CRAYNE STREET
The name of Masterton’s first schoolmaster, and his nephew, are both recalled in streets at Kuripuni. Holmes Crayne was the first master at the school held in a multi-purpose building in Queen Street, a building which served as schoolhouse, church and social hall. He was also the local registrar of births, deaths and marriages. A well-educated man, he served the town in a number of community posts. Crayne Street was originally given two names – the western part of the street was known as Cannon Street (for reasons unknown as it is unlikely to have housed an armoury) but the name was gradually dropped. His nephew, Daniel Walton, took over from his uncle as registrar. Walton spent most of his life in Masterton, where he married a daughter of another early settler, Richard Kibblewhite. He was a deeply religious man, taking services in the Kuripuni Hall. He was also interested in politics, and would urge people to vote for a particular candidate, although his religious convictions forbade him from voting himself. When Kibblewhite subdivided his land on Upper Plain in 1878 he intended to name a street after Walton, but the area was bought by a farmer, and the street was never developed. Waltons Avenue, in Kuripuni, was formed shortly before Walton died in 1902.
WALTONS AVENUE
Crayne’s nephew Daniel Walton, took over from his uncle as registrar. Walton spent most of his life in Masterton, where he married a daughter of another early settler, Richard Kibblewhite. He was a deeply religious man, taking services in the Kuripuni Hall. He was also interested in politics, and would urge people to vote for a particular candidate, although his religious convictions forbade him from voting himself. When Kibblewhite subdivided his land on Upper Plain in 1878 he intended to name a street after Walton, but the area was bought by a farmer, and the street was never developed. Waltons Avenue, in Kuripuni, was formed shortly before Walton died in 1902.
