Story: Sport and society

This watercolour by army officer and artist Henry James Warre shows a game of cricket in New Plymouth during the Taranaki wars. The British soldiers who had been sent to the area in response to renewed resistance from Pai Mārire forces were keen cricketers. It was said that during another game three months earlier, at the same place, two shots were fired at them. They hurriedly retreated to the stockade, and one man was slightly injured.