Description
Shows a detailed view of the interior of the house or hotel of an early settler, probably James Wynen, on the Wairau plain, Marlborough. Mr Wynen (or a hotel guest) and a Maori woman sit within the large fireplace enclosure. A kettle and a pot hang above the fire. The man sits on what appears to be a whale vertebra; another can be seen in the room, also obviously for use as a stool. Various tools and instruments can be seen around the room, including a shovel, a rifle, rope, pots and utensils. Kete, or perhaps nets, can be seen through the opening into another room, where an anchor can also be seen. From the thatched roof of the house, a variety of meats can be seen hanging, including ducks and pukeko, and fish. Bunches of ears of corn also hang drying. The wall has been used as a writing surface, probably with chalk; a sailboat and a game of Hangman can be seen, as well as lists of numbers. A dog sits near the couple by the fireside. The room may be part of the Beaver Hotel, Blenheim
James Wynen's companion, Kuika Rangiawa, was murdered by Dick Cook in January 1843 in Port Underwood. The dating of this work (April 1851) indicates that the woman in the picture is not Kuika, and that this scene is likely to be an early hotel established by James Wynen. The Beaver Hotel in Beaverton (Blenheim) was not officially set up until 1855, after Wynen had sold his store on the Boulder Bank, Nelson.
Other Titles - Wynen, Wynens
Image Licence
All Rights Reserved
Image Credit
Alexander Turnbull Library
Location
Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand
Country
New Zealand
Tags
Category
People & Society
