ANOTHER GIFT.

Auckland Star, 2 September 1933, Page 11

ANOTHER GIFT.

PUKEKURA PARK. ADDITION OF FIFTY ACRES. NEWTON KING ESTATE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. "Brooklande," the beautiful homestead property of the late Mr. Newton King, is to be handed over to the borough of New Plymouth for inclusion in Pukekura Park. Legislation to this end will be introduced in Parliament next session. The property, some 53 acres in extent, includes a considerable area of magnificent native bush, rich in historical association, and one of the finest gardens in New Zealand. A conservative estimate of its value in good times would be £12,000.

The offer is the outcome of a legacy of £10,000 left to various North Taranaki parks by Mr. King in his will after his death in 1920. Of thie amount £7000 was left to three parks in New Plymouth, but owing to the difficulty of liquidating the estate, the trustees have ofl'ered " Brooklands " as an alternative to the £7000 cash. Negotiations since the offer was first made some time ago have been both delicate and protracted, but it is understood finality is now practically reached, and an announcement at the meeting of the Borough Council to-night is likely. . Historic Estate. The European history of "Brooklands" extends to the earliest days of settlement at New Plymouth. The first selection for suburban and rural lands in the new settlement was made by tho ballot system in June, 1842, but in the selection of town sections in November, 1841, the first choice was granted Captain King, the leader of the pioneers and the first governor of the settlement. The proximity to the town and the beauty of the locality, combined with its suitability for cultivation, made the area now known as "Brooklands" the most desirable of suburban areas to be acquired at the first selection. No time was lost by Captain King in clearing a site and the erection of a residence. The Maori name of the locality upon which the homestead and gardens of "Brooklands" are situated was Kaimata. Even in its original conditions the locality was a beautiful one. The charm of the natural glade or clearing where tho homestead stood can be visualised by the present conditions at "Brooklands." The original residence stood behind the present homestead erected by the late Mr. Newton King, and its rear corner is still marked by the massive base of the original double chimney. The house was shaped almos-t like an L turned over and inverted and the chimney was at the right-angled corner. Long and low, the house was roofed in slate and was blackened by the weather as the years passed. The fireplace was constructed on the lines of those found in old English farmhouses. When Mr. E. J. Wakefield visited New Plymouth in 1843 he wrote: "I found them (the colonists) hard at work . . . hardly a complaint to make and spending homely English evenings round a huge farmhouse chimney." It is believed by several authorities that the fireplace referred to waa the one at "Brooklands." The sheltered clearing was suitable for the growth of fruit and at an early date a small orchard was started. During the Maori troubles of 1860-61, a tragedy occurred near one of the "Brooklands'" peach- trees. Clash With Maoris. On a Sunday morning in March, 1861, a party of 14 young men of the Rifle Volunteers left town for the purpose of gathering peaches on Walker's farm, Avenue Road. Not finding any fruit there,,they decided to cross over to Mr. Hurstiiouse's orchard, Carrington Road (Upper Vogeltown),, and while on.the way they passed through the "Brooklands" orchard, and seeing some peaches there commenced to gather them. While they were intent on thie,' without warning, a volley was fired into them by a body of about 30 natives, cleverly ambuscaded only ten yards away. The volley severely wounded one of (he volunteers, all of whom ran for cover, but before they succeeded in reaching it a second volley was. fired by the Maori party, and Edward Messenger fell shot through the head as he faced about to return his fire. The volunteer party ] iving '-ot under cover of a close-by hedge, halted to recover Messenger's body, and having placed outlying sentinels and dispatching one to town for assistance they took steps. to~defend the position. The Maoris, thinking the party had bolted, rushed towards the body of Messenger for the purpose of tomahawking it, but as soon as the foremost, man perceived them he turned to retreat, but was shot dead by the volunteers, and another was seen to fall. No more was seen of the natives after this, and, assistance coming from Fort Herbert (the rise above the eastern terraces of the sportsground) and Carrington Road Blockhouse (present site of the custodian's residence at Pukekura Park), Messenger's body was recovered and carried to town. He was 17 years of age.