Kete New Plymouth

While little information remains about the man Hāwera’s Denby Road was named after, there is plenty of evidence of the road’s changing layout.

The road was named after a Corporal Joseph Denby of Number 9 Company, Taranaki Military Settlers, who was allotted a section of land, at what was then, the end of Denby Road, next to the Waihi Stream.

Some of the military settlers did not take up their land allotments, or only farmed for a period of time, before moving on. It is not clear how long Joseph Denby farmed his land, but his name was associated with

Howard Street, near East Beach in Waitara, was named after a soldier killed in the First Taranaki War.

James Howard fought in the 65^th Regiment of the British Army. These infantry troops took part in imperial conflicts everywhere from Massachusetts to Oman, with around 700 serving in Taranaki in 1860-61. Known as the "Royal Tigers", they were nicknamed the "Hickety Pips" by Māori. Soldiers of the 65^th shared a mutual respect for the fighting ability of their Māori opponents, who it is said would often call out to British sentries on night patrol, letting them know when a ceasefire was

A permit was granted to Alfred Smith on November 4th 1919 for the construction of a 'cottage' on Town Section 1300 (this is a mistake in the permit book, it should be section 1301) in Buller Street - Jones & Sandford were the builders and the house had an estimated construction cost of £800.

This house is thought to be the second dwelling constructed by New Plymouth firm Jones & Sandford.

Smith sold the property to Thomas Willson in July 1922 (who also purchased neighbouring 14 Octavius Place at the same time).

The house was one of three dwelings removed

A permit was granted to Alfred Smith on June 21st 1919 for the construction of a residence on Part Town Sections 1286 & 1287 in Octavius Place - Jones & Sandford were the builders and the house had an estimated construction cost of £910.

This house is thought to have been the first dwelling constructed by New Plymouth firm Jones & Sandford.

Smith sold the property to Thomas Willson in July 1922 (who also purchased neighbouring 53 Buller Street at the same time), with Wilson listed as residing at the Octavius Place property until the 1943 edition of Wises Post

2019 View: By Hamish Crimp

The early history of this cottage is somewhat unclear, although it seems likely that it was constructed by or for Walter John Morrison on Town Section 2077 (present site of 256 Courtenay Street) during the 1850s, and then relocated to neighbouring Town Section 2076 (present site of 250 D & E Courtenay Street) for Margery Kirkby during the early 1900s.

Skinner’s 1880 Map shows a cottage on the front of Town Section 2077, with DP1657,