(Dwelling) Register Item Number: 364 Building Type: Residential Commercial Industrial Recreation Institutional Agriculture Other Location: 14 Wikitoria Road, Putiki, Whanganui Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga List Number: Significance: Archaeological Architectural Historic Scientific Technological Cultural Physical Description: This two storied timber framed house has a T form and with steeply pitched gabled roofs, characteristic of the Carpenter Gothic style. Unusually there are simple finials and no decorative bargeboards. The house has a dormer on the south and north sides of the main roof, and, probable, later additions have introduced a lean-to roofed east back entry and a shallow pitched hipped roofed front entry in the north internal corner. A verandah wraps around the west and north elevations of the house which has fretwork brackets and simple posts. The west gable wall has a facetted bay window on the ground floor and a single window with hood above it. The south wall has several windows, each with a hood over. Other known names: Current Use: House Former Uses: House Heritage Status: District Plan Class: Class A Architectural Style: Carpenter Gothic Date of Construction: 1867-68 Thematic Context Early Settlement Residential Industry Agricultural Commerce Transport Civic/Admin Health Education Religion Recreation Community Memorials Military
Materials: painted timber shiplap and rusticated weatherboards, cornerboards and joinery, corrugated steel roofing, brick chimney Registered owner: Legal Description: LOT 2 DP 14518 History: A glimpse into the complex history of, is outlined in the conference paper European Fruit: A Treaty Signatory s House, by Mark Southcombe and Wendy Pettigrew. This paper was presented at the 22 nd Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia & New Zealand, in 2005. 1 Other sources used, or where the Southcombe & Pettigrew source has been revisited for this study, are referenced in the footnotes. was built in 1867-68 for Hori Kerei Paipai, and it remained in the ownership of this family until 1934. It is noted as one of the oldest houses in Putiki - and its name ( ) was identified in the obituary of his daughter, Harete (Charlotte) Forsythe, who died in 1922. 2 Following the land purchase at Whanganui in 1848, the colonial government was keen to see an improvement in the living conditions for Maori at Putiki. In July 1849, Donald McLean, the Inspector of Police, wrote to the Colonial Secretary advising that he had employed a surveyor, Mr (Robert) Park, to lay out a Native Village at Putiki. He stated that with one or two exceptions, the Putiki people had willingly acceded to the breaking down of large portions of their fortified pa to make way for wide healthy streets, instead of the muddy contracted cross paths they hitherto used. McLean then described one new house built of native materials by George King (Hori Kingi Te Anaua), the chief of Putiki, and advised that four similar houses were in the course of construction on the new town allotments. He added that: It is quite pleasing to witness the burning down by some of the Natives of some of their filthy old huts which generated so much disease, and to witness the preparations making to replace those huts by comfortable buildings constructed in the style of neat verandah cottages. 3 1 Mark Southcombe & Wendy Pettigrew, European Fruit: A Treaty Signatory s House, in Andrew Leach & Gill Matthewson (eds.), Celebration: XXII Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia & New Zealand, Napier, New Zealand, 24-27 September 2005. http://www.sahanz.net/conferences/index.html 2 Southcombe & Pettigrew: citing Harete s obituary in the Wanganui Chronicle, 27 May 1922. 3 NZ Spectator & Cook s Strait Guardian, 11 August 1849, p. 4
