A very independent woman

Yatton Park from above, 2026.  Mansel Street is at extreme top-left corner.  The site of the original homestead, above the bend of the Waimapu Stream, is entirely covered by trees. Image: Google Maps

During the Victorian era, intrepid female explorers defied strict societal expectations of domesticity, travelling the globe for adventure, scientific discovery, and personal freedom. Mary Kingsley explored west African jungles and swamps, Isabella Bird the explorer and travel writer rode 800 miles over the Rocky Mountains, while the artist Marianne North ventured to all of the continents and her collection of botanical art is housed at Kew Gardens in London. Another woman, this one Irish-born, Lucy Mansel travelled to New Zealand prepared to break in the land and farm, accompanied by six of her nephews.

As well as her sense of adventure, the family background may also have led to a desire to leave England as her brother and later her sister did, for their father Robert Mansel, who was the Lieutenant Colonel of the 6^th Inneskilling Dragoons, was the first of several illegitimate children fathered by General Robert Manners and his common-law wife Mary Ann Goodchild. Mary was the daughter of a coachman so not of the same class as her partner. Manners never married and died aged 65 in 1823 in London but had lived at Bloxham Hall in Lincolnshire.

Lucy Mansel heard of George Vesey Stewart’s Katikati settlement in New Zealand from a friend and decided to take a big step and emigrate. She was unmarried and, on the Northumberland in 1884, brought with her six nephews: Charles, Herbert, William and Harold Mansel, sons of her brother Robert, and Clement and Robert Dowell, sons of her sister Mary Dowell [1].  She had been caring for Herbert since he was five years old. On arrival in New Zealand, she decided against settling in Katikati with the other Stewart people and instead bought an established farm on the outskirts of Tauranga. It was Yatton, the 320-acre property formerly owned by John Chadwick [2].

Miss Lucy Mansel (centre, holding a dog) and her young relatives, October 1899. Herbert sits in front.

Image: Te Ao Marama Tauranga City Libraries 09-003

Miss Mansel, as she was known in those more formal days, extended the existing house at Yatton to one with eight bedrooms and also built a large barn that was used for balls and other social occasions.  The domestic buildings were built on a high point overlooking the estuary. She was a very strong supporter of the Anglican Church, helping to fund-raise for the new church of St George’s at Gate Pa, and was the only woman on the building committee. She donated the font for the new church. Lucy made the Methodist Sunday School children welcome each year for their annual picnic at her farm after their short voyage up the estuary from Tauranga to the landing at Yatton.  The barn provided shelter if there was poor weather. 

 Miss Lucy Mantel and her boating party on the Waimapu, October 1889.

Image: Te Ao Marama Tauranga City Libraries Photo 09-004

Lucy Mansel was also a committee member of a group of Tauranga women who organised the gift of a photograph album for Mary, Duchess of Cornwall, later George V’s Queen, on the occasion of the Royal Visit in 1905.  It was an album of Tauranga and district photographs by Tauranga’s leading photographer Mary Humphries.

As well as having her nephews working on the farm, she also accommodated farm cadets from England as G.V. Stewart and some of his Katikati settlers did. She never married and left the farm to her nephew Herbert Benbow Mansel, the five-year-old whom she had brought up. It was this legacy to Herbert that prompted Lucy’s niece, Mary Constance Dowell, to contest the will that Lucy had signed in 1910.  Her claims of her aunt’s fading mental facilities and encroaching blindness were disputed by George Maltby, lawyer; Reverend Eric Rice, vicar; Dr Budenell her doctor; Walter Baigent, accountant; and nephew Herbert Mansel.  In light of the information from these men Mary Constance withdrew her objection to the granting of probate.

It is from Herbert’s submission that the family stories are revealed. Robert Mansel and his wife, parents of Herbert and his brothers, retired from the Royal Navy where his rank was Commander, to farm in Africa where he died in 1872. When he married in Tauranga, Herbert built another house on Yatton for his future family, adjacent to Lucy’s. His parents had taken four of his siblings to Africa. Herbert was 17 when he arrived in Tauranga and totally dependent on his aunt. During her lifetime Lucy gave Herbert part of Yatton in trust for his children and helped him financially, including help with the education of his children. Lucy also told him she would leave him the remainder of the Yatton estate. By 1914 she had sold any remaining property in England and brought the money to New Zealand. Lucy’s eyesight did get worse but she lived until 1916. She died in Auckland and is buried in Tauranga’s Anglican cemetery [3].

Subdivisional map of Yatton, May 1919.  Image: Te Ao Marama Tauranga City Libraries Map 20-230

Lucy’s sister Mary Mansel married George Dare Dowell of the Royal Marines.  He won the Victoria Cross during the Crimean War. It was his sons who had travelled to Tauranga in 1884 with their Aunt Lucy. Following Dowell’s retirement, the couple moved to New Zealand until his death in August 1910. His wife died 6 weeks later.

Family military tradition emerged again when the First World War broke out and three sons of Robert Charles Mansel and his wife Beatrix enlisted.  George Victor and Robert Charles Mansel returned home after the war but Herbert Pengelly Mansel died in Palestine from malaria.  Although he is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery [4], his memorial can be found in St George’s Church, Gate Pa.

