The Pink Terraces of Rotomahana, oil painting by Kennett Watkins, 1877
Collection of Auckland War
Memorial Museum, Ref. PD-1917-1-2
On 12 August 1876 the dramatically named Tauranga and Hot Lake Photographic Company made its debut in a studio in Wharf Street, Tauranga, with a series of twelve scenic views of thermal attractions at Rotomahana and Ohinemutu in the Rotorua Lake District.[1] The Auckland Star editor reviewed the photographs favourably:
“A day or two ago we alluded to the admirable cabinet photographic views of Lake scenery issued by the Tauranga and Hot Lake Photographic Company. We have since received from Mr Edgcumbe, proprietor of the Bay of Plenty Times, a complete series of twelve views, which more than bear out our previous remarks upon the admirable choice of subjects, and superior execution displayed in these pictures. In the views of the terraces, quite a remarkable shading has been obtained, the gleam of sunlight on the prominent points of the massive marble buttresses, being brought out with extraordinary distinctness. The steam rising from the boiling puias and furmaroles has also a very striking effect in a landscape, the general features of which are wild and sombre. The labours of the Company will, we believe, do a great deal towards attracting the attention of tourists to this wonderful district, and will thus materially promote the interests of Tauranga.” [2]
Unfortunately, the short-lived Tauranga and Hot Lake Photographic Company doesn’t appear to have signed their images, and no known photographs of the thermal attractions carry the signature of either the company or their principals, Charles Henry Kennett and Edward Reginald Watkins. However, the elder of the two brothers, Kennett, was a landscape artist of some skill, and several of his watercolour and oil paintings of the Pink and White Terraces from this early period exist in institutional collections.
They were born in India but, after their army officer father died in 1854, the brothers travelled with their mother to Sussex, England, their widowed maternal grandmother being a proprietor of iron ore mines.[3] Kennett was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire,[4] and later studied under a celebrated landscape painter in France and Switzerland, while Reginald spent time in France and Germany, probably studying the classics.[5]
The White Terraces at Rotomahana, watercolour painting by Kennett Watkins, 1873
Collection of Tairawhiti Museum, Ref. 1963.2250.4
Kennett reached New Zealand from London in 1873, and probably made his first visit to Rotomahana in August that year, as suggested by a passenger record[6] and several watercolour landscapes held by Tairawhiti Museum (see above). By July 1874 he had a studio in Russell, exhibiting and selling his paintings through Auckland stationer and bookseller Edward Wayte [7] and by art union.[8] He was also reputed to have “made tinplates of many of the old Maoris of the north“. In March 1875 he moved to Auckland and “commenced business as artist and photographer, in the premises in Shortland-street, lately occupied by Mr. [George] Redfern.”[9]
Government Buildings, Tauranga, c. 1870s-1880s
Possible attribution to Tauranga and Hot Lakes Photographic Coy. (Watkins
Bros.)
Collection of Te Papa Tongarewa, Ref. O.009469
His younger brother Reginald arrived in New Zealand in September 1875[10] and by April 1876 both were in Tauranga preparing for a new adventure:
“Photography. Watkins Bros. beg to inform the public of Tauranga that they will be prepared to take portraits at their studio, The Strand (next door to Mr Gardiner’s) for three weeks, prior to their leaving for the Lake district. Views taken to order within reasonable distance of town on moderate terms.”[11]
The thermal attractions of the Rotorua District had been well known for some years – Hochstetter’s map of the area was being sold in Auckland to prospective visitors by June 1865[12] - but recent celebrity visits by Prince Alfred in December 1870[13] and the Governor in April 1874[14] had further publicised it as a worthwhile destination. The usual means of reaching Rotorua from Auckland was via coastal steamer to Tauranga, and then by coach to Rotorua. Cobb & Co were advertising “Ohinemutu (the inlet for Rotorua, Te Ngae, Rotomahana …)” as a stop on their Tauranga to Napier route from early July 1873.[15]
The Watkins had purchased their camera set-up in early June from Messrs E.B. Pierson and C.L. Philippi.[16] Pierson and Philippi had been in New Zealand as part of the American expedition to observe the transit of Venus, subsequently touring the South Island to photograph the scenery,[17] and departed from Auckland on 12 June.[18] The Watkins Brothers studio was next door to the shop of George Gardiner, ironmonger, hardware and seed merchant, situated at the southern end of The Strand, also known as Beach Road.
View of The Strand Tauranga from Taumatakahawai (Monmouth Redoubt), c. 1870s
Copy print, possible attribution to Tauranga and Hot Lakes Photographic Coy.
(Watkins Bros.)
Collection of Te Ao Mārama – Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. Photo 03-401
Due to inclement weather, their stay in Tauranga was prolonged for several weeks, and they continued to advertise their services as portrait and scenic photographers until early June.[19] The Bay of Plenty Times reported:
“To those persons resident in Tauranga who are desirous of letting their friends at home know what sort of a place they are living in in the colony, we would recommend a visit to the studio of Messrs Watkins Brothers, where some excellent photographic views of Tauranga and its lions can be purchased at an extremely reasonable rate. The township, taken from the Monmouth Redoubt ; the Government Buildings ; and the graveyard, with the monuments of our soldiers and sailors who fell at the various engagements in the vicinity of Tauranga form the interesting subjects of some of these views, which are executed in an able manner, and give a true idea of the scenes which they are intended to represent.”[20]
Two panoramic views of the Tauranga waterfront, taken from the wharf, c.
