Hulbert Residence, 88 Buller Street (1902)

Part Town Section 1328, south-western corner of Buller and Hobson Streets, was purchased by S. E. Hulbert in June 1902, from land agent William Courtney. 

The permit that is thought to relate to the construction of 88 Buller Street was granted by the Borough Council to Mrs Hulbert on 11 July 1902 for the construction of a 'cottage' on Town Section 1291 Buller Street - the architect was John Arthur Maisey, and the estimated construction cost was £420. The listing of the section as 1291 in the NPBC permit register (instead of the actual section 1328), is thought to be a mistake. Section 1291 is not even located on Buller Street, rather one block away on the south-western corner of Hobson Street and Octavius Place.

Hulbert first appears in Stone's Street Directory at this location in 1903 and is listed as a draper's assistant. It appears Mr S. E. Hulbert may also have been a preacher who regularly conducted church services around North Taranaki. He wrote several letters to the editor of the Taranaki Herald in 1903 regarding the observation of the Sabbath (or lack thereof by some New Plymouth residents) - his letter is signed "S. Ewart Hulbert, Buller Street".

In March 1904, Newton King advertised that he "has received instructions from Mr S. E. Hulbert, who is leaving the district, to sell by auction at his mart on Saturday March 12 - Part Section 1328, corner of Buller and Hobson Streets, with new 7-room house; all conveniences - washhouse, sheds, water and gas laid on". The property didn't sell and appears to be still occupied by the Hulbert's in 1905, when Mrs Hulbert advertised some linoleum for sale. The property was once again advertised for sale by auction in April 1909 - it failed to sell again. The property was finally sold in December 1911, when it was purchased by A. L. Hammond. 

The villa is located on a prominent corner section. 

Architect John Arthur Maisey

Maisey was born in 1860 in Birmingham England, where he practiced for a number of years. He arrived in New Plymouth with his family in 1897 and farmed on Barrett Road for several years, selling his farm in June 1900, and moving into New Plymouth soon after. Maisey is not well known in New Plymouth, although he apparently designed a significant number of local buildings (most notably the 1904 New Plymouth Exhibition Buildings - a 'temporary' structure located on Poverty Flat/St Michael's Square), before shifting to Wellington in early 1905. In Wellington Maisey practiced in partnership with Henry Johns from 1905 until his retirement in 1908 - in just three years Maisey and John designed over 40 buildings.

Related items:

Town Section 1328, Taranaki Land Deed Index I5 Page 227 and I13 Page 406. (Archives New Zealand)