Thanks. I needed to clarify the story that had been handed down!
Edward Noel Barraud built a home called 'Inverleith" at Paekakariki which my gt grandfather John Hall Newton, soap manufacturer, purchased or perhaps it was his daughter, some time in the 30's and where my grandparents John jnr retired to from Te Mata in the Waikato. The Newtons were Wellington people so he and his wife Queenie nee Letham were returning to their roots from their farming days.
The house is a lovely home with a large artists studio on the top which looks out to the ocean. This was where Noel Barraud painted and there was a story that he painted the dog, but on further examination it was his cousin Francis in England. Thank you for helping me to clarify that. Denis Glover, the poet, also lived in the studio for a time. When Queenie died the house was passed to her daughter Betty (Newton) Porter and she and her husband Jack Porter lived here until they died. AS children we loved going to stay with them as the 2 storied house fascinated us and besides we loved our Aunt Bet.
