MASTERTON'S FIRST HOUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

MASTERTON'S FIRST HOUSE

TOTARA SLAB STRUCTURE BUILT EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Town’s First Store and Post Office HOME OF THE lORNS AND BANNISTER FAMILIES

Through the courtesy of Mr Charles Bannister, it is now possible to present the public with the above reproduction of a picture of the first house built in Masterton. The house stood in Bridge Street (now Queen Street), on the site now occupied by the business premises of Messrs C. Smith, Ltd. It was built 85 years ago by Richard lorns, assisted by Joseph Masters, who founded Masterton, and after whom the town was named. It was the first store and Post Office in Masterton, and Mrs lorns was the first Postmistress. Ten months after the house was built, Mr lorns died from pneumonia. Mrs lorns conducted the store until 1857, when she married Mr Henry Bannister. All the Bannister family, seven sons and one daughter, were born in this humble abode. The house was constructed of split totara slabs, the joints being covered with strips of totara bark. The roof was of totara shingles, each shingle being approximately 2 feet by 6 inches. The first windows were of calico. All the timber for the structure was split from trees growing only five chains away. The chimney was fashioned from well-tamped clay, and Mr lorns secured pit-sawn timber for the floor from Mr Henry Jones. For lighting purposes a slush lamp was used; The first cooking utensils used were a camp oven, tea kettle, and a go-ashore pot. Mr Bannister has gone to considerable trouble to have the picture as full of historic interest as possible. The frame, for instance, is fashioned from totara taken from one of the original fencing posts split by Mr Joseph Masters on his rural section in Johnston Street in 1855’. This property is now in the possession of Mrs Harry Lee, Weraite, who kindly made the post available. Mr Bennett lorns, a great grandson of Mr Masters, then took charge of the historic piece of timber, and worked it up ready for the framing of the picture. The picture was photographed by Miss Iva Gordon, and painted by Miss Cockerill. .