Ranfurly Medal
A commemmorative medal presented to Malcolm Ross by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfurly.
Realised: $5,900 June 2009
Messrs Spink & Son, London 1905. 50 x 38mm. Silver token engraved on obverse thus: 'Ruatoki, March 16, 1904. [Arms] Ranfurly, Governor, 1897 to 1904.' Engraved in Maori on reverse thus: 'Malcolm Ross. Hei whakamaharatanga ki te Hui nui. Na tetahi hoa pono o te Iwi Maori.' ['We have had a good meeting. Thank you from your friends, to a disciple of all things Maori.'] According to a letter sent by W P Reeves to Lord Ranfurly on 27 January 1905, thirteen similar medals were made, and presented to the following people: Hon James Carroll, Captain Gilbert Mair NZC, Dr Pomare, Te Maikowha, Tupaea, Te Amo, Tutakangahau, Te Tuhi Pihopa, Paora Kingi, Te Hurinui Apanui, Tana Rakuvaku [Rakuraku?], Te Whenuanui, and Numia Kereru. Curiously, Ross does not appear on this list, although a letter sent by him to Lord Ranfurly on 22 June 1905 makes mention of the tokens. Ross accompanied Lord Ranfurly on a number of diplomatic missions, documenting the events in writing and photographs. His account of the 1904 visit to Te Urewera, 'Through Tuhoe Land: Lord Ranfurly's Farewell to the Maori People', was published in Christchurch later that year.