“As High as The Hills – The Centennial History of Picton” by Henry D Kelly.

“As High as the Hills” – this was the value placed upon the site of the future Picton by the paramount Maori chief Ropoama, when in 1850 he sold the land to the NZ Company.

But the centennial history of Picton begins long before with Maori legend and the first Maori inhabitants, with Captai Cook and the early whalers and explorers in the Marlborough Sounds.

There have been many names and many plans for Picton. The Maori name was Waitohi but eventually the town was named in honour of Sir Thomas Picton. In 1858 Picton was proclaimed the first capital of Marlborough. The people who made Picton are the heroes of this history. This book is a memorial to those many New Zealanders who have helped shape and shepherd the development of Picton”.

Hard covered, 162 page book with dust jacket. It is a 1976 first edition publsihed by Cape Catley Ltd. There are two small rips at the bottom of the dust jacket. The book is in excellent condition.