Emily Harper arrived in Lyttelton with her family in 1856. Aged twenty-six, she was the eldest of fifteen children of Christchurch’s first Anglican Bishop. She painted this view of the fledgling town in the following year. Emily left Christchurch in 1860 after marrying ex-London barrister John Acland (younger son of a British politician and baronet), who had taken up sheep farming in the Canterbury high country.

(Out of Time, 23 September 2023 – 28 April 2024)

The Ashburton Guardian, 24 July 1905, reported the death of Mrs Emily Acland (née Harper) as follows:

Mrs Acland, widow of the late Hon. J. B. Acland, died in Christchuroh this morning at tho age of 75, after a short illness. Mrs Acland was the eldest daughter of the late Bishop Harper, first Primate of New Zealand, mother of Mr J. D. Acland, sister of Mr C. J. Harper, and aunt to Mr P. H. Cox, all of Ashburton. Owing to her quiet, gentle manner and wonderful capacity for doing good to all around her, Mrs Acland was greatly respected and loved by all who knew her, and the loss caused by her death will be especially felt in the village of Peel Forest. Three sons and five daughters survive her. The funeral will take place at Mount Peel on Thursday afternoon next, 27th inst.