“The Terrace” — Yesterday

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 113, 6 February 1937, Page 21

“The Terrace” — Yesterday

“Fernhill” and its Owner “Fernhill, ’’ the home of the Denton family for the past 65 years, has a perfect piece of cultivated bush at its back door. Here, within a minute or two of the noise and bustle of the city, wild native birds conic to feed on the rich ripeness of the berries. Here may be found specimens of native plants botanists as yet know little of, and here may be experienced something most believe can never be found within a city's boundaries —perfect peace and quietness.

TT is Im rd to imagine cattle straying from surrounding properties and making a quagmire of a front lawn when it is on Wellington’s Terrace. But that is what happened to the Dentons when they first came to live there. The property was one of the original one-acre lots on The Terrace to be divided among the first Wellington settlers. Mr. G. Denton built his home, “Fernhill,” in 1873, and his son, Mr. W. H. Denton, who holds the house to-day in precious keeping for the Denton family, can remember many details about the old home which throw a new light upon those earlier days Wellington has almost forgotten. “Fernhill” is on that part of The Terrace which overlooks Ghuznee Street. The house is built in the solid, ornate style of the late nineteenth century, which attains real dignity only with old age. Very early photographs show the old home standing on a rise, its surroundings bare and unsheltered. On the hills at the back, where to-day the town boundary is marked by a tall belt of trees, only a sparse smattering of low scrub is seen. To-day the house is surrounded with a wonderful growth of trees, and it is almost impossible to. imagine the velvety lawn in the front as a quagmire where cattle trespassed. Except for these things and the inevitable mellowness of age, the place is in practically the state of more than 60 years ago. Some

years ago the acre was divided and a minor portion sold, but the difference is negligible. Mr. Denton can remember his family’s eager anticipation as their home was being built, and the great day when at last they moved their belongings into it and took residence. The first morning the whole family was up in time to watch the sun rise over the town. For two years, Mr. Denton remembers, a man whose work was mainly to plant trees was employed frequently on the property. To this man perhaps much of the credit for the beauty of the place to-day is due, but Mr. W. H. Denton can share more than half the honour with him, and the beautiful piece of bush at the back of the house is entirely due to Mr. Denton’s keen love of trees. Here he has gathered together such a variety of native *shrubs, trees, and ferns that it is a veritable plant museum—without the orthodox labels, for he is a keen botanist and carries

the labels in his head. It is almost impossible to believe that such a perfect collection of native bush exists within two minutes of the city until one sees for oneself. At the back of the house a spring wells up and has been diverted into a little trenched riverlet that half encircles the yard. Here mosses, ferns and various alpine plants cireep or bend according to their kind, . and different varieties of ponga ferns shade them. Twisty steps turn in a maze in the bush that slopes up the hill. Here almost every tree or shrub is different, and each one has a story that Mr. Denton can relate with accurate knowledge.

There is the rare blue lancewood from the West Coast that a woman brought him in a tin. She knew it would be cared for and she attached sentimental value to it. Here grows the matipo, the hinau and the red beech. Ferns and mountain shrubs keep company, and one grove of perfect nikaus provides a wonderful splash of golden green among the darker leaves. Mr. Denton has made a study of the nikaus for 45 years and possesses a knowledge of them that delights botanists. “Fernhill” is not only notable for its bush and its connection with the old days, however. It is the home of the acclimatisation society. Mr. G. Denton made one of his main interests the importing of birds and fishes. Most of the starlings, thrushes, minors, blackbirds and finches to be found in Wellington to-day are descendants of the birds Mr. Deuton introduced. His son can remember his father going with cans of young trout to release in the mountain streams, and most of these he bred in the backyard of “Fernhill.” The family never lacked for pets. Of ducks they had several, and

one paradise duck that was injured in a shipment lived with them. for 17 years. These birds had a special pond formed from the spring in the backyard and it is still there. About old Wellington, Mr. Denton has many memories to recall. Along The Terrace from what is now Cumberland Place to Willis Street, was a brick kiln. The drying sheds faced and opened out on to The Terrace. At night the men used to build camp fires, and Mr. Denton can remember going down to join them. Ou the north side to Vivian Street it was open land which later became one of the eariest Chinamen’s gardens. The Vivian Street side was known as “Buller’s Paddock” and was for many years a children's playground. The first Chinese to arrive in Wellington caused quite a sensation walking in single file down the streets, the centre of curious eyes. Until they scattered, all the Chinese lived in a vacant shop in Willis Street. Fitchett’s farm comprised most of the laud where Brooklyn now stands, and Mr. Denton can remember “Long Short,” the Fitchett’s bullock driver, who used to drive the animals down through the town to collect malt from the brewery each week. It does not seem so very long ago to Mr. Denton that Victoria Street was the waterfront and ships unloaded there. He can stand on the steps of “The Dominion” buildings to-day and say “I launched a boat from here.” One of the earliest reclamations of the land was where the Midland Hotel now stands, and while the reclamation was in progress a delightful lagoon was formed. It was an excellent place for boating, too. “Fernhill and its owner have many memories of the past to share, and the stately old home among the gem of bush greens at the back is a place of simple yet great charm.