LATE ENTRY LOT 40a ( to be offered immediately after lot 40)

Provenance: Private Collection, Auckland

Original Auckland Society of Arts label affixed verso reads: 'Kauri Park, The Entrance, Chas Blomfield' - In artist's hand

This important work by Charles Blomfield was completed in 1919 before the park was officially named Trounson Kauri Park in 1921.

After a trip to the Trounson Kauri Park, north of Dargaville, Charles Blomfield commented in the New Zealand Herald:

Auckland is singulary favoured in public benefactors. One valuable gift after another is poured into the lap of the community. Among them all, the latest gift stands out in prominence - The gift by Mr Trounson of Kauri Park, Kaipara.

I have been camping in this park for the last few weeks, sketching the kauris, and have no hesitation in stating - I have been through most of the kauri areas - that this bush contains the finest specimens of the kauri in New Zealand, and saying it is the equivalent to saying the finest specimens of kauri in the world. Whether in size, height, variety or environment, there is nothing equal to it anywhere.

Viewed from the neighbouring hill overlooking the park, the forest appears to be all kauri. There is nothing to be seen over the whole expanse of three or four hundred acres, but the tops of kauri trees, and the top is singulary level. No towering tree over - tops its fellows.

In 1890, when the timber industry threatened to virtually wipe out Northland kauri forests, 3.34 hectares was initially set aside by the Government. An early settler and saw miller James Trounson added a further 22 hectares to this initial gesture. Following the establishment of a Scenic Preservation Club, Mr Trounson offered to sell another 364 hectares of forest land to the Government for the value of the trees alone. It was officially opened as Trounson Kauri Park in 1921. This 450 hectares forest reserve located in western Northland is home to several threatened species, such as North Island brown kiwi, NZ pigeon, bats and kauri snails. It also incorporates a magnificent dense stand of kauri that has long been recognised as one of the best examples in the world. Charles Blomfield exhibited with the Society of Artists Auckland from 1873 to 1877 and was included in the New Zealand Industrial Exhibitions in 1885 and 1889, the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. In 1906 his work was included in the New Zealand International Exhibition held in Christchurch. After his death in 1927 works were also included in the Centennial Exhibition in 1940. Charles Blomfield work is represented in all New Zealand public galleries as well as the Alexander Turnbull and Hocken libraries.