand Postcards, 1897-1922 (Auckland, New Zealand: Kowhai Media Ltd, 2015), pp15-21.

[vi] William Main and Alan Jackson, “Wish You Were Here”: The Story of New Zealand Postcards (New Zealand Postcard Society, 2005).

‘Fruit Brought Forth by the Sun’

Mr R. Henderson of Katikati packing tamarillos for export to Brisbane, July 1971
Image courtesy of the Gifford-Cross Collection, NZME, Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo, Pae Korokī Ref. gca-19469

When this recipe booklet fell from the pages of my mother’s Des Britton cookbook, I was delighted to discover that it was issued by several local fruit-growers’ associations.[i] At the top of the list of publishers was The Bay of Plenty Sub-tropical Fruits Association. Formed in May 1947, the group’s first resolution was to print precisely this kind of material in a bid to overcome what they saw as a major hindrance to the success of their enterprise - the consumer’s ‘ignorance’ of unfamiliar fruits.[ii]

 

‘Recipes: Sub-tropical and Citrus Fruits’ found in my mother’s 1970s cookbook
Images courtesy of Fiona Kean

Two months later, the first pamphlet featuring the tree tomato was ready for sale. Big things were expected of this ‘versatile fruit’ and in 1949 its production outstripped other sub-tropical varieties by a significant margin – 450 tons compared to 50 tons of passion fruit, 35 tons of Chinese gooseberries (kiwifruit) and 10 tons of feijoas.[iii] It was anticipated that 250 tons would be canned in Hastings the following season. Tree tomatoes grown in the Bay of Plenty were finally going places.[iv]

The historic Ōtūmoetai home, Maungawhare, circa 1900,
just a few years after this advertisement (below) was placed in the Bay of Plenty Times
Image courtesy of Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 03-361

The first mention in the newspaper of a tree tomato growing in New Zealand was in May 1890 when the Waikato Times reported that Mr G. Mason of Claudelands Nursery was growing the ‘novelty’ from seed imported from Ceylon.[v] Two years later, papers were reporting plants for sale in Thames and in 1895 J. J. Bettelheim, a nurseryman and market gardener in Ōtūmoetai, Tauranga, was advertising for customers to inspect his tree tomato plants.[vi]

Astute readers will note that by the time my mother’s pamphlet was printed the fruit had undergone a re-brand and were sold as tamarillos. The new name was first suggested in 1966 by Mr W. Thomson the chairman of the Tree Tomato Advertising and Promotion Committee. It was officially adopted on April 4, 1967, at a ceremony held at Waitangi. Thomson explained the meaning:

“The first section of the composite name Tama, had been chosen as a compliment to New Zealand, the country of adoption. It also had historical significance, Tama being the commander of one of the early migratory canoes which brought the Maoris [sic] to New Zealand from Polynesia … The tree tomato was a native of Brazil and Peru. In these two countries the fruit is known as Paolo de tomate and tomate de arbol, which translated literally means tree tomato … we are endeavouring to get away from the association with the word tomato, but as a compliment to the countries of origin the final portion of this has been retained as Tillo. The letter T was replaced in Tillo make it easier to pronounce.”

Now is the perfect time to learn more about the tamarillo and fruit growing in our region, with the opening of the Western Bay Museum’s exhibition ‘The Food Bowl of Plenty’. To hear more about it, listen to museum manager Paula Gaelic on RNZ. Not to mention that tamarillo season has begun!

References

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[i] Best known in the 70s and 80s as a restaurateur and TV chief, Sir Des Britton was ordained an Anglican Priest in 1983 and served as the head of the Wellington City Mission from 1996 to 2011.

[ii] Calling themselves the ‘Small Sub-Tropical Fruits Association’ the later dropped the word ‘small’. Bay of Plenty Times, Vol. LXXV, Issue 14370, 21 May 1947, p.3.

[iii] Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue7139, 30 November 1949, p. 6.

[iv] Bay of Plenty Times, Vol. LXXVII, Issue 15068, 31 August 1949, p.2.

[v] Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2784, 17 May 1890, p. 2.

[vi] Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXI, Issue 3261, 6 May 1895, p.5.

