Below is a selection of historical stories from the New Zealand Herald (1913 and 1929), the North Otago Times (1930) and the Central Hawke’s Bay Press (1945).
Glengarry Homestead
Daily Telegraph (Napier), May 25, 1923
(Per Press Association).
Totally destroyed by fire.
Damage estimated at £8500.
Dannevirke. Last night.
A destructive fire occurred this afternoon, Glengarry homestead, about three miles from Dannevirke, being totally destroyed.
The homestead was a wooden building consisting of 22 rooms, part being old and a considerable portion new.
It is surmised that the fire originated in the region of the hot water service, and through lack of fire lighting facilities nothing could be done to fight the flames, which consumed the building in a very short space of time.
Practically nothing was saved.
The structure and the furniture were the property of Major James Armstrong and were valued at about £8500 and insured for approximately £6500 in the Standard office.
Homestead burned
New Zealand Herald, January 21, 1930
Landmark at Cambridge.
All the contents lost.
[By Telegraph–own correspondent.]
Cambridge. Monday.
The old Hautapu homestead, a 13-roomed wooden dwelling, owned and occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Harris, was destroyed by fire to-day, together with the whole of its contents.
The building was a landmark.
At the time of the outbreak, Mr. Harris was in town, while Mrs. Harris and a youth employed on the property were half a mile away.
They saw smoke issuing from the dwelling, but by the time they got back the homestead was a mass of flames.
Entry was impossible. Within 30 minutes the dwelling was burned to the ground.
The owners will be heavy losers, as many valuable personal effects were destroyed.
They had purchased the homestead and 10-acre section only three months ago.
The building was associated with the early days of Cambridge, being one of the oldest in the district.
The building was insured for £9OO in the British Traders’ Office, and the furniture and effects for £5OO in the Victoria Office.
Fire destroys well-known homestead
Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune, July 31, 1941
Fire destroyed the well-known homestead on Te Aute Station near Pukehou early this week.
The building, which was owned by Mr. C. Athol Williams, was built more than 45 years ago.
A large quantity of valuable mahogany furniture, antique silverware and jewellery was also lost.
Typical of the building construction of its time, the homestead was built of solid totara, and the dry seasoned timber was soon consumed by the flames once the fire had established a firm hold.
It is believed that the fire started in the drawing-room in the southern corner of the 10-roomed house.
An elderly woman, Mrs. L. E. A. Williams, and a young woman, were in residence at the time.
The building was insured for £1500 and the contents for £500.
Well-known homestead destroyed by fire in Mackenzie Country
Wanganui Chronicle, December 27, 1949
Timaru, Last Night (PA).—The homestead at Glentanner station, deep in the Mackenzie Country, was completely destroyed by fire in the early hours of Christmas morning, and the manager and his family were fortunate to escape in their nightclothes, all their possessions being lost in the blaze.
When the fire was discovered by the manager, Mr. G. W. K. Stirling, it had too strong a hold, and he only had time to get away from the building before the flames roared through the rooms.
Mrs. Stirling’s personal possessions were insured, although the amount is not known.
The homestead was also insured, but many personal effects gathered by the family of the owners are irreplaceable.
The station is managed on behalf of the estate of the late Mr. E. R. Guinness and H. A. LeCren.
The building was valued at £l5OO.
The Glentanner station is well known to tourists throughout New Zealand and overseas being the last sheep station on Lake Pukaki—the Hermitage Road, 14 miles short of the hostel itself.
It was an eight-roomed wooden building and was a sod building, the original portion being about 80 years old.
It was constructed to house pioneer settlers in the sixties.
- Source: Papers Past