By 1850, there were 700 Europeans living in Whanganui, although 300 of them were soldiers. Subsequent years saw considerable turmoil in the region due to the King movement and the Pai Marire (Hauhau) movement. The Putiki people cast their lot with Whanganui s European population, with notable battles against their up-river relatives occurring in 1864 (the Battle of Moutoa) and 1865 (the battle at Ohoutahi). Hori Kerei Paipai was born in 1926 and it is thought that he probably took his baptismal name (George Grey translates to Hori Kerei) after George Grey, who was then in his first term as Governor of New Zealand, and who attended a hui involving all the local chiefs at Wanganui in 1946. His father had selected the baptismal name of Kawana Pitiroi ( Governor Fitzroy ) Paipai, indicating that he was probably baptised in 1843 in Rev. Richard Taylor s first year at Whanganui, and around the time Governor Fitzroy took office. In April 1865, Hori Kerei accompanied Sir George Grey (now knighted and in his second Governorship) to Hawkes Bay on the H.M.S.S. Esk, to attend a meeting of Maori chiefs at the Napier Council Chambers. Not many chiefs were present and the meeting lasted only about 30 minutes, but they were very impressed by: Hori Kerei, a young chief from Wanganui, (who) accompanied His Excellency, and gave the few natives who were in town a full account of the defeat of the Hau hau natives at Wanganui, to which they listened with great attention. Hori Kerei distinguished himself upon the occasion referred to. 4 Hori Kerei was appointed Native Orderly to Sir George Grey in April 1865, with a payment of 7s per diem. His services in due course were dispensed with on 4 February 1867, by which time his pay had increased to 7s 6d per diem. 5 This was twelve months before Sir George Grey ceased to be Governor. 6 4 Hawkes Bay Herald, 11 April 1865, reprinted in the NZ Spectator & Cook s Strait Guardian, 19 April 1865, p. 2. Note that Hori Kerei is probably also referred to in this article as Major Grey, aide-de-camp to Sir George Grey. 5 Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives (AJHR), 1865 D-No. 14, p. 1; and 1868 D-No. 8, p. 3 6 Keith Sinclair, George Grey, 1812-1898 in The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol. 1, 1769-1869 (Wellington, 1990), p. 161
In January and July 1867, Hori Kerei appeared in the Native Land Court to claim Ngongohau and other sections in the Putiki Native Reserve. However, his claim was adjourned twice for want of a better survey. 7 is believed to have been built in 1867 after Hori Kerei returned from working for Sir George Grey. Certainly Mr and Mrs Hori Grey and Miss C. Grey arrived at Whanganui from Wellington, aboard the SS Wanganui, on 30 th November 1867 meanwhile on the same day Governor Grey left Wellington aboard the SS Sturt for his private residence on Kawau Island. 8 The house was duly built on the section then known as Ngongohau No. 1, at Putikiwharanui. Possibly the house is the subject of an advertisement published in the Wanganui Herald in December 1867 that reads: To Carpenters. Tenders will be received by the undersigned, up to Saturday, the 21 st inst., for the erection of a cottage at Putiki. For further particulars, apply to Edwin Woon, Licenced Interpreter, December 7, 1867. 9 Certainly, the house is the one referred to soon afterwards, in an advertisement in the Wanganui Chronicle that ran daily over two months: To be Let. For one or seven years. That commodious newly-erected two story Dwelling-house, situate (sic) at Putiki, the property of Hori Kerei, together with one acre of ground securely fenced. The house contains eight large rooms, lined with wood and papered throughout. There are four fire-places (two upstairs), fitted with grates, &c,; and having every other convenience, it is a most desirable family residence. The situation is healthy, and within easy distance of town. For terms, apply to G.W. Woon, Native Lands Agent, March 16, 1868. 10 Southcombe & Pettigrew state that was one of three houses built at Putiki at around the same time, and these houses appear in an early photograph along with the newly completed Putiki mission house, which in turn was completed by 7 Southcombe & Pettigrew, citing: Aotea Maori Land Court Minute Books: Wh1, 24 January 1867, pp. 143-147 and Wh1A, 23 July 1867, pp. 32-41 8 Wanganui Herald, 30 November 1867, p. 2 (cols 1-2) 9 eg. Wanganui Herald, 7 December 1867, p. 3 10 eg. Wanganui Herald, 18 April 1868, p. 3. However, the advert continued to be run until at least the end of May 1968.
