Historic Picture Returns to N.Z.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 766, 12 September 1929, Page 9

Historic Picture Returns to N.Z.

OFFER TO CITY

N ON TEMPSKY'S PAINTING

Said to have been painted by the famous Von Tempsky, hero of the early Maori wars, a water-colour, which has been offered to the City Council on loan to the Old Colonists’ Museum, is of great historic interest to New Zealanders.

The picture has been offered by Mr. R. G. H. Manley, of Auckland, and was originally in the possession of his grandfather, Dr. William George Nicholas Mauley. V.C., Surgeon-Gen eral, 4th Foot (Suffolks), who served under Von Tempsky during the Maori campaigns. ' When Dr. Manley returned to England from New Zealand he took with him the picture which has been offered to tbe City Council and in England it has remained for 60 years, until it was forwarded to Mr. R. G. H. Manley by his father. It has always been held that it was painted by Von Tempsky, who was an artist of no mean ability. The picture shows what is thought to be a scene in the New Zealand bush on the Waikato River, and is finely executed, no detail having escaped the attention of the artist. SCENE ON WAIKATO The picture shows a group of officers standing talking on the bank of the river on the left-hand side of the painting. On the right-hand side a soldier is washing his feet and his shirt at the same time, while talking to a comrade. In the background a group of men are roasting a horse's leg and head over a fire, and the military tents are dotted all through the bush. The second man from the left is supposed to be Dr. Manley, who took the picture to England. A long flight of wooden steps leads up from the river’s edge in the foreground and a number of are shown carrying buckets of waft up to the camp. The New Zealand Wish is realistically painted and the whole picture is crammed with fine details, carefully and clearly painted. The size of the picture is about 10 inches by 6 inches. Dr. Manley, who took the picture to England, had a remarkable and distinguished career, being the only man in the British Army to hold the Victoria Cross, the Iron Cross of Germany. and the Royal Humane Society’s medal. MANY DECORATIONS

In addition to these decorations he was the possessor of the Crimean Medal, for service at Sebastopol, the New Zealand War Medal, the Indian Medal for service in Afghanistan, the Egyptian War Medal, ISS2, Turkish War Medal for the Crimean campaign, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Bavarian Cross, the Khedive Star of Egypt, 18S2. the French medal for Secours aux Blesses. Paris, IS7O, the Prussian War Medal, 1870. and the Order of the Companionship of the Bath.

He entered the Army Medical Department in 1554. proceeding to the Crimea, where he served with the Royal Artillery at the siege of Sebastopol, from June 11 until the fail of the place.

He served with the Royal Artillery during the New Zealand war of 18641566, and was thanked in general orders and promoted to the rank of staff-surgeon for distinguished and meritorious services rendered the sick and wounded during the operations in New Zealand, his commission being dated October 20. 1565. He was present at tlie capture of four pas, and it was at the assault of the Gate Pa. at Tauranga. in April, 1565, that he won the Victoria Cross. Later he rescued a gunner from death by drowning in the Waitotara River and was awarded the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society. After distinguished conduct in campaigns in many other countries he attained the rank of surgeon-major in 1872. Upon his retirement he lived in England until the time of his death. The picture which has been offered to the City Council was one of his treasured relics from New Zealand, and its return after an absence of 60 years will be a subject of interest to residents of New Zealand, especially in view of the fact that its original possessor said it was a painting by Von Tempsky.