BOPDHB History Whakatāne Hospital History Book | Page 23

Webster’s Hill (Silver Hill), Tāneatua Valley Road. Photo: Author’s personal collection, 2011

Block IX Section 13, in the Second Ballot (in 1898) of the Ōpōuriao-Taneatua
Settlement,33 was 116 acres of mainly hill and river flats on the western side of the
Whakatāne/Tāneatua Highway. It was purchased by Ernest Broderick who had earlier
managed the Waimana Estate. He later sold the land to Jim and Archie Collins who,
in 1918, sold it to Edward (Ted) Webster who was a keen horticulturist from Howick.
It was he who planted Rambling Roses and Silver Poplars which can still be seen today
along the road frontage. With the growth of the poplars the farm became known as
‘Silver Hill’ and is currently (2011) owned by Mr Bill Roberts.
In July 1919, the Board again met to discuss the two possible sites. Both sites had support and
so the matter was determined on a vote of 5 to 3 in favour of the Webster’s Hill site. This decision
was conveyed to the Hon GW Russell, Minister for Public Health but at a Board meeting held on 16
September 1919 they were advised that the Minister:
...could not give his assent to the hospital being built on the site chosen by the Board as the
decision was in the face of the advice tendered by experts of the Health Department.
The Minister recommended the Board re-consider the Kirk’s farm site.

33

Alison B. Heath, The Opouriao-Taneatua Settlement of 1896, (Whakatāne, Whakatāne &
District Historical Society, 1989), p 181

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