Puketiti Station Homestead and Stable were built in 1906 by A.B. Williams, as the base for managing the large sheep and cattle station owned by his father J.N. Williams, the successful and influential pastoralist from Hawke's Bay. The Homestead was the central domestic building for the Station. Puketiti Station is inland from Waipiro Bay on the East Coast, an area occupied by Ngati Porou for several centuries, prior to the arrival of Europeans in the early nineteenth century. Puketiti, the 2000 foot (610m) high hill after which the station is named, features in a Ngati Porou tradition in which Pawa, the navigator of the Horouta canoe, was involved in a struggle with the giant Rongokako. Pawa fastened a rope between Puketiti and another hill, Tawhiti, but was unsuccessful in trapping Rongokako. The land is steep and dissected by many streams and rivers that would have provided access routes inland. Several pa, kainga and cultivations existed along the coastal strip, and in 1844 the East Coast was heavily populated by Maori, with 22 kainga between Hicks Bay and East Cape and a further twelve at Uawa (Tolaga Bay). The thermal mineral springs at Te Puia, four kilometres inland from Waipiro Bay, were also utilized. During the 1870s and early 1880s several blocks of land in the East Coast region were acquired by European settlers from tangata whenua, mostly as long-term leases, but a few as purchases. In December 1877 the Government Land Purchase Officer for the East Coast, Captain T.W. Porter, reported that he had advised the Maori owners of the Puketiti block to have the land surveyed and passed through the Native Land Court prior to any dealing with it, and when the title had been ascertained, he had acted for them and advertised the land for lease. The highest offer, from J. Cattell, was accepted. In July 1880 Porter was accused of land-jobbing, with Puketiti being cited as one of the questionable deals in which he was involved. James Nelson (J.N.) Williams (1837-1915) was the son of missionary William Williams and his wife Jane Nelson, who established the first mission station in Poverty Bay in 1840. J.N. Williams purchased large sheep stations in Hawke's Bay. He was involved in 'practically every scheme to advance the progress and welfare' of Hawke's Bay. These schemes included establishing a boiling down works at Tomoana, commercial fruit growing, a vineyard and a canning factory and though not all were successful they were pioneering ventures for later development. J.N. Williams was also involved in many Hawke's Bay organisations and was a benefactor to the community. According to his own account, J.N. Williams did not visit the East Coast until 1883. By 1886 he had negotiated leasehold tenure for 37,000 acres (14,973 hectares) of the Waipiro Block plus 2000 acres (809 hectares) elsewhere and had begun to clear the land for pasture. He brought Arthur Henry Wallis, his manager from Edenham station, to supervise the development. It appears that Cattell and Buckley did not develop the land at all, as an early 1885 description shows the extent of work undertaken on the Puketiti block by J.N. Williams: A year ago this was in its natural state, but they have now made considerable improvements, having felled about 800 acres [324 hectares] of bush, laid down 4000 acres [1618 hectares] in grass... They employed during last winter no fewer than 200 men, natives and Europeans, in fact it was a godsend to the laboring classes. ...It has been the means of keeping working men in the district; and now, when the grass seed and other crops have been harvested, there will be plenty of employment on the roads.... His manager (Wallace) [sic] paid £1000 in wages the week before Christmas, which was a windfall to the hotels and stores along the Coast. ...Mr Williams last year paid about £12,000 in wages... there are five or six out-stations to be looked after... J.N. Williams's development work was praised in the local newspaper in October 1884, which also commented that smallholders could not possibly make any strides in the work of converting those wilds' as such work required capital only the large-scale developers could provide. In the early 1880s there was a Maori settlement at Waipiro Bay and the beach was already used as a port by Makarika Station. However Wallis built several buildings at Waipiro Bay to assist with the operation of the Waipiro block; these included premises for a blacksmith, saddler, painter, plumber, carpenter and store and attracted skilled workers to the district. Wallis is considered responsible for 'the complete development of the village of Waipiro Bay, at that time the most important town and port of Waiapu'. Close to shore was a large wool dump shed where bales could be prepared for transfer to the lighters which took them out to the ships anchored off shore. A stipulation of the leases was that the Maori families involved 'should have first call upon any gainful employment which the lessee might have to offer'. The Williams family's farming enterprises provided employment to many people such as boatmen, stockmen, shepherds, a gardener and domestic staff, bush-felling and firing, seed sowing, grass seed harvesting and threshing, shearing and cartage. With no roads suitable for wheeled traffic goods and livestock were brought in or dispatched via lighters to anchored coastal steamers. Horses and cattle were swum ashore. The Waipiro Block was involved in land disputes after the Land Court found against claimant Tuta Nehonioia in late 1885. Williams first brought in Lincoln sheep and Shorthorn cattle, but neither breed did well in the wet conditions. Tutu poisoning was a major