Title: Robley: Te Ropere, 1840—1930

Author: Timothy Walker

Publication details: University of Auckland, 1985, Auckland

Digital publication kindly authorised by: Timothy Walker

Part of: The Moko Texts Collection

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Robley: Te Ropere, 1840—1930

Historical New Zealand Scenes

page 191

Historical New Zealand Scenes

1. Abel Tasman exchanging for a tiki

  • ink on white paper

  • 198 × 315 mm.

  • ATL Manuscript Collection qMS/ca. 1903–1941

  • T.E. Donne Scrapbook “The hei tiki”

  • Accn No.: 83-197/2

Inscriptions

  • Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

  • “Abel Tasman Exchanging for a Tiki”

  • (ink, T.E. Donne's hand) upper left

  • “An imaginative/ sketch by Major-General/ Horatio Gordon Robley -/ Sutherland Highlanders/ who fought in Maori War/ of 1865.”

1. Abel Tasman exchanging for a tiki Alexander Turnbull Library

1. Abel Tasman exchanging for a tiki Alexander Turnbull Library

page 192

2. Scene in New Zealand 1841 (After Merrett)

  • ink & pencil on white cart.

  • 165 × 255 mm.

  • ATL Picture Collection A80/22

  • Accn. No: 76–158

  • Placed on Long term loan by Mr. W.N. Pharazyn, 1976

Inscriptions

  • Recto: (ink, R's hand) bottom centre

  • “Scene in New Zealand/ 1841.”

  • Verso: (pencil, R's hand) left side [←]

  • [sketch of ‘Pataka at Wairoa’ (Cat. No.215)]

3. Moko and Whakairo

  • w/c, ink & pencil on white cart.

  • 172 × 264 mm.

  • ATL Picture Collection A 80/12

Inscriptions

  • Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower left

  • Moko and Whakairo

NB: This work shows a tohunga ta moko at work in front of a carved whare. A wakataua, elaborately carved, is also shown.

4. The Manchester Rifles

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • image: 196 × 267 mm (sight)

  • support: 235 × 281 mm.

  • sign.: (red ink) lower left “H.G. Robley

  • ATL Picture Collection A 80/21

  • Purchased from J. Travis, Wellington. 16/10/75

Inscriptions

  • Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower page

  • “The Manchester rifles on there (sic.) famious (sic.) march from the/ front [186-]”

Notes: “Possibly a reconstruction of an incident during the evacuation of Korarareka in 1845” [ATL Accession card.]

page 193

5. The Tohunga evokes a spirit

  • w/c on white paper

  • 205 × 123 mm.

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 155

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

  • Verso: (ink, R's hand) centre, inverse

  • “The Tohunga evokes a spirit.”

  • (ink, R's hand) lower left, inverse

  • “H.R.”

Note: This work is missing, but was probably conceived as an illustration to Maning's ‘Old New Zealand’.”

6. “Moko; or Maori Tattooing” figure 152

6. “Moko; or Maori Tattooing” figure 152

page 194

6a. [Trade in Living Heads]

  • black w/c on paper

  • 223 × 153 mm.

  • sign.: (w/c) lower left “H.G.Robley”

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 803

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Mt. Verso: (ink, R's hand) paper label; affixed, centre of page

“- circa 1820 -/ the Rev'd J.G. Wood, records this incident “one of my friends lately gave me a curious illustration of the trade in heads. His/ father wanted to purchase one, but did not/ approve of any that were brought for sale/ on the ground that the tattoo was poor and not a good example of the skill/ of the argument, and pointing/ to a number of his people who had come/ on board, he turned to the intending/ purchaser saying, Choose which of these/ heads you like best, and when you/ come back I will take care to have/ it dried and ready for your acceptance. H.G.R.”

6b. [Trade in Living Heads]

  • black w/c & ink on white paper

  • 212 × 324 mm.

  • VUM Collection Fildes NZ Portfolio/ 2

  • Provenance: Fildes Collection. (see inscription.)

Inscriptions:

  • Mt. Verso: (pencil, Fildes' hand) upper centre

  • “Watercolour wash drawing/ by Major-General H.G. Robley, London/ illustrating “Offer of a living mokoed/ head for sale” see Moko p. 171.”

  • (pencil, Fildes' hand) lower left

  • “Received from General Robley/ 1922.”

page 195

6c. An Episode in the old days of head traffic

  • black w/c & ink on white cart.

  • 256 × 335 mm.

  • NMNZ Collection FA 730

  • Purchased from the Artist by the NZ Govt, 1914. (10/-)

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) bottom

““The Chief pointed to a number of his people who had come on board, and said “which of these/ heads you like best, and when you come back, I will take care to have it dried & ready for you”/ narrative of the Revd J. G. Wood, the customer had not approved of any brought for sale -”

Verso: (ink, R's hand) lower centre

“An Episode in the old days/ or Head Traffic/ G. Robley.”

Notes: The trade in Mokamokai was officially banned by a Governor's Order from Sydney, in April, 1831.

Reproduction.