1876-1880
Glass plate negatives, poss. attribution to Tauranga and Hot Lakes Photographic
Coy. (Watkins Bros.)
Collection of Alexander Turnbull Library, Ref. 1-2-094379-F
The views are likely to have included the two panoramas of The Strand waterfront shown above, taken from the end of the Town Wharf. Although unattributed, they can be dated to between October 1876, when refurbishments to Ellis’ Commercial Hotel were completed,[21] and July 1880, by which time James Bodell had moved his “Strand Auction Room” to new premises on Cameron Road.[22] The Watkin Brothers are the only photographers known to have operated in Tauranga during this period, and are therefore the most likely candidates.
Maria Proud Vickers and Henry Bickers with their children, 1875-1876
Copy prints from carte de visite portraits, poss. attribution to Watkins Bros.,
Tauranga
Collection of Te Ao Mārama – Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Refs. 12-205 and 12-206
Since they do not appear to have used printed card mounts, it has proved very difficult to identify the Watkins Brothers’ photographs with any certainty, particularly portraits, which often exist in institutional collections only as copy prints. The two carte de visite portraits of the Bickers family (above) are a typical example of such copy prints. Henry Bickers was a painter and paper hanger with premises on Beach Road (The Strand), almost adjacent to the Watkins Brothers studio, from July 1873 until his death in March 1885. From the ages of the children – Henry was born in 1865 - we can deduce an approximate date range of c. 1875-1876. The plain backdrop and rudimentary studio setting suggest they were likely taken in a temporary studio, such as that which the Watkins used.
Detail from panorama of The Strand from the Town Wharf (above), showing James
Bodell’s premises
The next sighting we have of Kennett and Reginald is from 8 July 1876. Particular mention was made of the quality of their views, enabled by superior camera equipment:
“The brothers Watkins, photographers, have returned from the Ohinemutu Lake district, where they have been taking views, with a well filled portfolio of the scenery of that wonderful district … a very truthful representation of the beauties of the Lake scenery … The great power of the instrument used by Messrs Watkins Brothers has enabled them to produce a nearly perfect copy of the peculiar character of the various natural wonders of these scenes …”
This time they set up gallery and studio on Wharf Street,[23] most likely in the premises that James Bodell had built behind his shop on the Strand when he operated a studio briefly in 1872 and 1873.[24]
Wairoa, Lake Tarawera, oil painting by Kennett Watkins, c. 1876
Collection of Auckland War
Memorial Museum, Ref. PD-1917-1-1
Kennett Watkins left Tauranga in late August, first for Auckland, where he organized an exhibition of his painting of Lake Tarawera,[25] then for Kerikeri, where he was married. He and his wife settled in Auckland, where he became a teacher of landscape painting and drawing.[26]
Reginald Watkins remained in Tauranga after his brother’s departure, printing orders of the Hot Lakes series, making additions to the studio and offering “to take cartes de visite and portraits of all descriptions.”
“The erection of a studio now enables the Company to resume taking portraits, and under the able management of Mr E.R. Watkins we feel confident that the studio will gain as great a reputation for portraits as it has for landscape photography.” [27]
In late February 1877 he was visiting Opotiki when he fell from his horse, fracturing his nose and chin,[28] but had recovered sufficiently to return to Tauranga by 17 March.[29] A few days later, he inserted a notice in the Bay of Plenty Times to the effect that he had appointed George Gardiner as agent for the sale of his “Views of Hot Lake Scenery”[30] and presumably left for Auckland shortly after.
Reginald Watkins married Edith Mary Kemp at Kerikeri (of the "Stone Store" family) in April 1878 and they settled in Grafton Road, Parnell, Auckland. He taught French and German, first privately[31] and, after he had passed the Teacher and Civil Service Examinations, at the Grammar School.[32] He does not appear to have practiced as a photographer again.
Edward Reginald Watkins died at Grafton, Auckland on 19 April 1896, aged 43. Charles Henry Kennett Watkins died at Whitianga, Mercury Bay on 31 July 1933, aged 86.
Acknowledgements
The initial impetus for this article was provided by research notes kindly shared with me by Keith Giles, Auckland Library, biographer of so many New Zealand photographers, to whom I am perennially grateful.
[1] Charles Henry Kennet Watkins and Edward Reginald Watkins, “Photographic Views of the Lake District, Rotomahana, and Rotorua. Advertisement,” Bay of Plenty Times, August 12, 1876, Volume 4 Issue 409 edition.
[2] “Untitled [Photographic Views of Lake Scenery],” Auckland Star, August 14, 1876, Volume 7 Issue 2032 edition.
[3] “1861 Census: 59 Marine Parade, Brighton, Sussex, England” (Census Record, Brighton, Sussex, England, April 7, 1851).