December 1870. 11 One of these other houses was Matapihi, which was built for Paetahi Metekingi MP, in 1868, and the other for Hakaraia Korako, brother-inlaw of Major Kemp. Both of these houses remain, but their upper floors have been removed and they have been substantially remodelled. Another new house traced during this study (perhaps one of the aforementioned other two houses) was built shortly after will have been completed. Tenders were called to build it at Putiki in April 1868, with the contact being Aperaniko (probably a local native constable of that name, who was wounded at Moutoa), care of Edwin Woon. 12 The completed consisted of four main rooms on each floor, linked by a central hallway on the lower floor and a central lobby space upstairs. These were supplemented by lean-tos over the front entry and stair, over the washhouse and rear entry, and by a verandah to the north of the lounge. 13 The house s original piles were large diameter totara tree trunks, which supported flat 6 x4 bearers, 6 x2 joists and wide tongue & groove kauri floors. The walls consist of mortise, tenon and wedge-jointed 6 x4 kauri framing through 6 x4 bearers. These are lined by exterior overlapping weatherboards. Some of the original narrow near-flush corner facing-boards are still evident. Probably the kauri timber in the house derived from one of six shipments of kauri imported into Wanganui between 16 September and 6 November 1867. This involved 295,000 board-feet of kauri timber, plus sashes and doors, imported from Auckland, the Kaipara and Mercury Bay. 14 One of these shipments, involving 40,000 feet of kauri from the Excelsior, was auctioned in house-lots on 30 October 1867, and the entire cargo was sold. 15 Oral history records that the timber was then punted across the Whanganui River, which at the timber was the only way to transport such goods across from the town s wharves. 16 11 The quoted reference is ATL 236 1/1. However, this appears to refer to the Alexander Turnbull Library photo, ref: 1/1-000236\G, which was taken by William James Harding and attributed to the 1860s. This shows what appears to be side-on, at the centre-left of the photo. 12 eg. Wanganui Herald, 9 April 1868, p. 3 13 Southcombe & Pettigrew 14 Southcombe & Pettigrew, citing imports of kauri reported in the Wanganui Herald between those dates. 15 Wanganui Herald, 28 October 1867, p. 3, 30 October 1867, p. 2. See also 30 September 1867, p. 3(2) re Thane of Fife delivery 16 Southcombe & Pettigrew
It is not clear why the newly built house was immediately placed up for lease, and it is possible that Hone Kerei had it built with his daughter in mind. She was married one year later. At Christ Church, on 17 th April 1869, Hone Kerei s seventeen-year-old daughter, Harete (Charlotte Grey) married an Irish soldier, Colour-Sergeant William Forsythe, of the 18 th Royal Irish Regiment who would have been aged about thirty-one then, only twelve years younger than his father-in-law 17. The two companies of the 18 th Royal Irish Regiment (variously based in Napier, Taranaki and Whanganui) became the last Imperial regiment to leave New Zealand. The men in the Whanganui company were much attached to the ladies resident (in Wanganui), and when the order came for them to leave, a few suddenly deserted. The Whanganui company left by the St. Kilda on 21 January 1870 and were directly transhipped to H.M.S, Virago at Wellington - which immediately sailed for Sydney, which was to be their new headquarters. 18 Charlotte duly followed and the couple lived first in Sydney and then in Britain (probably Ireland where the regiment was based) for eight years before returning to New Zealand, but not yet to Putiki, in 1878. Back in Putiki, things were not going too well. Hori Kerei s wife, Ripeka Utanga, died in March 1871. 19 However, on 12 December 1871, Hori Kerei and his father Kawena Paipai returned to the Maori Land Court to claim Ngongohau No. 1 and legalise their ownership of the land and house. Testifying in their favour was local surveyor, Henry Claylands Field, who stated that the section included an enclosure within which Hori Kerei s house stands and is fenced in. The claim was duly granted and in due course, on 11 March 1874, a certificate of title was issued in favour of Kawana Paipai. 20 In January 1872, Hori Kerei was arrested and briefly imprisoned for debt, however, when his father asked that he be released, he was told that this could only be done if the 16 he owed was paid. The father then paid the son s debt, 17 Southcombe & Pettigrew; Wanganui Herald, 17 April 1869, p. 2 &19 April 1869, p. 2 18 Wanganui Herald, 21 January 1870, p. 2 (x2); Evening Post, 22 January 1870, p. 2 (2 & 5-6) 19 Southcombe & Pettigrew: citing Anglican Maori Pastorate Burial Records: burial 21 March 1871 at Pihaea Sandhill Cemetery 20 Southcombe & Pettigrew: citing Aotea Maori Land Court Minute Book Wh1D, pp. 492-494; Certificate of Title No. 3/113 issued 11 March 1874.
