28 Transactions. 



Militia has been called out both in Wellington and Whanganui, all the dis- 

 posable rifles have been distributed, and two stockades are being erected 

 in the Hutt district." 



The same publication in its issue of the 24th November, 1860, giving 

 Wellington news up to the 7th September, quotes the following from the 

 Wellington Independent : "A stockade is about to be erected at the Upper 

 Hutt, and the one now erecting at the Lower Hutt is rapidly progressing. 

 Recently, at the request of several gentlemen of the Hutt, the contractor 

 supplied them with a target made the exact thickness of the sides of the 

 stockades and filled with screened gravel, which was carted to a suitable 

 place under the superintendence of Captain Carlyon, Lieutenant Ludlam, 

 and Corporal Tapp, of the Royal Engineers. The firing commenced at 

 120 yards, shortening the distance until within five paces, when several 

 rounds were fired from three different descriptions of rifles, likewise from 

 one of the percussion muskets. On examination of the target the result 

 proved very satisfactory, sixteen having struck the centre, but not one had 

 passed through, the balls flattening as soon as they come in contact with 

 the gravel, thus proving the efficiency of the present works." 



" A memorial for the erection of stockades has been sent to the Governor 

 from about sixty of the residents in the small-farm neighbourhood of the 

 Wairarapa. It is worthy of note that none of the sheep-farmers whose 

 homesteads are scattered over the valley, and whose property would have 

 to be abandoned should an outbreak occur, have consented to sign it." 



The Hutt Stockade. 



The following particulars of the blockhouse and stockade erected at the 

 Lower Hutt at the same time is culled from the Spectator : — 



" Through the courtesy of Corporal Tapp, of the Royal Engineers, who 

 has been sent down to superintend the works, we have been favoured with 

 an inspection of the plan for the stockade and blockhouse to be erected 

 at the Hutt. The site selected is a paddock opposite Jillet's Hotel, known 

 as Plowman's land. The stockade will be 95 ft. square, with walls 9 ft. 

 high, rendered bullet-proof to 6 ft. by the interstice between the inside 

 and outside planking being filled with shingle. The blockhouse, which will 

 be in the south-west corner, the nearest the bridge, will be two stories high, 

 with galvanized-iron roof, and rendered bullet-proof throughout by the 

 same means as that used for the stockade. Its dimensions will be 30 ft. 

 by 30 ft., with outside flanks of 15 ft., with loopholes on all sides and in 

 both stories. In the opposite or north-east corner will be corresponding 

 flanks or loopholes. The magazine will be 8 ft. by 4 ft., by 7 ft. high. The 

 blockhouse will be built so as to protect the Wairarapa and Waiwhetu 

 Roads, the bridge, and the ferry. Mr. W. Taylor's tender, £725, has been 

 accepted, and the works will be commenced next week, the contract time 

 for their completion being three months from the acceptance of the 

 tender." 



In this extract we see what the nature of the stockade was at the Upper 

 Hutt, the two being constructed on the same plan. Some of the loopholes 

 are plainly seen, while those blocked with tompions are scarcely discernible. 