problem and stock losses were high. A change to Hereford and then Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Romney sheep gave greater success and breeding percentages improved. Pigs were stocked also, to deal with offal. By 1891 J.N. Williams had the largest run on the Coast, shearing 70,000 sheep plus 20,000 lambs on the three branch stations, Takapau, Puketiti and Matahiia, all managed by Wallis. In January 1892, Wallis was joined by James's son Arnold Beetham Williams (known as ‘A.B.'). In 1901 A.B.'s brother Heathcote Beetham (‘H.B.') Williams moved to the Coast. In 1902 Wallis left to farm his own holdings, whereupon J.N. Williams's properties were divided between his two sons, A.B. taking the northern lots including Puketiti. A.B. Williams continued to live at Puketiti for the rest of his life. He was intimately involved in local affairs through his positions on the Waiapu County Council; he was elected its chairman in 1903. While on the council he was instrumental in getting roads formed and bridges repaired. In 1918 he was on a committee for the local parish. He was chair of the Tokomaru Harbour Board from 1921 to 1923. A.B. owned several champion racehorses, stabled in Hawke's Bay. A.B.'s involvement in the community is illustrated by the visit in February 1923 of children from Waipiro School who went up to the homestead ‘by special invitation' for ‘swimming sports'. In 1906 A.B. Williams shifted his base from Waipiro Bay to Puketiti Station and built the large homestead and its associated stable. The front of the house faces east, the orientation determined by its position on the slope of Puketiti Hill which is behind the house. The timber, imported Oregon pine from the Pacific Slope of North America, was rafted ashore into Waipiro Beach at a landed cost of 15 shillings per 100 feet. The stable may have been built first, and used to store the house timber. The house was two-storeyed. The main rooms downstairs were a drawing room, smoking room, dining room and bedroom, plus a bathroom and several rooms in the utility area at the rear. The master bedroom was situated in the gable above the drawing room. There was a verandah front and side-rear, and an enclosed porch on the south side. The stable is a simple utilitarian structure built to a T floor plan with the four horse stalls along the leg of the T. The head of the T is a high-roofed area with the wide main entrance for easy access for buggies and other wheeled carriages. Part of the floor where the vehicles stood, is concrete; the rest is wooden cobbles believed to be Australian karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor). Wooden bricks, cobbles or round pavers in utility areas were not uncommon in the late nineteenth to early twentieth centuries, but few have survived. Of those known, only one example is similar to Puketiti Stable's timber bricks. That is at the Maraekakaho Station Stables and Coachouse (Record no. 4808 Category II) but its karri blocks differ by being of irregular shape. Other surviving New Zealand examples identified are: Levy's Building at 20 Customs Street East, Auckland (Record no. 7292, Category II) which has a wood block floor in what may have been a passage or loading bay; a stable in Southland (not identified); Hodgson's Stables (timber rounds) Murchison (Record no. 2970); and Mangatarata with totara rounds (Record no. 2764 Category II). The homestead and stable in their landscaped garden setting are at some distance from the utility farm buildings. Staff on the station (or based at Waipiro) included a carpenter-joiner; the large maire circular dining table was made by the carpenter from timber felled on the station. The Williamses maintained their own shearing gangs, with woolsheds at Takapau, Ihungia and Puketiti. Before 1915 the shearing gang included 50-60 hands shearing up to 150,000 sheep each season. In 1915-16 stock included 1000 stud Romneys, shorthorn cattle and many horses which were used for riding, mustering and other farm work, ploughing and drawing the buggy and equipment. On 7 December 1910 (back-dated to 1 October 1910) A.B. leased Puketiti Station from his father, but on 29 September 1913 he became the owner. In 1915 the leases on the Waipiro block expired and the properties returned to their Maori owners, leaving only Puketiti and other freehold blocks in the Williams family hands. In 1915 Sir Apirana Ngata paid tribute in a parliamentary speech to the Williams family in reply to accusations of inappropriate land dealings with Maori. He stated that ‘in acquiring those lands and occupying them they harmed not a single native in the district of Waiapu.. no family... has done as much for any group of people as the Williams family has done for the Maori of the Waiapu county.' A.B. Williams was involved in large-scale bush clearing, bringing more land into pasture, but became aware of the resulting erosion. In about 1915 he began a tree planting programme that included planting tree lucerne as a nurse tree to establish very large native and mixed forest blocks out of bracken fern and burnt-over manuka. Also about this time he began planting exotic and indigenous trees in the large garden, continuing the landscaping work that started with the building of the homestead. A large pond and an artificial lake were excavated. He established and maintained a plant nursery, orchard and vegetable gardens, some of which were enclosed in wire netting to protect the produce from predation. Later developments included paths, steps and a lawn tennis court. Puketiti is recognised as ‘one of the finest homes on the Coast' and is variously described as ‘picturesque', ‘magnificent', ‘on