Baikie’s Bread Deliveries

By guest author Brooke McCann

Tom Baikie standing next to his delivery truck outside one of his earlier stores – The Strand, Tauranga, 1930
Photo: R.J. Rendell

In the early days, my great-grandfather Tom Baikie would travel the rough country roads surrounding Te Puke - delivering the daily bread from his bakery. Eventually the rural mail car took over, providing a service to deliver food parcels along with the post. Mike Bayliss, a Te Puke resident, remembers:

“Today it’s amazing to think that we had Tom’s bread delivered by the rural mail man when we lived only 2km away from the bakery. If it was a half barracuda, picking the end out and eating it on the way from the mailbox was delicious— but I once got in big trouble when not much more than the crust was left.”

Local Peter Muir was just a young boy when he’d help his grandfather Graham Barrow deliver goods in his truck. They’d load up large bags of flour from the rail goods shed to drop at Baikie’s.  Te Puke had the aptly named tradesmen Mr Baikie the baker, Mr Butcher the butcher, Mr Barrow the carrier and Mr Washer’s garage.

One of the jobs as the baker’s eldest daughter, was to make catering deliveries in the company van. As soon as my Nana June was old enough, she sat the exam for her driver’s license.  In the mid-forties a full driver’s license was available at 15, and this was the age a lot of people left school to work.

Tom Baikie with daughter June

June spent many hours preparing, with lessons from Tom. The local policeman conducted the exam, and the driving test route was well known among Te Puke teenagers. June had it down pat. She’d memorised which streets she would be asked to park, when to do a three-point turn, and where to perform a hill start. After months of practice, June executed the course beautifully, with no mistakes. On return to the station, as she sat in the driver’s seat, the policeman turned to speak. He told her that she’d done brilliantly on her driver’s test, however he had not yet asked her to start the vehicle, yet alone given her any instructions on where to drive!

Anthony Trollope in New Zealand

From Tauranga City Library’s archives

A monthly blog about interesting items in our collections.

Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) rivalled his contemporary Charles Dickens for popularity and success as a novelist in Victorian Great Britain. First published in 1847 he was prolific, particularly given that for many years he was also a senior official at the Post Office. Trollope and Dickens wrote novels that were sensitive to the social structures of their age, sometimes with very similar themes, such as the injustices of the British legal system. Trollope became another favourite of BBC television’s costume drama producers - readers of a certain age may remember The Pallisers, The Barchester Chronicles or The Way We Live Now.

Trollope travelled widely outside Britain, both with the Post Office and after he resigned in 1867. His second son emigrated to New South Wales to run sheep; Mr. and Mrs. Trollope travelled to visit him in 1872 and spent some time in New Zealand on their way home.

Of course, he wrote a book about the journey – Tauranga Libraries’ Special Books Collection has a copy of Australia and New Zealand, an edition published in 1874 especially for the Australia and New Zealand market. It may be one of the library’s oldest continuous holdings, since it was bought for our predecessor, the Tauranga Mechanics’ Institute (their stamp is faintly visible on the title page).

The photographs hopefully make obvious how well-used the book has been – it is barely holding together, despite being partly rebound, with the front and back boards’ corners worn to a round and tears in the “front matter” - endpapers and title page.

The library’s Sladden Collection has a copy of a London edition of the New Zealand chapters, separately published in 1874. It is in much better condition, only having one reader in its lifetime.

The text can be read in the University of Auckland's Early New Zealand Books online collection.
A 2022 article by Malcolm McKinnon in the New Zealand Journal of Public History, ‘Extended by iron ruthlessness’: Anthony Trollope, the Waikato war, and empire in the teaching of New Zealand history and international relations (Volume 8, Page 75) opens with an extract from one of Trollope’s observations about recent events in New Zealand.

“The acquisition of the Valley of the Waikato, which contains excellent land, was a great thing done. The natives by the treaty of Waitangi, had been declared to be owners of the land, – and the difficulty of buying land from them was great. There was trouble in getting it from them unfairly; – more trouble in getting it fairly. But acquisition by war settled all this” (Chapter LXIII, page 652).

Trollope’s blunt views on the outcome of fighting in the Colony during the 1860s were not shared by everyone in Britain and New Zealand – McKinnon reports others that were far more critical, then and later. Even Trollope’s views are shaded differently across the New Zealand chapters. The wear on the library’s copy suggests the interest its readers had in Trollope’s opinions during the town’s infancy. They may have been very influential on the way the members of a new and small settler community thought about their place in the world.

Sources: 

Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Anthony Trollope. Britannica Library. Retrieved October 24, 2023, from https://library-ebonline-co-nz.eztauranga.kotui.org.nz/levels/adults/article/Anthony-Trollope/73484.