Tupunga written by; Robert Manu Gay Source Material; Tales of Banks Bay Peninsula H.C. Jacobson 1914, Akaroa New Zealand Near Pigeon Bay the French established a farm under Commodore Lavaud for growing vegetables for a crew of 15 or 16 sailors who were left under the command of their quatermaster. 5 or 6 of these sailors were stationed at Akaroa and it was decided that they should build three block houses as safe places of retreat in case the Maori came to make war on the settlers. The buildings were two storeys high built with timbers 8 feet by 8 feet and black pine planking four inches thick. From the upper storey of the safe houses they could fire down on any Maoris who attempted to fire the building below. A ditch was dug which was four feet on the bottom and eight feet on the top. Around the buildings there were walls of earth which made a sloping bank against the sides of the houses and the ditch was filled with water. The only way to get into the houses was by a draw bridge across the moat and a ladder to a doorway in the upper storey, there was no other way to enter the building on the lower floor. When the drawbridge and ladder were raised those inside the buildings were safe from any attacks from the Maori. The buildings had four inch boards which could easily stop any bullet from an ordinary gun which the Maoris had. Built into the walls of the blockhouse were loopholes from which the defenders could fire from if they were attacked.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 18:15:22 +0000
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