a grand scale', ‘a monument to human endeavour' and ‘famous'. The grounds too are described in similar superlatives, such as ‘a veritable fairyland'. The Puketiti homestead site is renowned for its ‘magnificent specimen trees' and as a ‘landmark in the district'. The landscape that wraps around the cluster of domestic buildings and garden consciously creates one of two very distinctive clusters of buildings at Puketiti Station. The second is the operational base for the farm and its workers, that includes the Category II Woolshed, workers' cottages, a cookhouse and other utility buildings that are all situated near the farm entrance, some considerable distance from the homestead. The homestead is reached via a tree lined road that climbs toward Puketiti Hill to then open out on to the plateau created for the house, with a sweeping driveway. The setting also includes other domestic and recreational elements considered essential for those of means, living on isolated Stations. These include a tennis court swimming pool (ruin) berry house, orchard, chook-house and vegetable garden and orchard. There was also a strong element of class distinction to such a landscape, with the colonial values of owners of such large holdings reflecting those of the ‘landed gentry' of Britain and what was considered a ‘civilised' way to live. It was a managed landscape; a setting consciously designed to shield and separate the domestic and recreational life of the Station owner and their guests, from that of the farm workers; it distinguishes two communities as well as being seen as tangible evidence of success. In 1913 the Commissioner of Crown Lands noted the ‘very interesting' use of natural gas for lighting and cooking purposes at the boarding house near Te Puia Springs. The hotel and hospital at Te Puia Springs also utilised the gas but their gasometers no longer exist. A 1921 report noted a ‘recent example' of ‘an ingenious effort.. to harness the gas for domestic purposes' in which the gas from one of the exploratory drill shafts near Ruatoria was trapped and piped to ‘a small house where it was used for some years for lighting and cooking purposes by the Tako family'. A.B. Williams installed a gas-powered heating, cooking and lighting system at the homestead. The gas was fed via narrow pipes from natural gas seepages up to 1.5 km away from the homestead and was collected in a gasometer situated beside the stable and then to the house. Some of the open hearths were converted to gas fires; the surrounds of some of these have an Art Deco style. The installation date is unknown, however an account by a shepherd-general hand of his work at Puketiti prior to his leaving for overseas service in May 1916 describes cutting firewood as it was ‘before Puketiti began exploiting its own natural gas'. No other gasometers for domestic purposes are known to exist. The carved fireplace in the billiard room was executed by Ruth Nelson, probably in the late 1920s-early 1930s. Alice Ruth Nelson was the grand-daughter of James N. Williams; she was A.B. William's niece. Ruth went to the Christchurch School of Art where she studied carving under Frederick Gurnsey. Ruth carved the altar (in 1930), lectern, reredos and head prefect's chair for the Woodford House chapel; the Bishop's chair at St Luke's Anglican Church in Havelock North and the front door of the Taruna College homestead. The carving depicts a local tradition. In late 1933 A.B. Williams married Ema Reremoana (Rere) Beale, widow of Arthur Merritt Beale. Rere was the daughter of Rebecca Kahoutea and ‘an English army officer called Brown'. Arthur Wallis became her guardian. Rere Brown worked in Waipiro Bay as a library assistant and was a talented organist and pianist, playing for social events and local choirs. Rere Beale had eight children, three of whom were adopted by A.B. Williams. At least two of her daughters and three sons came to live at Puketiti. Prior to November 1933 and possibly in anticipation of accommodating a larger household, A.B. Williams enlarged the house by raising and extending the roof to create more floor space in the upper storey. The side (south) porch was altered by removal of the multi-paned windows and addition of partial upper and lower walls. The porch could be accessed from both the dining and drawing rooms. Changes to the style of the windows probably occurred at this time. The style of the chimneys was changed and their number reduced, and the tall oriel window on the west wall was removed. One of the bathrooms contains three hand basins, a feature also at the Beale family home and probably introduced by Rere for the three sons. Family tradition is that the bathroom was that of the three boys, two of whom never returned from the Second World War. This bathroom has remained intact as a sanctuary for memories of those killed in the fighting. It includes a now rare example of a lead lined floor. After 1933 (and possibly earlier) three domestic staff were employed. Miss Davidson was the housekeeper for many years and occupied the room with the dormer window. The changes to the house may have altered the assignment of the upstairs rooms for domestic staff versus family or guests. Domestic staff approached the house via the stable entrance, a separate drive around the back of the house. There was no fridge in the house initially, until at least the 1940s, food being kept cool in either the dairy or meat room, or in the cellar. The cellar was prone to flooding. Laundry was boiled in a copper in the corner of the laundry. During the 1930s-40s the gardener-handyman Jock McKenzie lived a room in the stables and was given a midday