Both images: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.  
At right: AWNS-19160727-45-25; at left, photo by Janes Bruce Ringer, 3003-2914

References

[1] Rorke, Jinty, entry in Dictionary of NZ Biography 1993: Lucy Mansel

[2] Bay of Plenty Times, 4 April 1941: see Papers Past, National Library. Viewed 16/05/2026.

[3] Will of Lucy Mansel, Archives NZ. Auckland Probates IE48341583. Viewed 17/05/2026.

[4] Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database.

 

Seaward’s Hand-coloured Postcards of Mt Maunganui

Coastal Scene, Mount Maunganui, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, private collection

Hand-coloured postcards of New Zealand scenic views had been around since the early 1900s, but were overwhelmed by inexpensive collotype-printed cards imported from Bavaria and Saxony. When the supply from Germany dried up on the outbreak of the Great War, hand-coloured real photo postcards were produced in numbers once more, and remained popular for some years after the war had ended.

Ocean Beach, Mount Maunganui, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, private collection

After the Second World War, during which there had been a dearth of postcards available for purchase, the National Publicity Studios became the most significant contributor to the market. Along with the increased demand for postcards, there was a resurgence in the popularity of hand-coloured images. It did not take long for other photographers and publishers to join the fray.

Mount Maunganui, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, private collection

One of these was Neville Stephen Seaward, whose postcards published from his home base in Broad Bay, Dunedin feature widely in institutional and private collections around the country, and presumably overseas. Seaward was born in Christchurch in 1913, and started photographing scenery with his first camera aged seventeen.

Coastal Scene, Mount Maunganui, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, private collection

He married in 1948, moved to Dunedin with his wife Gwen, and three years later they started up a business from their home, printing, publishing and selling postcards of photographic views that he had accumulated.

Coastal Scene, Mount Maunganui, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Fiona Kean, private collection

At an early stage Neville started making annual trips to Rotorua and elsewhere on the North Island to increase the portfolio of views which were soon in great demand. All of the postcards were printed in black-and-white from their home, and a proportion were hand-coloured with simple watercolour washes. Unfortunately serial numbers were not printed on any of the cards, so there is currently no assessment of the numbers of individual views produced country-wide. 

Mount Maunganui, N.Z., c. 1950s-early 1960s
Hand-coloured postcard published by N.S. Seaward, Broad Bay, Dunedin
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library’s Pae Korokī, Ref. 99-027

From 1951 onwards he also published several guide books of tourist destinations, illustrated with his own photographs. Colour slide views (probably Kodachrome) were added to the repertoire in 1954, sold loose in the same manner as the postcards, and the business continued to thrive into the 1960s. By the end of that decade, though, production appears to have ceased, probably as a result of increased competition from full colour postcards printed in South-east Asia. After he ceased photography, all of Seaward’s photographic negatives were destroyed.

References

Skinner, Damian (2001) Unpublished notes from interview with Neville Seaward, Modernism Oral History Project, [relates to 3 tapes of oral history interviews at Te Papa Tongarewa, Refs, CA000633/001/0020, 0021, 0022)

Main, William & Jackson, Alan (2005) Wish You Were Here: The Story of New Zealand Postcards, New Zealand Postcard Society Inc., Nelson

Main, William (2007) Send Me a Postcard: New Zealand Postcards and the Stories They Tell, Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson

John Mowlem - Tauranga’s Own Big Game Hunter-Fisherman

Guest article by Max Avery

John Mowlem in the 1940s and the big-game reel he designed
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 05-319

From 1926 to 1951 Tauranga was home to retired engineer John Mowlem. The owner of a large property in the Wairarapa, he lived at No. 94 Devonport Rd on the cliff overlooking the railway bridge and moored boats, drawn to the town by the abundance of big game fish in its off-shore waters. He had a workshop on the property and Miss Philomena Lantz kept house for him.

Boating party on Virginia, 1926
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 02-341

Mowlem’s earlier history included playing rugby as an All Black and several big-game shooting safaris in Africa, the trophy heads from which adorned the walls at No. 94. Yet, it was big-game fishing for which he was to become best known. The first marlin taken at Mayor Island were three fish boated by a Colonel Calthorpe on Billy Edwards’ launch in 1922 and Mowlem, learning of this, quickly determined to try the new sport.

Catch of fish by John and friends 1920s or 30s
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 02-339

Soon after settling in Tauranga in 1926, as precise in his approach to his sports as he probably was to his engineering, he became dissatisfied with the existing small-drum single-speed Nottingham big-game fishing reels then in common use. In consultation with veteran angler Arthur Fletcher he contrived a reel with a bigger drum and a narrow spool mounted centrally on the rod, which brought the line in tidily and faster. The prototype was too heavy, but further trials resulted in a fine light reel incorporating fibre and cork washers in a string sprung-steel ball-bearing braking system, which proved most successful, and was widely used.

