T. P. Hughson's Cottage, 210A Tukapa Street

Whilst this cottage has been advertised as being from the 1950s, its style, including small size, profile, and internal board and batten ceiling suggests a cottage from a much earlier period.

The cottage was originally clad in vertical board and batten, and the large vertical boards (appearing to be kauri and rimu) are still present underneath the current stucco; the building was likely 'modernised' and extended in the 1950s. Vertical board and batten cladding was not widely used after about 1870, and the cottage is either (1.) a very late (circa 1881) example of a board and batten clad building; (2.) Was originally constructed on this site prior to the subdivision of the "Westown Settlement' in 1879; or (3.) was relocated to this section sometime in the nineteenth century. 

This cottage is located in the original village of 'Westown'. The first sections were subdivided from a portion of prominent settler Peter Elliot's farm in 1879. At this time Tukapa Street was called 'Elliot Road', later to become 'Tukapo Street', and then finally 'Tukapa Street'.

This cottage is located on Section 12 of the Westown Subdivision (part of Section 26 Fitzroy District). Section 12 was sold to Thomas P. Hughson in March 1881. An advertisement was placed by H. Hughson in August 1882 mentioning a cottage to let in Westown; this could be the present building, or it may be a cottage on adjacent H. Hughson's section. T. P. Hughson retained ownership of the section until 1920, when it was purchased by an L.? Jury.  

Whilst T. P. Hughson owned the section, he may have lived on the coast for much of his life, operating a number of stores including at Parihaka and Rahotu - it's thought the cottage was rented during this period. Confusingly, it appears T. P Hughson may have had a brother named T. P Hughson, and also called his son T. P. Hughson (although this is not confirmed) - it is unclear which T. P Hughson actually owned the Westown property, although it is thought to be Hugh's oldest son who emigrated to NZ at the age of seventeen and later served in the Armed Constabulary. 

It appears T. P. Hughson operated a Westown mail coach for a time in 1906. In 1907 a "4 roomed cottage" in Westown was advertised for let by T. P and H. Hughson - this is probably the current cottage at 210A Tukapa Street. 

T. P. Hughson was the son of Hugh Hughson, who opened the first store in Westown in 1881; this store was located on Omata Road not too far from his son's property. Hugh's store was probably located on Section 10 of the Westown Subdivision (current 7-13 Omata Road), which was purchased by Hugh in 1880, and remained in his ownership until his death in 1908 - although it's unclear if he lived on the section. In the twentieth century, descendants of Hugh Hughson also ran the well-known hardware store Hughson's Hardware in New Plymouth.

Geoffrey Hughson (b. 1886), son of the Ōkato based T. P Hughson, wrote a book detailing the Hughson family history in 1966 - this may be helpful in clarifying exactly which T. P Hughson owned the Westown property - if indeed there is more than one T. P Hughson.

The cottage is clearly present on SO1047 surveyed in 1899. 

Related items:

Taranaki Land Deed Index I4 Page 314 and I14 Page 586.

Taranaki DEED3 Sheet 1, ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)

Taranaki DP6421 Sheet 1, ICS Pre 300,000 Cadastral Plan Index (Imaged by LINZ)