but with money advanced to him for the purpose by the Defence Minister which in turn was an advance on a land sale. This action by the Defence Minister drew the public criticism of the editor of the Wanganui Herald. 21 In December 1882, Hori Kerei Paipai was taken to court in a civil case by bank manager W.F. Russell over 124 for a dishonoured promissory note. In July 1888, Russell had him declared bankrupt. He unsuccessfully applied for discharge in July 1899, and was told to provide a statement on his leasehold properties. Then in September 1899, discharge was finally granted provided he agreed to pay 10s in the pound on all debts. As a result, he was finally discharged from bankruptcy in March 1900. 22 In March 1875, both Kawana Paipai and Hori Kerei, along with Major Kemp and others, were presented medals on behalf of the NZ Government for their work in the NZ Wars, at a reception at the Commercial Hotel, Wanganui. Kawana Paipai was acknowledged for having always distinguished himself in battle and because his exertions had always been in the cause of law and order. Hori Kerei was acknowledged as having particularly distinguished himself in the Cavalry. 23 In January 1877, Kawana Paipai appears to have been living at Potakataka on the Whanganui River. A party of tourists, who stayed there at that time, described it as Kawana Paipai s place. 24 However, by the time he died in Putiki on 11 June 1884, it is believed that he lived at with his son which perhaps fortunately given Hori Kerei s financial situation, was in the name of the father and not the son. Kawana Paipai Tawhitorangi is thought to be the 1840 Whanganui Treaty of Waitangi signatory identified as Tawhito, however, Southcombe & Pettigrew note that this could in fact have been his father, who was also named Tawhitorangi. 25 He is also thought to have been the signatory who signed as 21 Wanganui Herald, 25 January 1872, p. 2 22 Wanganui Chronicle, 14 December 1882, p. 3, 6 March 1900, p. 2; Wanganui Herald, 30 July 1888, p. 3, 31 July 1888, p. 3, 6 July 1899, p. 2, 6 September 1899, p. 2 23 Wanganui Herald, 27 March 1875, p. 2 24 Wanganui Chronicle, 25 January 1877, p. 2 25 Southcombe & Pettigrew state that Apirana Ngata considered that the Tawhito signature belonged to Kawana Paipai, as noted in Miria Simpson s book Nga Tohu o Te Tiriti: Making a Mark (National Library of NZ, 1990). However, they also note that it could have been his father, also named Tawhitorangi, who died in
Pai a few days later when Edward Jerningham Wakefield arrived to get signatures for the since discredited Deed of Sale of Whanganui. 26 The Wanganui Herald of 12 June 1884, (p. 2), under the heading The late Kawana Paipai, reported that: We have the mournful duty of chronicling the decease of the old Wanganui chief Kawana Paipai, who departed this life at Putiki on the morning of Wednesday, the 11 th of June, 1884. Kawana Paipai, also known as Tawhitorangi, was the oldest chief of this district, and must have been close on 100 years of age at his decease. He was noted in Maoridom, as a warrior chief of great bravery, and was reckoned as a Toa Tana, a brave, by his tribe. His deeds of prowess and daring were many, and like an ancient hero he was ever ready to dash to the front, and mingle in the work of death, dealing blows, and struggling for the mastery. He had taken part in many a Maori battle, and in accordance with Maori custom, joined the cannibal feast of the slain. During the New Zealand war, Kawana took an active part as a leader of the loyal Keepapas (Maori irregulars) in both East and West Coast campaigns, and greatly distinguished himself at the battle of Hohoutahi, near Jerusalem, Upper Wanganui, in 1865, and capturing the opposing Wanganui chiefs Pehi, Topia, Tahana, and their following, whereby a death blow was dealt to the up-river enemy. Kawana was related to the principal chiefs of Wanganui, including Hori and Mete Kingi, and was much esteemed for his hospitality to strangers. He took an active part in all political movements amongst the Maoris, and with Mete attended all the large meetings, and took an active and leading part therein. He accompanied Hori Kingi, Te Mawae, Mete, and other Wanganui chiefs to the Kohimarama Conference in 1861, where the Treaty of Waitangi was confirmed by Sir Thos. Gore Brown, then the Governor, to the satisfaction of the loyal natives of New Zealand, and they considered it as the bulwark of their freedom, whereby their rights were protected. Kawana was also chosen with others to accompany Major Kemp in 1869 to Auckland to be presented to the Duke of Edinburgh. 1847. It is also noteworthy that the claim wasn t made in Kawana Paipai s obituary (included in this report), where later references to the Treaty were mentioned. 26 Southcombe & Pettigrew cite Te Anaua, in evidence to Commissioner Spain, hearing held 12-15 April 1843 into the New Zealand Company sale, in turn cited in Bruce Stirling, Whanganui Maori and the Crown 1849-1865, Draft unpublished report for the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, 2003
