Edwin Fox Book Launch
Picton's hidden treasure - the Edwin Fox - New book out Teak and Tide' by Nigel Costley
The Edwin Fox is the subject of a book, written by Nelson-based author Nigel Costley. Published by Nikau Press, the book is from a concept developed by late Marlborough author Don Grady. Costley is the third author to attempt to write about the Edwin Fox. Costley had two manuscripts to work with and truckloads of research when he began the endeavour in 2010.
Although it took four years for the book to be completed, Costley did not grow tired of the subject. The tale of the Edwin Fox was a rich human interest story, he said. It's had such a versatile career. There's just a lot of colour and drama in the story that I was able to pick up on.
Marlborough mayor Alistair Sowman formally launched the book on 9 December 2014.
Mr Sowman said the Edwin Fox was a real treasure for Marlborough. Not only did it bring early European settlers to the province, but it played a key role in building New Zealand's early trade in refrigerated meat. This is a timely reminder of the history we have in Picton and Marlborough as a whole. In addition when we first heard about the book, we realised that it's not just local or national - there's international interest in this subject.
The Edwin Fox was built in 1853 in Sulkeali on the Hooghly River in India and sold to Duncan Dunbar II in 1854. It is the world's ninth oldest wooden troop ship and was used to carry soldiers to the Crimea War (1853-1856), convicts to Australia and bring immigrants from Britain to New Zealand. In the 1880s steam arrived and Edwin Fox was fitted out as a floating freezer hulk and used in several New Zealand ports.
In 1897, it was towed to Picton and used as a freezer ship and then as a coal hulk. The ship was virtually derelict when the Edwin Fox Society took it on as a project. The New Zealand Historic Places Trust placed a category-one listing on the ship.
Costley hoped recording the history of the Edwin Fox would encourage further interest in the ship. There's so much to discover with her yet he said. I would say that the halcyon days of the Edwin Fox are yet to come.
This book is available from the Marlborough District Council and the following outlets:
| Marlborough | Nelson |
|---|---|
| Marlborough District Council 03 520 7400 | Nikau Press 03 548 7537, Fax 03 548 7537 nikau@ts.co.nz |
| Edwin Fox visitor centre, Picton 03 573 6868 | Page and Blackmore Booksellers 03 548 9992 |
| Bookworld, Blenheim 03 578 4909 | Paper Plus Nelson 03 546 8188 |
| Take Note, Picton 03 573 6107 | Paper Plus Richmond, ph 03 544 1606 |
| Paper Plus Blenheim 03 577 6363 | Paper Plus Motueka, ph 03 528 8886 |
| The Magazine Shop, Blenheim 03 578 4656 | Take Note Takaka, ph 03 525 9702 |
| Blenheim Library 03 520 7491 | |
| Marlborough Museum, Blenheim 03 578 1712 | |
| Wider Area | |
| Scorpio Books Christchurch, ph 03 379 2882 | Unity Books Auckland, ph 09 307 0731 |
| McLeods Booksellers Rotorua, ph 07 348 5388 | Unity Books Wellington, ph 04 499 4246 |
Alternatively, you can order online by completing the form. (Additional postage charges apply).
Payment
Direct credit to bank account: BNZ Blenheim 02-0600-0202861-02
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