at The Elms

As such, Alison believes people who visit e Elms will appreciate the heirloom and the history behind it. “It’s so beautifully carved – it was probably carved by candlelight by German farmers – it’s just absolutely amazing.”

Alison says the toy originally had 200 creatures –today there are 165 pieces. “I’ve also gifted a list that comes with it, which identi es all of the creatures and the people.”

Grateful e Elms Foundation Trust is extremely grateful for the donation. General manager Andrew Gregg says: “We are humbled that Alison has entrusted this precious family heirloom to e Elms Foundation”.

“ e Ark and collection of animals have been positioned on top of the piano inside the Drawing Room, where it can be seen and admired from behind the barrier rope.

“It seemed the appropriate place given there are other educational toys close by.”

Andrew says Noah’s Arks were among the most popular wooden toys of the 19th Century and have been manufactured since the 1700s. “It’s virtually impossible to identify who made the Williams’ family Ark, as it was largely a cottage industry centred mostly in Sei en, Germany.”

Andrew says William Williams visited the Te Papa Mission Station and regularly corresponded with Alfred Brown. “ e Ark is a good example of a toy in the 19th Century and was also known to be used by early missionaries to explain the biblical tale to Māori.”

e Williams family

William Williams came to New Zealand in 1826 and with wife Jane joined Henry Williams at the CMS mission station in Paihia where he was initially responsible for the Boys’ school. In the 1830s, William journeyed extensively throughout the Waikato, but by 1840 he had settled at the mission station at Tūranga (present-day Gisborne) and in 1859 was installed as the rst Anglican Bishop of Waiapu.

Alison says the Ark may have come with him on his rst journey to New Zealand, or sent out later.

She believes William Williams would have passed the toy down to his son William Leonard Williams, then to his daughter Margaret Ellen Williams, who married into the MacLean family.

Alison is the great grand-daughter of Margaret Ellen Williams – who married Christopher MacLean – and so the sixth generation to own the family heirloom.

To view the historical treasure, you can visit e Elms at 15 Mission St, Tauranga. e Elms is open 11am-3pm daily, via an entry charge.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council is considering delaying the adoption of its Annual Plan for 2023/2024.

e council’s Annual Plan Committee will meet next Wednesday, June 14, and consider moving the adoption until Wednesday, August 30.

While councils across New Zealand traditionally adopt an Annual Plan by June 30 each year, the council can delay this process and still comply with the statutory timeframes, according to WBOPDC chief executive o cer John Holyoake.

John says the delay will allow time for further consultation on its nancial contributions and for the property revaluation process to be completed.

“It is important the time is taken now on these two matters to ensure a true and accurate Annual Plan,” says John.