Early New Zealand uniforms on display.

[BrentNunns]

The Wellington Arms & Militaria Fair this weekend hosted displays of some of the finest Arms & Militaria in the Country.
One such display was by Tim Ryan, a respected NZ Historian and author, and as seen in his displays, an expert modeller.
The following, is a picture of early Volunteers uniforms.

[BrentNunns]

Major Gustavus Ferdinand Von Tempsky 1828-68

He came from a German military family of Polish descent. After service in the Royal Prussian Army, he led a party of colonists to the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua, unhealthy climate decimated the colony, after a spell of leading Mosquito Indians againts the Spaniards, Von Tempsky joined the gold rush to California. Not making it in the gold fields he returned to Nicaragua after an epic two-year journey on horse back through Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica, taking up cutting and shipping mahogany.
He moved on to Scotland and then to Victoria, Australia for some gold prospecting. He tried unsuccessfully to join what became the Burke and Wills exploring expedition.
The Coromandel goldfield beckoned Von Tempsky, now with a family of three children, to New Zealand to work as a digger and local correspondent for the Daily Southern Cross. When the Maori wars started, he attempted to form a Militia company, but failed largely on account of his German Nationality, unpopular at the time, and so came to report to the Forest Rangers.
His time in the Forest Ranges was as remarkable as his past.
Major (inspector) G F Von Tempsky, New Zealand Armed Constabulary, killed at Te Ngutu-o-teManu on September 1868.

[BrentNunns]

[NZMark]

If I hadn't been loading fire-wood, I'd have been there. Nice one Brent. Great pictures, great displays. Any more??
CHEERS!
Mark.

[BrentNunns]

Sorry Mark, these were all I got before the battery died.