His last trip was to the Bay of Islands, in 1882, whither he went with Mete, at the invitation of the Ngapuhis, to attend another meeting of the northern tribes, whereat the said Treaty was again confirmed. Along with Mete, he invited the Ngapuhis to visit at Wanganui, hence the arrival the other day of our distinguished Maori visitors from the Bay of Islands, Hokianga, and other northern settlements. Kawana Paipai was well-known to the Europeans of Wanganui, and his familiar countenance will be remembered by his white friends, for whom he always had a kind word and a genial smile. He was one of the old type of Maori chief, with marked features densely tattooed. He always draped in European clothes, and wore a watch and chain and numerous charms in the shape of shark s teeth and greenstone ornaments. He had a habit of pulling out his watch and comparing the time with those he met; and in the day of battle in recent times, Kawana would regulate the moment of attack by his watch instead of awaiting the day dawn, as in times of yore. With the exception of Mamaku, he is the last of the old Wanganui chiefs, and his death will be much felt by all the natives of this and adjacent districts; and great will be the lamentations during the next few months over Tawhitorangi, the renowned warrior chief of Putikiwharanui. Of late years Kawana was known by the name of Puke tohe ki te riri of great stomach for the fight owing to his prowess and value in battle. To use a Maori expression Kua whai atu ia i te nuinga he has gone over to the great majority, to the Spirit Land wherever that might be the Maoris having a firm belief in an hereafter, whither their relatives and friends have gone to the immortal gods. Kawana was learned in Maori traditions and history, and delighted in quoting the old sayings and doings of his ancestors. He used to compare the account given in Genesis of the creation of the world and subsequent submersion thereof in the days of the flood with the old Maori tradition about the separation of Rangi and Papa, the earth and sky, etc., and said that to his mind the accounts were similar; and that he was convinced of the truth of the Bible record. With all Wanganui European and native we join in lamenting the departure of our old and tried friend, and would here say Requiescat en pace Charlotte and William Forsythe had returned to New Zealand in 1878, and
William then spent a number of years working in the prison service. An Assistant-Warder Forsythe was at Auckland Prison in the 1880s and Warder Forsythe was at Napier Prison in the 1890s. 27 It was not until 1902 that they finally moved back to live at. They were already living back at Putiki when their eldest son Lieutenant William George Forsythe, aged 26, and formerly of Napier, was killed in action on 24 February 1902 in the Bothasberg Engagement at Langvewaehte, near Klip River, South Africa. 28 Alterations to the house attributed to the Forsythes arrival include the lounge being doubled in size to create the long room (which was more suited to entertaining). The northeast verandah was also extended around the lounge extension and across the main front entrance. It is thought that possibly the present front door and sidelights, and perhaps also the front bay window, date to this time. Additions at the rear of the house also provided a washhouse, a copper, a bath and adjacent toilet, along with a covered linkway. 29 The Wanganui Chronicle of 16 September 1914 (p. 4) records that The latest addition to the Telephone Exchange is No. 1080, Mrs W. Forsythe s residence, Victoria Street, Putiki. On the 27 th January 1918, the couple s youngest son, Alexander Joshua (Alick), aged 28, died at their Victoria Street home, Putiki. 30 That possibly left just the three elderly people living at the home. Hori Kerei died on 1 November 1920, aged 94. The Observer of 20 th November 1920 (p. 6) published an obituary on him. The article stated that: The fine old gentleman was the son of Kawana Paipai, a great chief of Putiki. Hori was an ensign on the staff of Sir George Grey as an aid-de-camp. He joined the Kupapas under Te Keepa, and served on the East Coast, receiving the New Zealand medal. Mrs Forsythe, wife of a colour-sergeant of the 18 th Royal Irish, is a daughter. A grandson was a lieutenant with the New Zealand Forces in South Africa, and was killed in action there. The late Hori Kerei, who belonged to H.M.N.Z. Veterans Association, was regarded with veneration as a 27 AJHR 1886, H-4, pp. 10,12, & 1893, H-27, p. 13 28 Wanganui Chronicle, 3 March 1902, p. 2 (x2); Also AJHR, 1903, H-6, p. 4, which records Charlotte applying for a pension, gratuity or allowance as a result of his death. 29 Southcombe & Pettigrew 30 Wanganui Chronicle, 30 January 1918, p. 4, 27 January 1919, p. 4
