Thomas Cane regularly visited and painted Banks Peninsula, often staying with family at Akaroa. This view from Wainui looks south towards the towering Timutimu Head at the entrance to Akaroa Harbour.

Cane was an exceptional draughtsman, which was an important aspect of his architectural practice. He designed several buildings on Banks Peninsula including the Timeball Station at Lyttelton in 1875.

Cane was born in Brighton, England, and trained as an architect under Gilbert Scott. He arrived in Christchurch in 1874 and was Canterbury Provincial Architect from 1875 until the abolition of the provinces in 1876. He then went into private practice. Cane exhibited at the first Canterbury Society of Arts annual exhibition in 1881 and continued to exhibit with the society through to 1900.