Hami Hone Ropiha (John Hobbs); William Ewart; 1862; 1887/1/41
Hami Hone Ropiha (John Hobbs)
About this objectPortrayed holding a musket on the Örākei foreshore around 1862, Hami Hone Ropiha - also known as John Hobbs - served as Governor George Grey's orderly in the Northern War of 1845-46 and was rewarded with a grant of land. Art historian Una Platts described the ensuing controversy: '. . . Sir George Grey, in his benevolently autocratic way, had rewarded him in 1853 by the gift of this piece of land. It was part of Official Bay, Logan Campbell's "Exclusion Bay", and the gift was commented on angrily by the editor of the Southern Cross, in answer to a complaint written in a suspiciously similar style. Both pointed out the enormity of giving this specific piece of land when worthy citizens, who had every right to live in this "commanding and costly situation" were unable to obtain an allotment there. However valuable had been the services of this John Hobbs, and the editor did not deny this, Sir George had no right to do this thing. It was "the duty of the public loudly and indignantly to remonstrate". But Sir George obviously had had his way'. Wrangles over commanding and costly waterfront land in central Auckland seem to be a longstanding tradition, continuing to this day. The portrait was in Grey's drawing room in Mansion House on Kawau Island and one of his founding gifts to the Gallery. (from The Guide, 2001)
Maker Maker RoleArtist
Date Made1862
Medium and Materialsoil on canvas
Measurements850 x 598mm
Subject and Association Descriptionportraits, Maori, Waka, beaches, rifles, cliffs, beards, Piki
Credit LineAuckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, gift of Sir George Grey, 1887
Object Type Object number1887/1/41
Copyright LicenceAdd Comments
This object is from
Tags
Include tags such as place names, people, dates, events and colours. Use commas to separate multiple tags. e.g. Pablo Picasso, Madrid, red, 1930s.
Share
Disclaimer/Re-use of images:
It is the sole responsibility of the contributing museum to supply accurate information, and to organise copyright clearance (if necessary) for any image that appears on NZ Museums. Before any re-use of images, permission must be obtained from the contributing museum. Please contact the contributing museum if you have concerns about the information or images or would like to find out more about using and ordering an image.
This website is a National Services Te Paerangi initiative