typical old-time Maori gentleman, with exquisite manners, and whose word was his bond. 31 On 25 May 1922, Charlotte Forsythe became the next to die. The Hawera & Normanby Star of 30 th May 1922 (p. 4) stated that: The death is reported from Wanganui of Mrs W. Forsythe ( Harete ), daughter of the late Hori Kerei Paipa (Hori Gray [sic]), and granddaughter of a prominent friendly chief, Kawana Paipai. She was married to Sergeant W. Forsythe, of the (18 th ) Royal Irish, then located in the Wanganui district, and on the regiment being recalled Mrs Forsythe accompanied her husband to Britain, where she lived for eight years. Returning to New Zealand, Mr and Mrs Forsythe and the late Mrs Gregor McGregor, who was also so well and favourably known in the Wanganui and the surrounding district, were associated together in various good works. The deceased lady was always actively interested in movements making for the improvement of her people and for the establishment of the best relations between pakehas and Maoris. She was also an active worker for the Lady Liverpool League (the Putiki Maori women s branch), and did very good work in raising funds for patriotic purposes during the war. 32 Only two months later, in late July 1922, William Forsythe died in Auckland aged 84. He had served in the 18 th Royal Irish Regiment for 21 years, and was Band- Sergeant and Drum Major. He had retired with a good conduct medal and the NZ War Medal. 33 The Regiment, consisting of 1014 officers and men, had arrived at Auckland aboard the Elizabeth Ann Bright on 4 th July 1863. He had maintained a close interest in matters relating to his old regiment over the years, including attended the annual reunions of its members which were held in Auckland. At the 50 th anniversary of the Regiment s arrival, Forsythe, as coloursergeant, appears to have been the most senior member of the 16 noncommissioned officers and men who attended. All were over 70 years old, and Forsythe still controlled the parade. Only 29 former members were then known to have still been alive around New Zealand. They then visited the Veteran s Home and the graves of officers and men of their regiment at Symonds Street 31 Note that a very good letter written by him appeared in the Wanganui Herald of 11 June 1906, p. 2, entitled Foodless and Thirsty Maoris, in response to someone else s nasty anti-maori letter. 32 A more extensive obituary was published in the Wanganui Chronicle of 27 May 1922, however, that was not sighted during this study. The Wanganui Herald will also have published an obituary. 33 Wanganui Herald, 13 March 1902, p. 2 The family s military heritage was explained in their son s obituary
Cemetery. 34 Only ten of the old veterans made the 56 th anniversary in 1919, including old soldiers from Whanganui and Rotorua. By then they knew of 32 survivors still living in New Zealand, and one in Australia. Soldier grandsons now participated, and several women who had shared the hardships were also present. Colour- Sergeant W. Forsythe, although 80 years of age, and absent from last year s gathering, was once more the energetic and capable organiser of the parade, and was warmly greeted by all his old friends. 35 The 59 th anniversary rolled around in 1922, and 11 of the 26 known survivors assembled as they traditionally did, at the Queen Victoria monument in Albert Park. Colour-Sergeant Forsythe, of Wanganui, was in charge of the arrangements, and veterans attended from various parts of the North Island. However, this was to be his last reunion, as he died while still in Auckland. As his burial was not traced at Putiki Cemetery, he is presumably with his old mates at Symonds Street Cemetery in Auckland. 36 The house remained in the ownership of William and Charlotte Forsythe s two married daughters until 1943, however, it was leased out during that time. Since then it has been owned by European families. In 1986, the house was purchased by Terry and Rosalind Refroy-Butler. By that time, the verandah alongside the front door had been closed in to form a porch, the (external) kitchen chimney had been entirely removed and the internal chimney had been lowered to just above roof level. Between 1986 and 1990, the Refroy-Butler family undertook a major reconstruction on the house, which had been in extremely poor condition. Two generations of lean-to additions were demolished from near the back door and replaced by a new bathroom, toilet and laundry. A new entrance was created within the same addition reflecting the house s original orientation 34 Auckland Herald reprinted in the Marlborough Express, 10 July 1913, p. 6 35 Wanganui Chronicle, 10 July 1919, p. 8 36 Evening Post, 8 July 1922, p. 6; Hawera & Normanby Star, 5 August 1922, p. 6, & 30 August 1922, p. 4. There is also a good interview with him relating to some 18 th Regiment buttons and a badge found with some bones in 1914. These appear in the Wanganui Chronicle of 17 September 1914, p. 4(7) & 19 September 1914, p. 4(7)
