View of group outside mission house, Kerepunu, Papua New Guinea, ca. 1890

"Mission House, Kerupunu. Rev. A Pearse, Mrs. Lawes, Mrs. Pearse". Group on verandah of mission house.; Albert Pearse served in Papua New Guinea from 1887 to 1907, after having served in the Soutrh Seas from 1870. --- Formerly the first resident missionary on the South Sea island of Niue, Lawes transferred to Papua New Guinea in 1874 until his retirement in 1906. Lawes was a pioneer missionary photographer, and the first permanent non-indigenous resident of Papua New Guinea. He created the first photographic images of the islands and its peoples as well as images of missionary work, which were distributed commercially through Henry King of Sydney. Lawes' knowledge of, and role in, Papuan life was also of paramount importance to other photographers, particularly those of colonial government and expeditionary parties, such as the Australia-based professional photographer J. W. Lindt, who acknowledged the decisive role that Lawes played in facilitating his visit to Papua New Guinea and the photographic work he was able to carry out