24 Transactions. 



Fort Strode* 



In Wakefield's Handbook, published in 1848, is a short description of 

 the eastern or Paua-tahanui arm of Porirua Harbour, in which occurs the 

 statement, " Two stockades, one of which is called Fort Strode, at different 

 points of this north arm, have been occupied by small military detachments." 



One of these posts was that described above ; the other, Fort Strode, 

 named after Sub-Inspector A. C. Strode, of the Police Force, was situated 

 on the terrace-like point of Motu-karaka, on the northern shore of this eastern 

 arm of the harbour. The earthworks of the post are still to be seen near 

 the point, which on some old maps is marked " Police Point," on account 

 of some police having been stationed there, under, I believe, Mr. Tandy. 

 This post was built on the site of the position occupied by Te Rangihaeata 

 after he left Taupo (Plimmerton) and prior to his removal to Paua-tahanui. 

 His sojourn at Motu-karaka was rendered uncomfortable by young McKillop, 

 a ^midshipman of H.M.S. "Calliope" (afterwards McKillop Pasha), who 

 mounted a gun on the long-boat of the " Tyne " (wrecked shortly before at 

 Island Bay), and strolled up and down the harbour bombarding hapless 

 hostiles, and puncturing the atmosphere with cannon-balls. 



In those days of the " forties " the ferry charge from Paremata to 

 Jackson's Ferry was Is. 6d., to Paua-tahanui the same, to Fort Strode 9d.. 

 and to Cooper's, at Whitireia, 9d. 



We have now enumerated all the posts established in the Wellington 

 District in the " forties," and explained their situations. Other details 

 and remarks concerning some of them, as Fort Richmond, Paremata, and 

 Paua-tahanui, are not given here, not being necessary to a paper that is 

 designed merely to draw attention to these places of interest. Further 

 notes on some of them were published in a series of papers on " Porirua 

 and They Who Settled it" in the Canterbury Times of 1914. 



Native Disturbances of the " Sixties." 



Two Blockhouses erected in the Hutt Valley in 1860-61. 



When these troubles arose in the land public uneasiness caused the 

 erection of two blockhouses in the Hutt Valley, one at McHardy's clear- 

 ing, Upper Hutt district, and the other near the Hutt Bridge, where the 

 Post-office now standi'. The latter has disappeared, but the former still 

 stands (1918). The old post at the Taita seems to have disappeared about 

 twenty years ago. 



The Spectator of the 21st March. 1860, gives an account of the balloting 

 for the first draft of the Militia at Mount Cook Barracks in the presence 

 of Major TrafTord. 



Old Blockhouse at Upper Hutt. 



Half-hidden by tree-growth, this old refuge of sixty years ago stands 

 lone and unknown in a paddock half a mile from the Wallaceville Railway- 

 station, in the Upper Hutt district, some twenty miles from Wellington 

 City. Of the few who know of its existence some have curiously erroneous 

 ideas as to its origin and age. It was built in the latter part of the year 

 1860 as a refuge and rallying-place for the settlers of the district, in case 

 of a Maori raid ; for at that time manv of the Maori of the Otaki district 

 were hostile to Europeans, and the King flag was hoisted in the village 



* Not shown on map, but situated on the point immediately west of Paua-tahanui, 

 north-east of Paremata. 



