This splendid map of the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island shows Nelson & Marlborough provinces in great detail. It provides a fascinating record of the progress of colonial settlement in 1864, with land already sold shaded in red and land in yellow reserved. Though drawn and published by the prestigious firm of Edward Stanford in London, this map was also available to purchase from the offices of the "Examiner" newspaper in Nelson, New Zealand. The map's intended audience was most likely newly-arrived British colonists who needed to know which areas of land were available to purchase and settle.

Useful notes scattered across the map describe the nature of the terrain, such as "fine grazing country", "fern and scrub", and "mineral country". Locations of known gold and coal deposits are also marked in several locations. Fishing and whaling stations are marked along the coast, as are good anchorages and harbours.

A small note explains that this map is drawn from various sources, including Admiralty coast surveys, plans by the chief surveyors of both provinces, and a transcript of the latest surveys in the Nelson Land Office. This map is a remarkable achievement given the distance and travel time between London and New Zealand. Its creation indicates how much colonial interest there was in New Zealand at this time.

Original hand colour. [AUNZ2986]