Mowlem’s bach on Mayor Island 1940s
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 05-317

Obviously a man of substance, Mowlem bought two well-known game launches,(Naomi in 1933 and sold in 1938, and Virginia, sold in 1946) and chartered them with experienced skippers. Ever keen to practise what he preached, he spent a lot of time on Mayor Island and its surrounding waters. He was amply rewarded on January 26, 1932, when he boated a world record 820 pound striped marlin. Mowlem was elected inaugural president of the Tauranga Deep Sea Fishing Club in 1937, after forming the club in association with Mr A.J. Mirrielies. In 1938 he built the first private bach on the island at South East Bay.

Weighing fish at the Big Game Fishing Club’s camp on Mayor Island
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 05-316

Following John Mowlem’s death at the age of 81 in 1951, two doctors established consulting rooms in his house, the walls of which still sported his African trophy heads. Prospective patients sitting in the doctors’ waiting rooms might have wondered whether they had arrived at a veterinarian’s by mistake.

John Mowlem’s living room at 94 Devonport Rd, c1950
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 02-338

Ebenezer Norris and Family (Part 2)

In 1890 when Ebenezer suddenly passed from this world following the untimely drowning of his brother William, his family fell on hard times. The 1880s had been a decade of financial struggle for many and the Norris family was no exception. Newspaper records show they offered their home ‘Barbreck’ for sale unsuccessfully for months, stretching into years, in the late 80s whilst Ebenezer was still with them.

Colin Campbell Norris, 1871-1926
Image courtesy of McKenzie family

Following his death sons Colin and Gregory, who were 19 and 15, found work on coastal ships, 17 year-old Amy undoubtedly helped to run the home, and the two youngest Ruby and Connie were but nine and six. 

Suddenly having to adjust to her straitened circumstances, Amelia coped admirably for one who prior to her marriage had not even had to attend to her own hair. Barbreck Store on Wharf Street continued to trade but eventually home and business were lost and they moved back to ‘High Trees’ in Harington Street and took in boarders. They were however a close and happy family.

Barbreck Stores advertisement, Bay of Plenty Times 11 Feb 1891

Frederick, the  adopted nephew married in 1902. Gregory George married in 1909 and he and his wife Edith had two daughters, Rose and Edith. She must have died rather young and some years later GG married Grace, the youngest daughter of family friend Canon Jordan. Amy married Captain Charles Millar, also in 1909.

Soon after this, Colin, Ruby, Connie and Amelia became resident at ‘Dilston,’ — “a large colonial homestead in Elizabeth Street East at an elevation of about 100 feet overlooking the harbour” — and advertised for boarders once more.

Wedding day of CC Norris and Annie Chivers, 1911
Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 04-585

In 1911 there were two more marriages in the family. Colin, now a land and estate agent who travelled and promoted Tauranga as a desirable area, met and married English born Edith (Annie) Chivers in Wellington at the Island Bay home of her uncle Richard Keene, the mayor of Melrose. Colin was 40 and his bride around 30. They returned from their wedding trip to set up home at ‘Dilston.’ Colin’s business partner George Bell won Connie as his bride that same year.

Small sailboats on Tauranga foreshore, Norris building behind, after 1911
Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 04-589

Around this time Norris and Bell commissioned a commercial building at the bottom of Devonport Rd later known as the Triangle building. At one time their estate agency was not too far along the Strand.

Colin and Annie had their first daughter Nancy in 1912, followed in 1919 by Amy Ada Campbell (called Gipsy all her life) but their aunts Amy and Connie remained childless and Ruby was a spinster. The latter was a talented florist and had her shop in Devonport Rd.

Sewing party in Fencible cottage, Tauranga, 1898
From L: Horne, Davies, Maria Harvey (née Bickers), Connie Norris
Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 01-617

Tragically Annie died within a week or two following Gipsy’s birth and shortly thereafter Colin put ‘Dilston’ up for sale and moved with 7 year old Nancy to ‘Rawhiti’ at 206 Devonport Road (opposite Holy Trinity). There they resided with Amelia once more and Connie and George took over the care of baby Gipsy.

Muriel Griffiths (back left) and Ruby Norris (centre front) with friends
Tauranga City Libraries, Pae Korokī Ref. 04-046

Interestingly, in 1923 an old family friend Gilbert Mair passed away aged 80 at ‘Rawhiti’ having spent several years with the Norris family. His body was taken by Te Arawa to Maketu for about 36 hours and then from the Ohau Channel by waka to Ohinemutu where he was later interred in front of St Faiths Anglican Church.

Colin was interested and involved in boating all his life, he established the Auckland Anniversary Tauranga regatta with the trophy known as the Colin Norris Gold Cup.  He died in 1926, aged 55. His mother Amelia reached the age of 88 and passed on nine years later.

Many thanks to Gipsy’s daughter Fiona for all her kind help with this story.

Sources
Papers Past
Pae Koroki
Notes by Gipsy Mckenzie from private family papers
Gilbert Mair, by Ron Crosby 2004
Three Brothers - The Adventures of Ebenezer, Gregory and William Norris in NZ, 1851-1899  by Rick Norris, 2021