Includes: "Reminiscences of a pioneer surveyor from 1840 to 1916" by S. Percy Smith 1916; Journal at Okoare, 1850. [-1851], Account of day-to-day activities of a settler at New Plymouth, farming planting - refers to other settlers - Standish, Carrington, Hursthouse, Weston, Woon; Journal, 1854-1867; Journal kept during a visit to England 1913-1914; Six months in the Pacific: The search for Hawaiki. Letters from S Percy Smith to his wife, Mary Anne Smith, describing his visit to Rarotonga, Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Aitutaki, Samoa, Hawaii, and Tonga, 1897; Notes of three-and-a-half months' residence in Niue Islands, 1901; [Notebook - Notes made on surveying trips etc.. 1869-1888], includes notes for construction of the bridge over the Tuupae River, Hurford Road, Taranaki. - Atkinson's cupola furnace - Notes of trees and shrubs planted in the garden at Judges Bay [Auckland] from 1876; Notes of a journey from Taranaki to Mokau Taupo, Rotomahana, Tarawera, and Rangitikei. New Plymouth, 1858; List of papers, scientific and others, lectures, books, etc., by S. Percy Smith; genealogies of the Smith, Hursthouse, Atkinson, Richardson, Solly, Compton, and George Curtis families.
Correspondence includes: Family letters, 1870s - 1920s; Gilbert Mair, John Kenderdine and E. Tregear, 1916 - 1921; Sir William Fox, 1891, regarding ascent of Mt. Ruapehu, enclosing Murray's account of ascent in 1882; Spencer Von Sturmer, 1889, regarding Sunday (Raoul) Island; A.M. Worthington, 1913, regarding "Hawaiki"; Hone Mohi Tawhai, of Waima, Hokianga, 1892.
Sketch books and drawings by S. Percy Smith, Maurice Crompton Smith, and Ethel Crompton Smith, including works by unknown artists. (see inventory for details)
All photograph albums and sketchbooks have been transferred to the Pictorial Collection. This includes the following two outsized watercolours by Ethel Crompton Smith:
(1) -- "From behind Miss Baber's Cottage showing W Grays's house also showing the strong colours of Wellington" (280 x 360 mm; mounted on card) (Ref. No. PD-1964-6-9)
(2) -- "Kaihoura Mt from township"; inscribed on verso - "Chef d'ouevre / and greatest love Kaihoura" (255 x 305 mm) (Ref. No. PD-1964-6-10)
Electronic copies of Charles Hursthouse's notes of his voyage to New Zealand on the ship 'Pekin' in 1849 and a typed transcript by Beth Conrad, of Nelson, New Zealand (PDF 7.90 MB) are available upon request. Please contact Museum Documentary Heritage staff for details.