toward the river and not the road. Other work included repiling, rebuilding the internal chimney, reroofing, new verandahs and decks, a new kitchen and bay window (built to match the front bay window) where the original demolished chimney once stood, part of the wall between the kitchen and dining room was removed to link the two rooms and a new window was added to the northeast wall of the long room, and gib linings were also installed. The designer was architect Mark Southcombe, co-author of the conference paper European Fruit. The modernisation addressed the house s functional deficiencies, upgrading it to operate as a contemporary family home, while minimizing the required changes and the impact on the house s integrity. The garden was also developed extensively at this time, restoring and extending the landscape setting to compliment the house s stature. A group of three original karaka trees remain in the garden (along with the traditional European fruit trees). Southcombe & Pettigrew record that the original roof was probably sheet corrugated iron fixed to flat wide sarking with handmade nails. This indicated that the roof was perhaps originally shingled - or intended to be. However, the presence of handmade nails fixing the roofing iron indicates that the iron was either original or a very early replacement. The ceilings are wide rimu boards with shaped covered battens to the main spaces, and colonial bead edge profile tongue & groove to the secondary spaces. Upper level ceilings have steep skillion attic sides, originally sarked and wallpapered down to around 900mm from floor level. The original fireplaces and surrounds are still evident in the lower rooms and upper main bedroom, which has a cast iron grate. Southcombe & Pettigrew believe that the house remains much as originally built a two-floor T shaped plan, with a 2:1 proportion steep pitched roof and large dormer windows. The house design is influenced by the Gothic revival style that informed the designs of other early Whanganui houses built around the same time, including Netherdale at Matarawa (1867 additions), the Field house at Aramoho (1868) and the St. Paul s Presbyterian manse in Whanganui (built 1868, demolished 1913) 37. Another of very similar design to was the Christ Church vicarage (built 1860s, burnt down 1912), designed by Whanganui 37 Delphine Turney, Our Heritage Forever: The First 150 Years of St. Paul s Presbyterian Church, Wanganui (Wanganui, 2003), p. 19
architect G.F. Allen 38 Noticeably the two church houses and have the same very low brick chimneys, the two church houses, however, then had multiple tall chimney pots protruding from theirs in the early photos that have been sighted for this study. 39 Southcombe & Pettigrew state that while the house would not be readily identified as Maori architecture, it reflects the European influence on Maori architecture and their way of life in the Putiki area and beyond. However, the strong Maori heritage of this house, associated with its original owners, is undisputable. Furthermore, the long association the house had with Colour- Sergeant William Forsythe of the 18 th Irish Royals, who was clearly a significant person in his own right, brings a unique, inter-ethnic pre-european and colonial military heritage to this house. Architect/Designer: Unknown 1990 renovations Mark Southcombe History of changes: Early 1900s: Lounge doubled in size, verandah altered and other modernisation. Significant restoration and renovation between 1986 and especially 1990. Date Period: 1860s Rarity / Special Features: The house is rare in its having been built as part of a Native Village to upgrade the housing standards of local Maori. Integrity: The house is substantially intact from the time of the modifications carried out by Paipai s daughter and son-in-law. Representativeness: The design of the building is typical of the Carpenter Gothic style. Context/Group Value: The house is associated with the Putiki Marae nearby and is one of three houses still extant houses built at the same time, although the other two have been modified considerably. 38 J.B. Bennett, Christ Church, Wanganui: The Continuing Story (Wanganui, 1976), opp. p. 81; Wanganui Chronicle, 27 August 1912, p. 8, Tudor House fire. The G.F. Allen-designed Oneida at Fordell (1870) and St. Stephen s Church at Marton (1871), have similar characteristics. 39 Note that the house believed by the writer to be in the aforementioned ATL photo 1/1-000236\G appears to also have something more significant than the present chimney protruding from its roof.
