First Home in Taranaki

Hurford Road

Probably the most enjoyable home I ever lived in was the farmlet Margaret and I bought in Hurford Road when we moved to Taranaki. Not because of the house itself, but because it was on a life-style block. The history of little lifestyle-sized blocks in that part of the district is unclear, when all around were full-sized farm properties, but we had four acres and  a 1920s era house, with a grass tennis court at the back, a few mature fruit trees and a hedge of high bamboos on the southern boundary. 

The house was in need of renovation, but our money didn’t stretch that far.  We had a distant view of the sea to the north, and the Kaitake ranges sheltering us to the west, with the mountain visible beyond the bamboo hedge. 

Fortunately the house had a Kent woodburner to keep us warm in the winter, and an area of porch at the back to keep wet clothes and boots. 

We were pretty naïve as to the farming side of managing the property, at least I was, but neighbours and friends were helpful and we soon had steers, sheep and chickens and a mother cat Sheba and her amazing kittens, Solomon and Tamar.

In particular, Rex had lived on or near farms all his life and was extremely helpful, even slaughtering sheep when necessary. He and Ruby came out to see us every weekend and helped with mowing lawns, repairing fences, and advising on what to do next. They also made up a four for tennis in the evenings! 

The house came with a large, self-propelled Briggs and Stratton lawnmower with a big rear roller, which was ideal for mowing the tennis court efficiently. 

Rex also converted a garden shed into a workshop, complete with workbench and shelves, which was another useful addition to the house. 

I soon learned to handle the fencing jobs that needed doing regularly, like replacing posts and strainers, or shifting the electric fences each day, especially when we grazed the cows on the “long acre”. One morning we woke to the sound of cracking and munching only to look out of the bedroom window and find the steers had somehow escaped the electric fence and found their way up to our gardens and were eating anything and everything that looked and tasted delicious!

But shearing sheep, or killing steers, needed outside help, either from our good neighbours, George Mattock and his family, or from the professional butchers. 

One of the enjoyments of living in Hurford Road was getting to know the rural community.  Its social life at times centred on the local Hall, since burnt down and removed, where community meetings, weddings, sports celebrations and so on were held. They held social occasions to welcome new residents, including us, and sometimes to farewell long-standing neighbours. 

Philip, Andrew, Jonny and Jenni Gaze, with Sheba and her kittens, Solomon

and Tamar, while on a visit with their parents, Stuart and Catherine,

Christmas Holidays 1979

Another joy of the farmlet was sharing it with friends and family, and several families came to stay with us while we lived there.