Story: Taranaki places

Joshua Morgan’s grave, Tāngarākau Gorge (1st of 2)

Joshua Morgan’s grave, Tāngarākau Gorge

In March 1893 surveyor Joshua Morgan, aged 35, was working in the Tāngarākau Gorge when he became ill, probably with peritonitis. Two of his chainmen walked to get medical help from the nearest doctor, 50 kilometres away – but they were too late, and there was little a doctor could have done. Morgan was buried where he died, on the banks of the river. His grave is now a sobering stop for travellers on the remote, winding ‘Forgotten World Highway’. The bush around the grave has regenerated since this photograph was taken, about 1915.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Albert Percy Godber Collection (PA-Group-00048)
Reference: APG-0607-1/2-G
Photograph by Albert Percy Godber

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ron Lambert, 'Taranaki places - Inland Taranaki', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/25919/joshua-morgans-grave-tangarakau-gorge (accessed 23 April 2024)

Story by Ron Lambert, updated 1 Sep 2016