Diversity (Form and Features): The house currently represents two periods of architecture, that of the mid 1860s when Carpenter Gothic was a common style and that of the early 1900s when the Italianate styled villa styled architecture became common. Fragility / Vulnerability: As a timber building, it is potentially vulnerable to fire. Summary of Significance: Archaeological Qualities The section on which the house stands it an archaeological site as defined by the HPA 1993, particularly as it was subdivided and built on in 1867. Architectural Qualities The style is Carpenter Gothic, or a sub category known as Rustic Gothic, which was a residential style, largely derived from the cottage orné of the mid nineteenth century. Australasian examples abounded in the latter part of the nineteenth century influenced by pattern books such as those of Englishman, J C Loudon s Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture, and American, Calvert Vaux s Villas and Cottages. Although Rustic Gothic houses typically had a profusion of Gothic detailing the main characteristics in this house are a steeply pitched roof, asymmetrical plan, simple finials and no decorative barge boards. Later additions have modified simplicity of the plan but have introduced a wrap around verandah with decorative fretwork also consistent with style bay windows and dormers on the roof. The contemporary description of the house is of interest showing what of the design was considered significant: The house contains eight large rooms, lined with wood and papered throughout. There are four fire-places (two upstairs), fitted with grates, &; and having every other convenience, it is a most desirable family residence. The house is significant for having been built almost all in kauri transported from Auckland. Typically the house was built on totara piles.
Historic Qualities The house is significant having been built for Hori Kerei Paipai, who was appointed a Native Orderly by Sir George Grey and who was presented medals for his efforts in the NZ Wars in 1875. His father, Kawana Paipai Tawhitorangi (or possibly his grandfather who had the same name) was a Wanganui chief, who was living in the house in 1877 was believed to have been a signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi. He was considered to be a significant and brave warrior and died in the house aged 94 in 1920. Paipai s daughter who returned from living overseas in 1902 to live in the house. Her husband Colour-Sergeant William Forsythe of the 18th Irish Royals, a soldier recognised for his contributions in the New Zealand Wars. The house has significance having been one of three built at Putiki on land subdivided as part of a native village. This reflects an interest in the welfare of local Maori by the Wanganui authorities. Cultural Qualities The house has obvious cultural qualities in its association with a signatory to the Treaty of Waitangi, the last of the Warrior Chiefs of Wanganui, its construction for and ownership by his well-regarded son (or grandson) and its retention in the same family for 45 years. Although designed and built in a European style of architecture, its ownership by Paipai s family maintained a strong Maori heritage. Reference Source: Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives (AJHR) details as stated in the footnotes. Bennett, J.B., Christ Church, Wanganui: The Continuing Story (Wanganui, 1976). New Zealand Genealogical Society: Cemetery microfiche: Putiki Cemetery Oliver, Stephen, Paipai, Kawana Pitiroi,?-1884, in The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol. 1, 1769-1869 (Wellington, 1990)
Sinclair, Keith, George Grey, 1812-1898 in The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Vol. 1, 1769-1869 (Wellington, 1990) Southcombe, Mark, & Pettigrew, Wendy, European Fruit: A Treaty Signatory s House, in Andrew Leach & Gill Matthewson (eds.), Celebration: XXII Annual Conference of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia & New Zealand, Napier, New Zealand, 24-27 September 2005. http://www.sahanz.net/conferences/index.html Turney, Delphine, Our Heritage Forever: The First 150 Years of St. Paul s Presbyterian Church, Wanganui (Wanganui, 2003) Also newspapers and online articles as referred to in the footnotes. Associated Pictures: Date of Survey: 2012 Prepared by: Ian Bowman and Val Burr