Local Histories

Mirihiku

A History of the West Coast Sounds, Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island, The Snares, Bounty, Antipodes, Auckland, Cambell and Maquarie Islands from 1770 to 1829.

By Robert McNab, member of the House of Representatives and Minister of Lands and Agriculture, New Zealand, Published in 1907.

Murihiku signifies in the Maori tongue, the last joint of the tail, and is the name given by the original inhabitants to the extreme southern portion of the South Island of New Zealand

Price NZ$15

Written by C. Stuart Ross, he tells of the times and the men who stood out to him during the early days of the colonisation of Otago..

NZ$12

Written by T.Lindsay Buick, J.P. and published in 1903. With the assistance of Manawatu's early settlers this book gives and in-depth description of the early days of Manawatu from the Maori history to the European Settlements.

PRICE NZ$20

Old Coaching Days in Otago & Southland

by E.M. Lovell-Smith, tells the story of early coach travel in Otago and Southland, and the people who played a part. Contains many pen and ink drawings by the author and pages of old photos of the coaches hotels and portraits. There is a list of all of the early drivers and many anecdotes of early overland travel. Chapters include 1.The Rise of Cobb and Co. 2.Cobb and Co. come to New Zealand. 3.Cobb and Co. in Otago. 4.The Old Dunstan Road. 5.The Great South Road in Otago. 6. The North Road, Otago. 7.The Naseby Road. 8.The Dunstan-Queenstown Road. 9.The Road From Lawrence to Clyde. 10.Cobb and Co. come to Invercargill. 11.The Riverton Road. 12.The Lake Road - From Invercargill to Kingston - Te Anau Road - Switzers Road. 13.The Balclutha-Invercargill Road - Tapanui Line. Download Index

Price NZ$20

by J.G. Wilson, Published in 1914 this book gives an account collected from various sources of the settlement on the Rangitikei River of a number of different Maori tribes. A history of the purchase and colonization of the land between the Turakina and Oroura Rivers, and an account of the various pioneers. Contains short histories of many of the original families, along with details of births and marriages, the properties they owned and worked.

Price NZ$

Early Rangitikei

And the country adjacent, including some account of the Gold Discovery in New Zealand, published in 1853. An interesting little book on the early settlement of Auckland. A glance at Captains Hobson's administrations, description of the position of Auckland and his reasons for selecting Auckland for the capital of New Zealand. The city of Auckland, the harbour, suburbs, agriculture, exports, shipping, commerce and state and progress of the district. An account of the climate, the social and domestic scene, emigration from Auckland to the neighbouring gold fields. bush travelling in New Zealand, and the convenient situation of Auckland as a starting point, with water communication in every direction. The early colonisation of New Zealand and the present condition of the natives compared with that of 1836.

NZ$12

Auckland The Capital of New Zealand

This book holds records of the organisation and settlement of colonists at New Plymouth. Contents include journal entries from the voyage in the Barque "William Bryan" to New Zealand from Plymouth, 1840-41. First establishment of the New Plymouth Colony, Pioneering ect. Journal during the residence at New Plymouth. Also contains records of the voyages of the first ships and passenger lists. And arrivals at New Plymouth 1841-1860.

NZD$20

The New Plymouth Settlement 1841-1843

Two rare and interesting little books on this CD that tell of the early history of Wanganui and the early settlers that instigated the building of a town. The battles that were fought against the Maori, the descriptions of the violent dealings during these times have been recorded from the survivors that were resident at the time. Early Days in Wanganui (1840 - 1850) This is also and interesting little book, from the churches point of view it tells of the early missionaries dealings in Wanganui and their dealings with the local Maori and early settlers.

NZ$10

Interesting chapters From the Early History of Wanganui, 1847 and Wanganui in 1856, & Early Days in Wanganui (1840 - 1850)

Old Manawatu

Early Otago & Some of it's Notable Men

Contribution to Early New Zealand History(Otago Settlement)

This book covers the early days of settlement in Otago. From the conditions of the working class in Great Britain and the reasons behind the immigration to New Zealand, the establishment of the New Zealand Company, to the landing of the first ships, The John Wickliff and Phillip Lang. There are also passenger lists of the vessels dispatched from Great Britain for the settlement of Otago from 1847 to 1850.

NZ$25

Early Wellington is just that, all the information you could want on those early days of Wellington. Departure from Gravesend, the arrival of the early ships along with passenger lists. Letters from some of the early settlers. The formation of the Militia. The encounters with the natives and a list of those killed. Land Orders. Earthquake report and the damage caused with the names of the owner or occupiers of the buildings damaged. A Pioneers Muster Roll. Burgess Roll for the Borough of Wellington, 1843. The Original One-acre sections in the town of Wellington and their purchasers. History of Streets and origins of place names.

NZ$25

Early Wellington

Written as a souvenir of the Jubilee.

Contents include:The Story of the "Pilgrim Fathers" of New Zealand, Peninsula and Plain, The Sumner Road, Canterbury Settlement, Reminiscences of Early Days, Escapades of Mackenzie - meeting of Bishops Selwyn and Harper., Sheep-driving in the Early Days, South Canterbury, The Maori—Origin, Life and Legends, Historic Outline of the Canterbury Maoris, Notes on Maori Art, Plants and Animals of Canterbury, A Glimpse into the Alps of Canterbury

NZ$12

Canterbury Old and New