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Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11123, 5 February 1930, Page 5

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OLDEST HOUSE AT HAITI D FAIOI.iI SITED.

STOOD THROUGH Tl£ KOOTI RAIDS.

Budt by Bishop Williams before the Te Kooti mass-acre in 03 lrom ■heart of kauri, the second woollen building at Haiti, the old bouse standing on the hillside move the Cook Memorial is now under process of demolition.

This historic building v, as used in the early days as a temporary residence by Bishop Williams when visiting Gisborne, and was the lir.-t building after Read’s landing shed, which was long ago demolished, to he erected in that locality.

After the massacre, the beduing was occupied by Messrs. Henry Harris and John Ferguson, who were there on the night ot ihe second raid, which occuved on December 12, and in which Messrs AVylhe, Findlay 'Ferguson, a brother of John Ferguson and Ben Mucky lost their lives. Air. Harris and Air. John Ferguson, the then occupants of the historic residence had left Op. ou Station on their homeward way on the afternoon of December 12, leaving the three 'others who were rail-splitting on the banks of the Mangawainoko creek. That evening the first intimation that something was wrong .was received. Before retiring for the night, Mr. John Ferguson went to go" outside and bn opening the door found his brother's dog there and knew immediately that all was not well as the animal would never have left Iris master alive. The fears of the- two men proved only too true for at daylight next day it was learned that" the further outrage had taken place and the bodies of the murdered men were recovered.