Who are the people in this magic lantern slide? Where is this house? Why is there so much mud? And, most importantly, had anyone heard of firearms safety? The child in the picture must be hoping that the gun isn't loaded.

If anyone can answer these questions (or can decipher the writing on this slide) please let the MAVtech Museum know! In the absence of any answers we can see why this slide is important: many family photographs and postcards show groups outside of houses. With land needing to be broken in, families outside their properties were seen as a kind of colonial pride.

What they are holding also speaks volumes about how people saw themselves (or at least, how they wanted to be seen). The man is holding a gun and is seen as a powerful provider. The boy holds a hammer- has he been helping with the work? The lady holds a book (a Bible perhaps? This was common for womens' photographs in Western countries back then). And the young lady looks ready to go to school or church in her neat hat and tidy clothing. These themes were often used in professional photographs and subconsciously spilled over into many early snapshots. 

Mind you- this could also be a professional photograph.

Also, this is a lantern slide, designed to be projected onto a wall. Unlike a personal photo album, these  slides were usually viewed as a large group. Extended family? A soldier overseas in the First World War? (the Dunedin Photographic Society took photographs of families that soldier relatives could then view near the front. These were all magic lantern slides.)

Photographs are often seen as perfect windows into the past but this one holds more questions than answers! 

Inscription on back – Theresa Hinemoa McDonald

Full length childhood photo of Theresa Hinemoa McDonald,standing in garden wearing light coloured dress with long sleeves and pintucking on skirt, beading at neck, dark sash, dark stockings and boots. Hair down.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Two unidentified girls, aged about 3 years on a wooden rocking horse. The girls are dressed identically in woollen dresses, ankle socks and black shoes. They could possibly be twins.

1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Bride & Groom – Sarah and William Brown 1 B&W photo print {Fragile, damaged}

Formal studio photograph. William (‘Bill’) Brown was a railway ganger based in Shannon.

They had 6 daughters then a son (Alistair). 7 names have been used as identification in connection with the girls of the Brown family: Annie, Gwen (later Graham), Girlie (later Urwin), Jeanne (never married), Billie, Eris (later Mouldey) youngest (?) daughter and Maisie (later Hebley).

Annie believed born January 1906 (see Certificate of Proficiency Acc.#s2002.098.0034 gives her age as 13 years 10 months in Novemeber 1919).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

An enlarged copy of photo 1977.047.0071.

Formal photograph of Hector McDonald Snr. He is wearing a textured jacket with a dark cravat over a white shirt with upturned collar. He has a beard and moustache.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Unidenified man

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “C J Pownalls sons.”

Three young men, two standing and one sitting on a bench in a studio setting, who are described on the reverse of the photograph as “C J Pownalls sons.”

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

An unidentified man is leaning against door frame in this oval photograph. The building into which the doorway is made of weatherboard. The man is wearing trousers and a vest over a shirt with a bow tie. He has his hands in his pants pockets.

1 B&W postcard

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

A head and shoulders portrait of an unidentified elderly whiskered, balding man. He is wearing a jacket and waistcoat and the lack of clarity of the photograph suggests that it may be a copy or enlargement of a section of another photograph.

1 B&W photo print copy

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed on mounting board below photo - J. Bragge Photographer, Wellington, N.Z.

Printed on back - Portrait and Landscape Photographer James Bragge Wellington, New Zealand. Copies and enlargements to any size may always be had from this negative No. ......

Unidentified middle-aged man

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on bottom of photo with blue ink - Nance Freda Selwyn Josie

Four children in Miss Mona Neale’s concert, Shannon, 1920’s 1 B&W photo print

Left to Right – Nancy Balfour, Freda Thomson (later Batt), Selwyn Franks, Josie Thompson (later Batt). They performed a humorous skit. Nancy – dressed as clown and holding a violin. Freda – dressed as a man with bow tie, hat and holding a suitcase. Selwyn – dressed as a clown and holding a cello/viola. Josie – dressed as a man with bow tie, hat and holding a suitcase.

Appears to have been removed from a photo album.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Mounted black and white photograph attached to white card.

Foxton School First XV Rugby 1962. Those in the photograph from left to right:-

Back Row – Mr Nankerville, Rex Borck, ? Taylor, Cliff Huff, Unknown, Unknown

Middle Row – Bevan Parlato, Grant Smith, Maurice Stretch, Victor Timu, Fraser Kuiniti, Unknown, Unknown

Front Row – Glen Williams, Philip Skipper, Paul Roore, Eric Gregory, Unknown, Unknown

Black and white mounted photograph.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Mounted black and white photograph attached to white card.

Foxton School First XV Rugby 1964. Those in photograph from left to right:-

Back Row – Michael Shailer, Unknown, Peter Baird, Gary Kimura, Craig Williams

Middle Row – Mr Nankerville, Robert Ward, Ivan Harvey, Scott Williams, John Rickerby, Bruce Cooper, Robert Merlo

Front Row – Terry Betty, James McLaughlin, Fraser Kuiniti, Henry McDonald, Wayne Winiata

Black and white mounted photograph.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Inscription on reverse reads: “H Horrobin Hannah Ambler and G Wilton (1908?)”

