The Mode of Salutation

When a party of visitors arrives at a pa belonging to another tribe, it is usual to receive them with some show of ceremony; the salutation is commenced by a spear being thrown by one of the chiefs: the visitors then sit down, and after some time has been passed in silence, they exchange civilities by the performance of hongi or pressing noses; this frequently occupies a considerable time, and when it is concluded, feasting immediately commences. Page 85, The New Zealanders Illustrated, George French Angas, 1847

In the background of this historically significant watercolour we see the Shortland Street shop frontage of Isaac McEwan's Bakery. Glaswegian settlers, Isaac and Janet McEwan arrived in Auckland aboard the Duchess of Argyle in October 1842. McEwan's, was one of Auckland's first bakeries, opening its doors in the mid 1850s. The family business was later passed down to a daughter, Margaret McEwan and her husband, Phillip Otto.

A few years after its opening, McEwan's Bakery is mentioned in newspaper reports of the great central Auckland fire, July 1858. Heroic acts by numerous citizens are recalled and a link established with the artist Charles Heaphy:

'..... Mr Heaphy was hauling the hose up the high ladder against McEwan's store and afterwards removing the burning spirit casks from Keesing's public house.'

In 1860 with a metropolitan population of 13,915 Auckland retained the look of a frontier town with small wooden houses and shops lining narrow, muddy streets. It was not until the end of the decade that a modern city began to emerge.