Story: Land ownership

First settlers’ reunion picnic at Mauriceville

These Scandinavian settlers had obtained 40-acre (16-hectare) blocks of land in 1872 and 1873 under provisions for special settlements laid down by the Wellington provincial government. By the 1890s, when this reunion was held, they were well established in the new country.

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Alexander Turnbull Library, Masterton Historical Society Collection
Reference: PAColl-5584-60

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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Emigration poster

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How to cite this page:

Jim McAloon, 'Land ownership - Provincial administration of land', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17912/first-settlers-reunion-picnic-at-mauriceville (accessed 7 December 2023)

Story by Jim McAloon, published 24 Nov 2008

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Silver Wedding Anniversary

James Hylton Tuckett (not verified)
05 October 2023

Silver Wedding Anniversary Group Photograph In this photograph there are three Olsdatter sisters sitting together in the middle row. Two of them married on the same day and in the same place in Wellington. This photograph celebrates their wedding in 1872 and was taken on 6 April 1897 at a clearing in the bush at Hastwell on the occasion of the Silver Wedding anniversary of Niels and Anne Marie Andersen, née Olsdatter and Henric August and Janetta Aulin, née Olsdatter who had married on 6 April 1872 at the house of James Paterson on The Terrace in Wellington. I am a grandson of Kristina Elizabeth Aulin and a great grandson of Henric August and Janetta Aulin, who are all in this photograph. Anne Marie Olsdatter, born in 1840 and Janetta Olsdatter, born 1842, were sisters from Eidsvoll, Norway and were on the 1872 voyage of the ship England. The third sister in the photograph, and twin of Jannetta Olsdatter was Ida Olsdatter, who was born on 15 August 1842. Ida arrived at Wellington on 18 March 1876 on board the sailing ship Terpsichore. Ida married Gunerius (Gunder) Christiansen on 26 November 1876 in Gunder’s house at Mauriceville North. Gunder’s first wife Karen died in 1874. About thirty years ago I saw a copy of this photograph held by Rainton Kirk, a grandson of Niels and Anne Marie Andersen. The photograph was mounted on cardboard with names typed below the photograph (in the manner of a sports team photograph). It was notated as the Silver Wedding Group I have my own copy of this photograph with names written on the back in my family archive and also another photograph taken that day, which does not include any children. I would like to offer what I believe are the correct spelling and identification of many of the Scandinavian names in the photograph and have included a full list here, noting anglicised names where known. – Back row: Christopher Eriksen, John Swenson, Niels Andersen (Nils Anderson), Henric August (Henry) Aulin, Ole Amundsen, Peter Larsen, John Wellington, Jens Jorgensen, Hakon Nielson. Middle row: Mrs Eriksen (with baby), Mrs Swensen, Anne Marie Andersen (Anderson), née Olsdatter, Janetta Aulin, née Olsdatter, Ida Christiansen, née Olsdatter, Mrs Emmeline Wellington, Johannes Jesperson, Niels Nielson. Front row: Johannes August Andersen born 1880 (John Anderson), Christina Elisabeth Andersen born 1876 (Anderson), Kristina (Christina) Elizabeth Aulin born 1875, Augusta Olivia Aulin born 1881, lady with 3 children not recorded. From comments on this ATL site associated with this photograph the following questions of identification remains :- Middle row # 2 Mrs Svenson? This is difficult to resolve as one written record I have is lady with baby? and Mrs Eriksen # 2. Kay Flavell has #2 is Mrs Swensen and David Kirk has Mrs Eriksen with baby and #2 is Mrs Jorgensen. Back row: Magnus Halberg or Ole Amundsen? I have Ole Amundsen from 2 sources, Kay Flavell has Ole Amundsen and David Kirk has Magnus Halberg.

I would love any information

Shellie Byers (not verified)
18 April 2015

I would love any information on the Broderson family . My relatives owned a farm near the railroad . I found a couple articles in the Mauriceville papers .

Greetings. I 'm currently

kay flavell (not verified)
19 November 2012

Greetings. I 'm currently working on early Mauriceville history and wonder what is your source for identifying # 5 from left in the back row as Magnus Halberg? Other photos of this man here and in Larsen photos (his daughter married Lars Larsen) all identify him as Ole Amundsen. Back row # 9 (end) is usually written as Hakon or Haakon, the son of Niels Nielsen, below, both of whom emigrated on the England in 1872, along with most of the others. I am very interested to learn that this occasion is tied by your source to the silver wedding anniversary of Anna Maria and Janita and their husbands. Is this written on the back of the photo? In the second row, #2 from left is usually firmly identified as Mrs Eli Swenson. Who is Gunda Christianson? The second wife of Gunnerius/der Christiansen # 7 is firmly Johannes Jespersen, not his son Julius. Very interested in identification of Aulin girls in front row.

This photo was taken at the

David Kirk (not verified)
01 September 2012

This photo was taken at the Silver Wedding anniversary of Nils and Anna Maria Anderson and Henry and Janita Aulins on 6th April 1897. They are; Back row. Christopher Ericson, John Swenson, Nils Anderson, Henry Aulin, Magnus Halberg, Peter Larsen, John Wellington, Jens Jorgensen, Haron Nilson. Middle Row; Mrs Ericson, Mrs Jorgensen, Anna Maria Anderson, Janita Aulin, Gunda Christianson, Mrs Wellington, Jasper Jesperson, Nils Nilson. Front Row; Johannes August Anderson,Christina Elisabeth Anderson,Kristina Elizabeth Aulin,Augusta Olivia Aulin. Magnus Halberg is said to be Sir Murray Halbergs Grandparent.

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Story: Land ownership

First settlers’ reunion picnic at Mauriceville

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First settlers’ reunion picnic at Mauriceville

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