[4] Una Platts, Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists. A Guide and Handbook (Christchurch, New Zealand: Avon Fine Prints, 1980).
[5] Edward Reginald Watkins, “Mr. E.R. Watkins, Private Tuition in French and German. Advertisement,” Auckland Star, August 2, 1881, Volume 12 Issue 3431 edition.
[6] “Shipping. Passenger List. Inwards. Per Ss Southern Cross from Tauranga,” New Zealand Herald, August 25, 1873, Volume 10, Issue 3678 edition.
[7] “Untitled [Paintings by C.H. Watkins Exhibited at Mr Wayte’s],” New Zealand Herald, July 28, 1874, Volume 11 Issue 3965 edition.
[8] Charles Henry Kennet Watkins, “Art Union for Five Water Colour Drawings, Advertisement,” Daily Southern Cross, August 11, 1874, Volume 30 Issue 5293 edition.
[9] “Untitled [C.H. Watkins Commenced Business as Artist and Photographer, Shortland Street],” Daily Southern Cross, March 17, 1875, Volume 31 Issue 5480 edition.
[10] “Untitled [Mr C.H. Watkins, Artist],” Auckland Star, July 27, 1875, Volume 6 Issue 1697 edition.
[11] Charles Henry Kennet Watkins and Edward Reginald Watkins, “Photography. Advertisement,” Bay of Plenty Times, April 19, 1876, Volume 4 Issue 376 edition.
[12] H. Delattre, “Price Ten Shillings. Hochstetter’s Topographical and Geological Atlas of New Zealand. Advertisement,” New Zealand Herald, June 6, 1865, Volume 2 Issue 488 edition.
[13] “Untitled. [RH Bartlett to Accompany Duke of Edinburgh to Rotomahana],” Daily Southern Cross, December 14, 1870, Volume 26 Issue 4161 edition.
[14] “The Governor at Rotomahana,” Bay of Plenty Times, April 1, 1874, Volume 2 Issue 164 edition.
[15] Michael Hannon, “Tauranga to Napier. Cobb & Co’s Royal Mail Line of Coaches. Advertisement,” Bay of Plenty Times, July 9, 1873, Volume 1 Issue 89 edition.
[16] “Untitled [Messrs Watkins Brothers to Open Studio],” Bay of Plenty Times, April 15, 1876, Volume 4 Issue 375 edition.
[17] “Untitled [Philippi and Pearson Arrived by Steamer from the South],” Nelson Evening Mail, June 5, 1875, Volume 10 Issue 134 edition.
[18] “Shipping. Port of Auckland. Passenger List: Outwards, Mcgregor, Mail Steamer, for San Francisco,” New Zealand Herald, June 12, 1875, Volume 12 Issue 4237 edition.
[19] Charles Henry Kennet Watkins and Edward Reginald Watkins, “Photography. Watkins Brothers. Advertisement,” Bay of Plenty Times, June 3, 1876, Volume 4 Issue 389 edition.
[20] “Untitled [Studio of Messrs Watkins Brothers],” Bay of Plenty Times, May 3, 1876, Volume 4 Issue 380 edition.
[21] “Tauranga, This Day [Ellis’s New Commercial Hotel Opened],” Auckland Star, October 4, 1876, Volume 7 Issue 2074 edition.
[22] “Building Improvements in Tauranga,” Bay of Plenty Times, July 29, 1880, Volume 9 Issue 917 edition.
[23] Watkins and Watkins, “Photographic Views of the Lake District, Rotomahana, and Rotorua. Advertisement.”
[24] Brett Payne, “Tauranga Photographers: James Bodell,” Tauranga Historical Society (blog), August 14, 2015, http://taurangahistorical.blogspot.com/2015/08/tauranga-photographers-james-bodell.html.
[25] “Untitled [Kennett Watkins Exhibits Painting of Lake Tarawera],” Auckland Star, August 24, 1876, Volume 7 Issue 2041 edition.
[26] “Untitled [Kennett Watkins Commences Painting and Drawing Lessons],” New Zealand Herald, October 9, 1876, Volume 13 Issue 4650 edition.
[27] “Untitled [Tauranga and Hot Lake Photographic Company Complete Addition to Premises],” Bay of Plenty Times, December 13, 1876, Volume 5 Issue 444 edition.
[28] “Untitled [ER Watkins’ Accident at Opotiki],” Bay of Plenty Times, March 3, 1877, Volume 5 Issue 466 edition.
[29] “Shipping. Port of Tauranga, Arrivals. 17 Mar - Ss Staffa from Opotiki,” Bay of Plenty Times, March 21, 1877, Volume 5 Issue 471 edition.
[30] Edward Reginald Watkins, “Notice. Mr Gardiner as Agent for Views of Hot Lake Scenery. Advertisement,” Bay of Plenty Times, March 21, 1877, Volume 5 Issue 471 edition.
[31] Watkins, “Mr. E.R. Watkins, Private Tuition in French and German. Advertisement.”
[32] “The Departure of Professor Cailliau. Farewell Complimentary Concert,” Auckland Star, March 25, 1884, Volume 24 Issue 4324 edition.
