An Exploring Party on the West Coast of New Zealand: crossing the River Teramakau, 1865. Creator: Unknown

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An Exploring Party on the West Coast of New Zealand: crossing the River Teramakau, 1865. Creator: Unknown

An Exploring Party on the West Coast of New Zealand: crossing the River Teramakau, 1865. Engraving from a sketch by Albert Walker. 'The west coast of the Middle Island of New Zealand, where the most recently discovered gold-fields have attracted within the last twelvemonth a population of ten or twelve thousand persons, was an almost unknown region in the early part of the year 1863. [The illustration] shows the mode in which Messrs. Walker and M'Farlane, with a Maori guide, contrived to wade across the River Teramakau, about half a mile from its mouth, the water being, at low tide, up to a man's breast, but running with such force that no man could stand alone. The advantage of their all holding on by one stick is therefore quite apparent, as any one who might slip would be able to gain support from the others. At high tide the water here was 7 ft. or 8 ft. deep. In other places during their journey more than one of the party had a narrow escape from drowning'. From "Illustrated London News", 1865

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Media ID 38686575

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Aotearoa Colony Crossing Danger Dangerous Europeans Explorer Explorers Fording Guide Maori New Zealand Peril Wading British Empire

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EDITORS COMMENTS
**Pioneering Spirit: An Exploring Party on the West Coast of New Zealand** In this striking photograph, an intrepid exploring party navigates the treacherous River Teramakau in June 1865. The group, comprising Messrs. Walker and M'Farlane alongside a Maori guide, has ventured into one of New Zealand's most remote regions to uncover its secrets - including the discovery of gold fields that would soon attract thousands of prospectors. As they wade across the river at low tide, their precarious position is highlighted by the forceful current. The water level rises alarmingly with each incoming wave, threatening to sweep them away. To avoid disaster, the party has cleverly secured themselves together using a single stick - a testament to their resourcefulness and teamwork. This dramatic scene was captured in an engraving from Albert Walker's sketch, published in "Illustrated London News" in 1865. It offers a glimpse into the challenges faced by early explorers on New Zealand's rugged West Coast, where even seemingly routine tasks like crossing rivers could be perilous undertakings. The photograph serves as a powerful reminder of human resilience and determination in the face of adversity - qualities that have defined generations of pioneers and settlers alike.

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