OLD HOUSE BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20723, 17 November 1930, Page 10

OLD HOUSE BURNED.

RELIC OF MAORI WAR. BUILT' EIGHTY YEARS AGO. CENTRE OF MILITARY ACTIVITY. Ah old stono house which has been a landmark in tho Mount Albert district for about 80 years was destroyed by fire on Saturday afternoon. Isolated among tall pine trees off Linwood Avenue, it was tlio homestead of tho Martinhorough Estate, once tho property of the lato Mr. W. H. Martin. It was unoccupied, and having had no tenants for about 18 months was reputed to bo tho playground of the children of tho locality by day and a haven for tramps at night. , Tho moagro hospitality which it offered them, however, was but a shadow of tho past. Once it was a gathering plaoo for residents from miles around. Uio property was for many years the homo of tho Martin family and before that was tho centre of military activity in the district. It was built in 1850 for a Captain Crowley, an officer in command of Imperial Forces in tho first Maori War. The stone for tho walls was cut and dressed from supplies on tho property, and tho troublous nature of .the times was indicated in the fact that loopholes were originally provided in the 18-inch walls. With tho arrival of more poacoful days tho loopholes were closed. Tho lato Mr. Martin was a pioneer of the Mount Albert district, and he secured tho house and 50 acres of land in 1864, living -there until his death in 1919. He and his sons were keenly interested in hunting, and tho homestead was a popular rendezvous for tho meet. After the death of Mr. Martin tho property was sold to a syndicate, to which tho homestead belongs. Tho only surviving son of Mr. Martin is Mr. A. A. Martin, of Arney Road, Romuera. He stated yesterday that the house was probably tho first built in the district. Ho had lived there for many years and as a boy could remember only ono or two other houses in the district. In tho course of juvenile excursions he had frequently found caves containing tho remains of Maoris. Old-fashioned cannonballs were included among tho curios in the houso. As an indication of newspaper enterprise, even In the early days, Mr. Martin said tho New Zealand Herald was delivered at his father's homestead 60 years ago at seven o'clock in tho morning. Tho house was a typical specimen of the homes which were built in tho early days from the stone which abounded in tho vicinity of Auckland. A few still remain in somo of the more remote parts of tho- city. It had about eight rooms and the interior arrangement was suggestive of what is now regarded as " modern design." Provision was made for two rooms to be thrown into one by means of sliding doors. There were inglenooks and attics, window seats and built-in cupboards, minus which any modern bungalow would be considered incomplete. The, fire had an exceptionally good hold before tho Mount Albert Brigade was summoned. Once the flames were attacked they were soon under control, but by. the time that stage was reached the building was completely gutted. There was no insurance.' - "