dinner by Rere. Family tradition says that he was taken in by the Williams' family because he suffered shell shock sustained during active service. The room had its own fireplace and Jock left his name written on one of the walls in the stable, creating another sense of timelessness and melding together past and present, with enough time gone by since the First and Second World Wars for these reminders to be appreciated by current and future generations. During the Second World War the lawns were less well-maintained as the garden staff had enlisted; a fence was erected close to the house to restrict the size of the grounds. A major alteration in management occurred in April 1939, when A.B. Williams set up the Ihungia Farming Company Limited and transferred the western end of the block to this company. He retained the management of the Ihungia block. In later years A.B. Williams divested himself of much of his property by the establishment of several trusts. The Tuakau block was farmed as a separate operation, its income used for charitable work, including schooling. A.B. Williams set up the Arnold Williams and Heathcote Beale Memorial Trust to commemorate Rere's two sons Arnold K. Beale Williams (1917-1944) and Heathcote (Iti or Harry) B. Beale (1914-1945), Arnold Williams (adopted by A.B. Williams) who were killed on active service during the Second World War. The trust funded a diathermy cautery machine for the Waiapu Hospital. A.B. Williams was considered the ‘father' of the Waiapu Hospital Board. A further contribution towards local medical facilities was accomplished when he and Rere gave the Beale home at Waipiro for use as a maternity hospital. St Margaret's Church at Te Puia Springs was established in 1955 through the efforts of A.B Williams and Rere, in memory of their sons Arnold and Harry, each of whom had worked at Puketiti. A.B. Williams and Rere are commemorated at St Margaret's, where Rere is buried, and also at Te Whare Hauora o Ngati Porou, Te Puia Springs Hospital. The Memorial Trust provides for the care and maintenance of St Margaret's and other charitable projects. Rere's son Desmond Ormonde Beale was also adopted by A.B. Williams after his return from active service in the Second World War. Des (then known as D.O.B. Williams) assisted A.B. Williams on the station and in 1947 took over Puketiti's management although they continued to work together. Des was a director of the companies that ran the Ihungia and Puketoro Stations and was one of the trustees of the Memorial Trust. Des Williams (1917-1997) spent most of his life at Waipiro Bay or Puketiti. He was deeply involved with community projects and bodies, including being on the Waiapu Hospital Board for 21 years from 1971. He served on the Tairawhiti Area Health Board for two years, was one of the trustees responsible for the health clinics run by the Hikurangi Community Trust, served two years on the catchment board, was involved with the local fishing and golf clubs and bought land for an aerodrome at Ruatoria. Des was fluent in Maori and was greatly respected amongst the Maori community. Rere died on 31 July 1959. Her funeral was attended by a large number of people representative of Maori and Pakeha of the wider district, an indication of the respect in which she was held. In September 1961, when he was 90 years old, A.B. Williams participated in a ceremony at Kie Kie marae, Mangatuna. He was described as ‘almost a legend in his lifetime'. He remained very active, still pruning trees from a bosun's chair at age 91 and still retaining a driving licence, although stories of his driving skills became apocryphal. After A.B. Williams's death on 28 December 1965 Puketiti Station was held in trust until title was transferred to Des Williams on 1 March 1967. A further change to the house possibly in the 1960s was to fully enclose the side porch and incorporate most of it into the dining room, and part into the drawing room. The drawing room became a billiard room when the full-size billiard table was introduced by Des. In 1973 several of the trees at Puketiti were listed in a botanical survey of the East Coast-Poverty Bay area as being notable, some of national interest. Initiated by Des Williams, on 26 July 1993 the Queen Elizabeth the Second National Trust obtained an open space covenant that protects the landscape and buildings. Des Williams did not marry. When he died in October 1997 he bequeathed Puketiti Station in trust to one of his many godsons, Daniel John Russell. Dan Russell (1970- ) is connected to the family through his great-grandmother Gertrude M.B. Williams, sister of A.B. Williams. Dan continues to manage the station through the Puketiti Trust he formed in May 2005. Dan Russell and his partner Anna Sibun made changes to the kitchen area, demolishing the dairy-meat store annex in 2001. Dan and Anna moved in to the homestead in 2002. In September 2007 the wall between the former maids' sitting room (‘den' on measured drawing) and the kitchen was removed and French doors replaced the windows to give direct access to the back verandah. The station now operates with a farm manager, a stockman-shepherd, another semi-retired stockman-shepherd and a fencer-general hand, as well as the practical assistance of the owner and his partner. All but one live on the station with their families. Puketiti Station currently holds approximately 16,000 stock units, with a 50:50 ratio of cattle to sheep; 1000 acres (405 hectares) is planted in forest. The stable is partially used for its original purpose stabling the horse(s) of the owners, although there has been no groom for years and no-one living in the quarters. The