River and landscape scenes

Possibly 1934 to possibly 1935

Page 2 of photograph album. Views of various Canterbury rivers and gorges. [Top left] Looking down on the Waimakariri River and gorge. Caption: Waimakariri Gorge. [Top centre] View over the Bealey River. A snow-capped mountain range is visible in the background. Caption: Bealey River. [Top right] Bridal Falls in the Otira Gorge. Caption: Bridal Galls Otira Gorge. [Bottom left] The upper section of the Rangitata River flowing across the Canterbury Plains. Caption: Rangitata River Upper. [Bottom right] The lower section of the Rangitata River flowing across the Canterbury Plains. Caption: Rangitata River Lower.

Contributors note: "The photographs in the album were taken by my father, Edward (Eddie) Walsh. He was one of ten children. His father, George Senior, died due to workplace poisoning when Eddie was 16, and to compensate the family for their loss, my father was offered a position at George's place of work, Bunting and Co. The family was very religious, and during World War II, was a conscientious objector. He was imprisoned at the detention camp at Balmoral, in the Hurunui. As he was very mechanically minded, my father worked on the forestry blocks fixing the trucks, which meant he had some freedom from the detention camp. At the time of his imprisonment, he was married, with a son. My mother had relocated to the area and was helping a family with six children under five – a set of triplets, twins and a singleton. Before moving to the Hurunui, she and her son lived with her mother-in-law in Vogel Street. Having a husband as a conscientious object was very difficult for her when meeting other women whose husbands were fighting in the war."

Creator: Eddie Walsh

Contributor: Walsh Family

Source: Entry in the 2025 Christchurch City Libraries Photo Hunt.

Reference ID: CCL-PH25-2003

Uploaded by: CCL Photo Hunt

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