archaeology and history of human occupation - Auckland Regional ...

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The excise man's lot was not a happy one. They may be forgiven for sometimes
becoming over-zealous. The Weekly News of 21 April 1866 reported that two .
officers "on Sunday morning proceeded to the house of Mr S. H. Berningham, a
well-known and respected settler at Matakana, and seized 28 gallons of peach
wine, made this season for household use. A boiler, used for washing, might
possibly have been used for a still, but was not carried off'. The cask was rolled
off to a cutter and delivered to their superior officer in town, who ruled the seizure
unjustified and returned it to the owner. He claimed that in transit the wirie had
started working again in the cask and was now worthless. The journalist "
concludes:
"We dare say that settlers will be gratified to learn, even at Mr B.'s expense, that
their wives may prepare peach and gooseberry wines without fear of a visit from
Customs. A great many ladies were frightened when they heard of the raid
because a quantity of such wines had been fermented; and they feared to lose their
labour and liberty, through being of a thrifty turn. They may now rest satisfied;
but we would advise that if they wish to be quite secure, not to permit any prying
person to get a glimpse of the boiler, or even the tea kettle on the 1 hob; for who .
knows but information may be given, and two officers of her Majesty's Customs,
armed with revolvers, may suddenly invade the household and carry off the .;'
suspicious vessels to Auckland in triumph?".
The Scott homestead has remained a private residence except for a brief period at
the end of the century when Thomas Scott Junior went to sea and left his wife and
daughter in Auckland. During this time the Grant family leased the building as an
unlicensed guest house. Thomas died in 1911 and his wife Janet in 1922. From
then on the building was shared by the descendants as a holiday home until the
ARA bought the property in 1971. The homestead is now considered to have
nistbnc"value "(class D - merits recording because of its historical significance or-—architectural
quality) and is noted as an historic building in the Rodney District v
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