stable is also used as a workshop for carpentry and mechanical work as well as for storage of equipment and materials. The Williams' family's story and contribution to the development of sheep and cattle farming, and their involvement in local affairs and philanthropy has been the subject of many newspaper articles and a major book and noted in all histories of the Coast. The Williams family, A.B. and H.B. in particular, are considered to have played a big part in the development of the East Coast, especially in commerce, sport and farming and to be ‘part of the legend of East Coast development'. Between 1947 and 1974 the charitable trusts established by H.B. and A.B. Williams and families produced over a million dollars toward Gisborne projects and ‘earned the gratitude of residents throughout Gisborne and the East Coast'. A.B.'s obituary described him as being ‘one of the last remaining members of a pioneering generation that carved the rich pastoral lands of the East Cape from a wilderness. A.B. Williams is attributed with significant philanthropic activities to benefit the East Coast Poverty Bay. The Williams name is considered ‘synonymous with the East Coast'.

Puketiti Station Homestead The homestead is a substantial building constructed in 1906 (extended in 1933) in an eclectic mix of Arts and Crafts and American Bungalow styles. The house is two storeyed with a complex multi-gabled roof and sits in an extensive mature garden setting in a larger rural setting below Puketiti Hill. The house is orientated approximately east-west / north-south, with the front facing east. The approach to the house is from the southeast via a tree-lined driveway which runs completely around the house. The left-hand branch of the drive carries on around to the stable, which are located approximately 70 metres to the northwest of the house. In front of the house there is a large expanse of lawn that gently slopes away to a grove of mature trees and to the left of this is the tennis court. On the northern side of the house is located another flat expanse of lawn with the remains of a large concrete swimming pool. The house currently consists of the following rooms laid out on what could broadly be described as T form: Ground Floor (area 380 square metres): Billiard Room, Dining Room, Lounge, Bedroom 1, Scullery, Pantry, Kitchen, Den (this has recently been opened up to the kitchen), Store Rooms (3), Laundry, Bathroom, Front Hall, Verandahs to the east and north. The rooms are accessed either from the front hallway or from another room; there are no corridors. First Floor (area 370 square metres): 5 main bedrooms, 3 former servant bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, Linen Store, Upper Hallway and Corridor. There is a concrete cellar accessed from the second stair way hall under the main stair first landing. The house sits on concrete piles and timber jacks studs with a brick ring wall base with a rough cast plaster finish. The timber framed walls are principally clad with 115 mm cover bevel-backed weather boards. There is extensive use of scallop-edged timber shingles under the two front bay windows and on the gable ends. The roof with its exposed eaves is clad in corrugated profile metal with small finials on the gable ends. Timber joinery throughout the house is made up of double-hung windows with single panes to the lower sashes and four, six or nine-light upper sashes. The doors are generally ten-light double doors which open on to the verandahs. The five single doors on the ground floor to the exterior have a single panel on the bottom and a nine-light window on the top portion. The exception to the windows are those located in the former entry off the current dining room and corner of the billiard room on the western side of the house, which are a mis-match of sliding, fixed pane and four-light sashes. The interior doors are constructed from Oregon pine. The doors are a mix of five-panel (two to the lower section, one horizontal panel near the middle and two smaller square panels to the top section) and three-panel (two to the lower two-thirds and a single generally glass panel to the top third). Some doors to service areas such as the upstairs linen store are framed tongue and groove. The room doors have brass art nouveau door hardware. The enlargement of the upper storey is evidenced by the change in timber type used in parts of the upper store. The original house was principally constructed using Oregon pine, including the framing, flooring and secondary area wall linings. Billiard Room Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove floor; walls: rimu timber panelling up to door height with painted asbestos sheet panels above with rimu battens over the joins. Ceiling: rimu panels with exposed rimu beams. The cornice is ornately detailed with dentils with a small moulding between each element, all in rimu. Other features: curved bay window to the east overlooking the expansive lawns at the front of the house. Carved mantel piece and surround with Maori motif with wood box to the left side and book shelves to the right. Full sized billiard table. Large cavity sliding doors to the dining room. The room has been altered in the northwest corner when the side entry was removed from the south side of the house. The change is only noticeable in the ceiling and is well concealed in the floor and wall panelling. Dining Room Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove; walls: rimu timber panelling up to door height with painted asbestos sheet panels above with rimu battens over the joins. Ceiling: rimu panels with exposed rimu beams. The cornice is ornately detailed