Thomas Potter Lister, his wife and three children pose in front of their thatch cottage at Camp Waihī, Taranaki, around 1874. The photograph was inscribed by Lister, who identified the children as 'Baby Arthur – 4 months, Mary Cecily – 2 years, Edgar Potter – 7 years'. The Waihī military camp was established in 1866 near what became the rural settlement of Normanby. Little is known about the Listers, but this cottage with its productive vegetable garden was probably similar to many soldiers' homes at that time. While Thomas leans on his hoe and positions himself in the centre of the garden, Mrs Lister is seated in her best clothes with baby Arthur on a high-backed chair brought from the house. This may reflect their different responsibilities for the maintenance of the vegetable garden.
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Reference: PHO2004-185
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