G. Wilton and Hannah Ambler stand together in this photograph which unfortunately is affected by light across the middle. Both young women are wering white blouses, with dark skirts and boots. They both have their hair pinned up. Hannah Ambler has been identified from photograph 1977.018.0013

RESTRICTED PHOTOGRAPH

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “L Mr Darcy Ryder son of Fred, Major Tatum, R Mr Fred Ryder (leased Bevan land next door to Tatum). Major Tatum identified by Mr Brinsley Ryder, son of Fred because he said if that is a string and not a watch chain it is Major Tatum because he was forever blowing a whistle and everyone had to come running.”

Three men in the garden below a weatherboard house. From left to right the men are Mr Darcy Ryder, Major Tatum and Mr Fred Ryder.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on back reads:- “Flora Campbell McDonald elder daughter of Hector McDonald and Mary.”

Photo of Flora McDonald taken in a garden. Flora is wearing a dress which comes down to her ankles and has a wide hem. It appears to be of a sprigged material and has a collar with a white over-collar. A large white tie completes the outfit. Flora is also wearing a white underblouse, a straw hat with a wide brim, a dark coral [?] necklace and black leather boots. Her hair is down. In the background is a high wooden fence and a wooden power-pole. Bush covered hills are in the distance.

Inscription on the back reads: “Flora Campbell McDonald elder daughter of Hector McDonald and Mary.”

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads:- “Grandmother – Mrs Rigg – Wgton. Her daughter Mary Rigg (married Hector ). Flora McDonald (eldest daughter married Ranald A MacDonald). Daughter Mary MacDonald.”

Mrs Rigg of Wellington is seated in the front right of the photo and is wearing a black dress, white shawl, white lace scarf fastened at the throat by a square broach. She has a white lace cap atop her head and a walking stick in her right hand. Mrs Mary McDonald (nee Rigg) stands behind her mother and is wearing a light coloured top with a black lace collar and cuffs. She is also wearing a white, rich lace under-top with a large broach at her throat. Flora MacDonald (nee McDonald) is standing to the right of her mother and is wearing a white dress with a very high neck lace and pintucking. She has a small broach at her throat. She is holding her infant daughter Mary (Dorset) who is dressed in a plain white gown and is barefooted and bareheaded.

Inscription on reverse reads: “Grandmother Mrs Rigg – Wgton. Her daughter Mary Rigg (married Hector). Flora McDonald (eldest daughter married Ranald A MacDonald). Daughter Mary MacDonald.”

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Traction Engine pulling 3 road trailers 1 B&W photo print Fording river beside bridge

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

When used in publication ''75 Years in Levin' the caption read:

'This steam traction engine taking on water at the Ohau River, was operated by Thomas and Richard Bevan. Steam engines were used to cart flax to the mill, possibly in Waikawa, c 1900.'

Penciled on back – 2

Looking along front of 2-storey weather-board house 2 cars in driveway. 2 people in house (right). (1 of 2 photos)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled and written with blue ballpoint pen on back – N Clayton

Early street scene in unidentified town 1 B&W photo print

View of shops along one side of wide street with large trees.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscriptions on reverse read: “H Horrobia (Hannah Ambler)” and This photograph must be acknowledged to the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington New Zealand. Reference No. 941641/2”

Hannah Ambler stands behind a wicker chair with a newspaper in her hands. She is dressed in a dark skirt and white blouse and is wearing her hair pinned up.

RESTRICTED PHOTOGRAPH

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Typed (italics) on piece of paper glued below photo, as title: “Re Union Levin & District Servicemen. 1943”

Reunion of Levin and District Servicemen, 1943. A group of thirty five unidentified men wearing lightweight uniform.

1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed as caption: “The Camp Under Snow.”

Written on back with black ink: “This is only one corner of the camp. I have not seen it like this yet, but hope to in a couple of months. Although it is very pretty just as it is, in full leaf & flower.”

A postcard of a section of a camp under snow showing a number of buildings and a number of trees in the background and foreground. There is a handwritten message n the reverse but no name or date.

1 Sepia tone postcard

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Shannon Section. Horowhenua Mounted Rifles. Between 1900 and 1914.”

Shannon section of Horowhenua Mounted Rifles. Thirteen men in military uniform, with rifles standing on rough ground, with native bush in the background. An enlarged copy of 2001.006.0001

1 B&W photo print copy

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed below photo with red ink: “Stonebridge and Co., 25 Vivian St., Wellington, N.Z.”

Written on back with red ink pen: “L.E. Christophersen” Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Please return to W. Clayton. 3.”

Penciled on back: “I think this must be the Shannon section of the Horowhenua Mounteds’.”

Shannon section of Horowhenua Mounted Rifles. Thirteen men in military uniform standing with rifles on rough ground with native bush behind.

1 B&W photo print, mounted original

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

An unidentified small child stands in the sand with his bucket and spade lying on the ground at an unidentified beach. Behind him an adult is kneeling in the sand with his / her back to the camera.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back – 4

Side view of 2-storey weather-board house showing family gathering ?

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “Mr C.S. Keedwell : Chemist & Borough Councillor.”

Head and shoulders portrait of Mr C.S. Keedwell, Levin chemist and Borough Councillor. Mr Keedwell is wearin a pin-striped jacket and waistcoat over a white shirt with a tie tied in a Windsor knot. On his left lapel he has a small circular badge.

1 B&W photo print, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Farm buildings near the coast at an unspecified location. This photograph shows a large shed with wooden yards in the centre foreground . Beyond this area are two small batches and four cars of the 1940s vintage are parked on a grass area.

B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Unidentified large wedding group in garden 1 B&W photo print (appears to be a copy)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”