  • “Moko; or Maori Tattooing”. [Robley:1896] figure 152.

7. “Moko; or Maori Tattooing” figure 151

7. “Moko; or Maori Tattooing” figure 151

page 196

7a. Sale of a Mokamokai

  • w/c & ink on white cart.

  • 185 × 125 mm.

  • NMNZ Collection FA 723

  • Purchased from the Artist by the NZ Govt. 1905.

Inscriptions

Robley Album: (ink, R's hand)

“43/ “Sale of a Mokoamokai”/ The Chief running up the price/ Maning's “Pakeha Maori”/ portrait of the Chief landing from the schooner.”

7b. [Sale of a Makamokai]

  • ink on white paper

  • 160 × 131 mm

  • NMNZ Collection FA 1896

Inscriptions

Mt. Recto (ink, ? hand)

“Sketch by Major Gen Robley of a chief bargaining for the sale of a dried head/ Bay of Islands/ said to be 1898/ FA 1896.”

Notes: This drawing is one of Robley's “imaginative sketches”, executed as an illustrations for Frederick Maning's Old New Zealand. It was never published in that work.

Reproduction.

[Note added by NZETC as annotator:]

Description: 8. “Moko; or Maori Tattooing” figure 131.

This image is not available for public viewing as it depicts either mokamokai (preserved heads) or human remains. The reasons for non-display are detailed in the policy regarding display of images of mokamokai. If you would like to comment on this decision you can contact NZETC.

page 197

8a. [Mokamokai on stakes]

  • ink on white paper

  • 115 × 190 mm.

  • NMNZ Collection FA 1895

NB: there are not inscriptions in Robley's hand.

8b. The head has no body to it

  • w/c & ink on white cart.

  • 125 × 205 mm.

  • NMNZ Collection FA 849

  • Purchased from the Artist by the N.Z. Govt, 1905

Inscriptions

Verso: (ink, R's hand) centre, inverse

“The head has no body to it.”

Robley Album: (ink, R's hand)

“27/ “Illustration to Maning's Pakeha Maori/ — “as I approached/ a breeze of wind came sighting along the hill top/ my friend nodded again — his cloak blew/ to one side What do I see? or rather/ what do I not see The head had no body/ under it. The heads had all be stuck/ on slender rods, a cross stick tied on to/ represent the shoulders, and the cloaks thrown/ over all in such a natural manner / & & &/ drawn to illustrate 2nd edition in 1864 G. Robley.”

Notes: The passage quoted above is from “Old New Zealand” by Frederick Maning (p. 64 of the 1930 Whitcombe & Tombs edition). Robley worked on illustrations for ‘Old New Zealand’ while in New Zealand. [Robley-Mrs McLean:1906. ATL MS16/6/]

The inferior version of this work included in many editions of Maning's “Old New Zealand” as “Looking at the 'eds” is by Dr. T. Hocken.

Reproduction.

page 198

9a. Tapu

  • w/c & ink on white paper

  • 170 × 197 mm

  • ATL Picture Collection A80/3

Inscriptions

Recto: (ink, R's hand) lower right

Tapu

9b. A man under Tapu or Sacrosanct

  • w/c on white paper

  • 186 × 148mm

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 807

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (w/c, R's hand) top

“A man under Tapu or Sacrosanct”

(w/c, R's hand) bottom

“being fed, his hands should not/ touch his head”.

Notes: This work is a copy after Lindauer's painting “The Tohunga under Tapu”. [see “Pictures of Old New Zealand”, Whitcombe & Tombs, 1930, plate 2]

“Lindauer's native life is so good — (feeding the tapued man is a favourite of mine)” [Robley-Adams:1926. ATL MS16/9.]

page 199

10. Treaty at the Pa Whakairo

There are three version of this work in the Hawke's Bay Art Gallery and Museum Collection. All share the same Accession number. Only one example is included here.

Treaty at the Pa Whakairo

  • ink & pencil on white paper

  • 204 × 325 mm.

  • HBAGM Collection MMC 801 (see note above)

  • Presented by Lady McLean, Napier, 1930's

Inscriptions

Recto: (pencil & ink, R's hand) top

“from photograph — Treaty at the Pa Whakairo 20 July 1863 Index/ 1. Donald McLean (2) Chief Porakuru (3) Hapuku (4) Te Moana-Nui/ 5. Chief's Wharre (sic.) (6) Flour Mill (7) Posts cut with resemblance to Heads -/ 8. Posts of preserved birds for guests/ (9) Lady visitors (10) Maori women/ 11. a hut/ (12) Effigy/ of a chief/ with Tewhatewha/ The Meeting, an orator, &c.”

(ink, R's hand) lower left

“Note — finished index will be full size outlines — 60 figures.”

Notes: This work is copied from an illustration in the ‘Illustrated London News’ (20/7/1863). (Robley has confused this date with the date of the event depicted.)

The ‘Illustrated London News’ illustration is, in turn, copied from a photograph taken by Donald McLean's interpreter, C.H. Robson.