Hocken Digital Collections

Hall-Jones family : Papers

Details

Reference NumberARC-0589CreatorHall-Jones familyDescriptionThe largest part of this collection relates to John Turnbull Thomson. It includes his manuscript notebooks, textbook collection and maps. Also included are his copies of Malay manuscripts, along with correspondence between John Hall-Jones and various Malaysian authorities concerning these. The collection also includes items relating to William Hall-Jones - his unpublished autobiography and illuminated addresses presented to him (one of them in an ornate casket). Also included are some Thomson family papers and miscellaneous correspondence and memorabilia relating to the career of John Turnbull Thomson.
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyJohn Hall-Jones graduated in medicine from the University of Otago in 1953. After studying in England, he returned to Invercargill where he was ear, nose and throat specialist until his retirement. He has written more than thirty books on the history of Southland and Fiordland, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Otago in 2007.
John Hall-Jones is the son of Frederick and Marjorie Hall-Jones, and grandson of Sir William Hall-Jones. His maternal grandmother, Janet Bush (nee Thomson), was the eldest of John Turnbull Thomson's nine daughters.
John Turnbull Thomson, born in Northumberland in 1821, studied mathematics and engineering in Scotland and England. From 1838 to 1841 he was a surveyor in Penang and Province Wellesley. He then spent 12 years as Government surveyor and engineer of Singapore. In 1853 he returned to England due to illness. He arrived in New Zealand in 1856 and was appointed Chief Surveyor of Otago. From 1876 to 1879 he was New Zealand's first Surveyor General. He retired in Invercargill, where he died in 1884.
During his time in Asia, Thomson acquired three Malay manuscripts, most notably the autobiography of his Malay teacher, Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir (Munshi Abdullah). Munshi Abdullah asked Thomson to translate this work, known as 'Hikayat Abdullah', into English. It was published as 'Translations from the Hakayit Abdulla (bin Abdulkadar), Munshi' in 1874. The original manuscript is acclaimed as a turning point in Malay literature and an important account of early Singapore.
William Hall-Jones was born in Kent and migrated to New Zealand in 1874. He established himself as a builder in Timaru. He served on the local council and road board, and was a Member of the House of Representatives from 1890 to 1908. He was a minister for the Liberal government, acting briefly as Prime Minister in 1906. On his retirement from parliament in 1908 he became New Zealand High Commissioner in London. After retiring from this post in 1912 he returned to New Zealand, serving on the Legislative Council until 1936.

Photograph

Plan of Singapore Town and Adjoining Districts by John Turnbull Thomson

Map of Prince of Wales Island and Province Wellesley [Penang] by John Turnbull Thomson

Plan of Singapore Town and Adjoining Districts by John Turnbull Thomson

Depicts Or Relates To

SubjectsSurveyorsSurveyingEngineeringMalaysia - HistorySingapore - History

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Hall-Jones family : Papers

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