with dentils with a small moulding between each element, all in rimu. Other features: built in rimu sideboard with Arts and Crafts detailing, including carved tulip motif and dentils to the top and underside of the counter. Drawers have metal shell form pull handles. Arts and Crafts styled rimu fire surround with drinks cabinet to the left hand. Maid's call button set into the floor under the dining table. The recessed nook to the western side of the room would appear to have been created when the original entrance was removed. This area was originally a porch entry and the floor has been lifted to match the dining room. This is based on the early photographs of the house and the change in floor material and different skirtings to this area. Lounge Floor: carpeted, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls: rimu timber panelling up to door height, with painted asbestos sheet panels above, and rimu battens over the joins. Ceiling: rimu board and batten panelling. The cornice is detailed with dentils with a small moulding between each element, all in rimu. Other features: curved bay window to the east overlooking the expansive lawns at the front of the house. Call bell fixed to the wall. Simple colour concrete slab mantel piece with brick fire surround. Both are damaged due to settlement in the house foundations. Built in rimu wood box to the right hand side of the fire. Built in rimu book shelves either side of the fire. Bedroom 1 Floor: carpeted, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls: rimu tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling up to door height, with painted asbestos sheet panels above, and rimu battens over the joins. Ceiling: painted (rimu?) board and batten panelling. The cornice is detailed with dentils with a small moulding between each element, all in rimu. Other features: Arts and Crafts style rimu fire surround with built in rimu wardrobes either side. There is a built in gas heater in the fire place on a painted sheet material representing bricks. Built in rimu book shelves either side of the fire. Bathroom 2 Floor: modern black and white 'tiled' vinyl. Walls: white rectangular brick porcelain tiles with painted tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling above to door height, with painted asbestos sheet panels above, and rimu battens over the joins. Ceiling: painted tongue and groove with v joint with a simple moulded cornice, and elegant but simple triangle shaped block detail to the corners. Other features: metal air vent on the wall above the bath. Door to the exterior from the bathroom. Main Hall / Stairway Floor: carpeted, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls: rimu board and batten panelling to ground floor ceiling area. The cornice is detailed with dentils with a small moulding between each element, all in rimu. Ceiling: painted (rimu?) board and batten panelling. The cornice is detailed with dentils with a small moulding between each element, all in rimu. Other features: Simple chunky Arts and Crafts styled stair case with tulip motif to the balustrade panels. The stairs appear to be constructed from rata, and have been connected with mortice and tenons, as the dowel tenons are exposed in some places. The newel posts have a dark timber panel fixed to them near the top. Based on the early photos of the house and the different timbers upstairs, it is assumed that these stairs have been added when the house was modified with the additional bedrooms upstairs. Secondary Hall / Stairway Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Carpet runner to the stairs. Walls: A mix of painted and unpainted Oregon tongue and groove with v joint. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: Simple Arts and Crafts styled stair case with tulip motif to the balustrade panels. Square newel posts with fluted capping. Access hatch to a void space that was likely created following the major alterations to the house. Scullery Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Timber panelling. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: The original joinery units would appear to still be present. The stainless steel benches are a later alteration. Pantry Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: The original joinery units would appear to still be present. The room is ventilated via vents in the toe space of the right hand shelving unit and a box to the left hand rear side. Kitchen Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls: painted (Oregon) tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: The original joinery units would appear to still be present. The stainless steel benches are a later alteration. White porcelain tiles to the wood stove cooking area. These match bathroom one. Den Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: Arts and Crafts rimu timber surround to arched brick fire place. Rimu cupboard and shelf located under the stairs. Kitchen Hall to Laundry Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: Gas califont located in the hall cupboard. Gas pipe work in the hall cupboard. Store 1 Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: The room was likely to have originally been a meat safe due to the venting louvres in the rear wall. Store 2 Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove under. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling. Ceiling: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: The room has extensive shelving and a large hinged bin. Laundry Floor: linoleum, assume Oregon pine tongue and groove underneath. Walls: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint timber panelling. