Robert Clapham Barstow was an early farmer at Great Barrier Island, and lived variously at Mulberry Grove, Tryphena, and also at his farm at Tamaki, nearby St.Johns.
A few short years ago, a descendant of Barstow, Ann Beament and her husband Roger, found several dozen letters from Robert Barstow and his wife Jane (nee Hulme) and children to members of the Barstow family back in England. (Also see an article in the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand by R.C.Barstow in Oct. 1876. )
Here are two of about 60 letters mainly to England from mostly Robert Clapham Barstow, but also his wife Jane nee Hulme and their daughter. Several of the letters were written from Great Barrier Island, while others refer to the island from their other farm at St. Johns.
 Barstow ordered this cutter from Nichol's boatyard in Auckland but before it was finished sold it at a loss to Bishop Selwyn who used it extensively around NZ including the Chatham Islands and to various Pacific Islands to the north of NZ.
It was called the 'Undine' after Teutonic folklore water-spirits who like to associate with humans.
The painting is in the Kinder library. |
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Robert Clapham Barstow - letters |