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Other features: gas fire mounted in simple fire surround. Brick chimney in the northwest corner of the room, possibly from a copper. Exposed gas pipe work. All glazing is opaque dimpled glass. Cellar Floor: concrete. Walls: concrete in the main part of the cellar and timber tongue and groove with v joint leading down the stairs. Ceiling: exposed timber framing of the floor above. Other features: Due to a high water table and cracks to the walls/floor the cellar floods with up to 200mm of water in winter. First floor Main Hall Floor: Oregon pine and rimu tongue and groove. Walls: clear finished timber rimu tongue and groove with v joint up to door height and the painted above. Ceiling: painted (rimu and Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint, with a number of ceiling roof light windows. These windows would appear to have been created using former window sashes from the house. Other features: built in book shelves; Arts and Crafts built in linen store units complete with red coloured glass. Bedroom 2 Floor: rimu tongue and groove. Walls: rimu tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished up to door height and painted above. Ceiling: painted (rimu?) tongue and groove with v joint skillion ceiling. Other features: built in rimu bookshelf; built in wardrobe. This room was part of the major renovations and was not part of the original house. Bedroom 3 Floor: rimu tongue and groove. Walls: rimu tongue and groove with v joint. Ceiling: rimu tongue and groove with v joint skillion ceiling. Other features: built in rimu bookshelf; built in wardrobe. Art Deco style wall-mounted light. Access out on to first floor deck. Room was part of major renovations and was not part of the original house. Bathroom 1 Floor: modern black and white tiled vinyl probably over rimu tongue and groove. Walls: painted (rimu?) tongue and groove with v joint. Ceiling: painted (rimu?) tongue and groove with v joint ceiling, with a small skillion section to the northeast corner. Other features: wall mounted china wash hand basin; claw bath. Room was part of major renovations and was not part of the original house. Bedroom 4 Floor: rimu and Oregon pine tongue and groove; Walls: rimu tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished up to door height and painted above. Ceiling: rimu tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling, with a skillion section to the northeast and northwest corner. Other features: picture rail; built in rimu bookshelf. Built in wardrobe is not in its original location. This is evident by the change in floor and wall colour next to the unit. The room was originally part of a larger room, along with the current Bedroom 5. When the house was altered the ceiling was raised, the room was widened and then divided in half. The original wall lines are evident in the floor outside the room in the hallway. Bedroom 5 Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished. Ceiling: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling, with skillion sections around the southern side of the room. Other features: picture rail; built in rimu bookshelf; Arts and Crafts rimu timber surround to arched brick fire place. Built in wardrobes either side of the fire. It is unlikely that these are original, as evidenced by the panelling detailing. Bedroom 6 Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished up to door height and painted above. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling, with skillion sections around the east and west sides of the room. Other features: picture rail; built in rimu bookshelf; built in wardrobes either side of the room. Linen Store Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint. Ceiling: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling. Other features: built in shelving. The walls to the hall side are not original as evidenced by the infill panels to the floor, and staining associated with previous walls. Bathroom 3 Floor: modern black and white tiled vinyl, probably over Oregon tongue and groove. Walls: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint ceiling, with a skillion section to the eastern side. Other features: the floor would originally have had lead lining. Bathroom 4 Floor: Oregon tongue and groove with a lead lining under the hand basins and toilet. Walls: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint ceiling, with a skillion section to the eastern side. Other features: three wall mounted wash hand basins and associated mirrors. 'The Improved Humber' toilet pan. Rear Hall Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove with hallway carpet runner. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished up to door height and painted above. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling, with large roof light. Bedroom 7 Floor: vinyl flooring over (Oregon?) pine tongue and groove. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished up to height of the skillion roof/wall junction. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling, with skillion section to the outside edge. Other features: built in wardrobe with diagonal tongue and groove with v joint boarding. This room originally had part of a large oriel window running through it down to the ground floor. Oriel windows are generally associated with stair wells, but there is no evidence of this with respect to the timber linings. There is evidence of the oriel window on the exterior wall, which has a cover board over where the weather boards have been altered/repaired. Bedroom 8 Floor: vinyl flooring over (Oregon?) pine tongue and groove. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished up to height of the skillion roof/wall junction. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling, with skillion section to the outside edge. Other features: built in wardrobe with diagonal tongue and groove with v joint boarding. Bedroom 9 Floor: Oregon pine tongue and groove. Walls: Oregon tongue and groove with v joint, clear finished up to height of the skillion roof/wall junction. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint flat ceiling, with skillion sections to the outside edge. Other features: built in wardrobe. Bathroom 5 Floor: black and white tiled vinyl, probably over tongue and groove flooring. Walls: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint. Ceiling: painted (Oregon?) tongue and groove with v joint ceiling, with a small skillion section to the northeast corner. Other features: china wash hand basin with simple cabinet under; claw foot bath with hardboard surround; hot water cylinder cupboard. Roof Space The roof framing is generally Oregon pine framed up in a traditional manner with rafters, under purlins, braces and ridge poles. Some of the original roof framing is still present under the new roof line. The extension over bedrooms two and three have a simple truss form as opposed to the traditional framing used for the main part of the roof. The dining room chimney clearly shows signs of where the original roof line was, as the original roof flashings are present, and the bricks have been painted above the old roof line. This chimney has either been damaged by an earthquake or extended to suit the changed roof, as evidenced by the change in plastering at the top of the chimney. Puketiti Station Stable The Stable is a relatively large utilitarian building which complements the main house and was constructed c 1906 at the same time as the house. It is of balloon construction with the studs running full height and the loft floor constructed between. The stable is approached from the south via a driveway the wraps around the back of the house. It is generally 2 storeyed, laid out in a T shape on a north-south / east-west axis. On the north-south axis are located the carriage and a small store which at one stage housed a WW1 returned serviceman named Jock, a shell shocked veteran taken in and cared for by the Williams. The small store is located in the south east corner of the stables. Jocks name is scratched into the wall paintwork just outside the door of this room. On the east-west axis are located the 4 stables, a workshop areas plus a bridle and saddle store. There is a loft area over the workshop and stables plus there is a chaff store over the small store on the north-south axis. The stables are clad in bevel backed weather boards matching the house. The roof is clad with mini orb corrugated profile galvanised iron. The spouting is quad profile. The ground floor to the stable is predominantly constructed from hardwood timber blocks laid as cobbles measuring 150mm x 75mm and 110mm deep. There are areas of concrete down the western wall and also near the main entry. The concrete in the entry area has probably been installed as a replacement of rotten timber blocks. The concrete down the western edge appears original as the building has a concrete foundation wall in this area. The floor to the ground floor store is timber t&g most likely on timber framing and piles. The loft area floor is also t&g boarding on timber framing. The roof structure is timber framed in a traditional manner with rafters and collar ties at approximately 1/3 up the roof line. The gable peaks each has a small finial protruding down from the barge. These match the house detailing and both appear to be original. The main doorway to the building located on the south west side of the building is currently open but originally was likely to have had a large set of sliding doors. The track guides are still in place. The doors appear to have been reused on the inside to form a wall between the workshop area and the bridle and saddle store. There is a similar doorway on the opposite wall leading out into paddocks. This would appear to have been reduced in size based on the concrete sill that is evident in this area and the cover boards running up the wall on this face. All the windows are divided into multiple panes in the same way as the main house. Some of the windows are constructed as louvered ventilation points while some are hinged casement. There is a single tall fixed window located in the 3 gable ends. On the eastern gable end there were located 2 dove coups accessed via 2 sets of 4 holes either side of the gable end window. These appear to have been added later judging by the construction of the coups as these are made up from miss matched joinery left overs. On the interior the exterior walls are unlined, while the walls to the store room and chaff loft are lined with nominal 150 wide t,g&v timber boards. There is a chute from the chuff store down to the ground floor on the southern wall of the store areas. In the ground floor store room there is a small brick fire place and recessed shelving unit. The brick chimney runs up the outside wall of the building at the junction between the carriage wing and the stables wing. Gasometer The gasometer consists of two corrugated iron tanks, one inside the other and containing water. A winch mounted on a wooden frame above the tanks is used to raise the inner tank. Gas is drawn from the pipes into the inner tank by winching it up to create a vacuum. The weight of the upper tank when it is lowered controls the gas pressure and counteracts natural fluctuations.