Puhari Whenua

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 190, 8 May 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

Puhari Whenua

The gun which has recently been mounted and afforded a P'f ce °Lown our in a prominent position m the town of Blenheim has had an extraordinarily romantic history. Orig’nally it was the ’■consideration” mentioned in wliat is thought to have been the first deed of land conveyance in the bourn Island. This deed was dra w h «P 1D 1831 by Captain John BUnkinsopp. or “Peringatapu." as the Natives called h’m and set out that for a “consideration,” toe whole of toe Wairau Plain was his. Te Rauparaha, his lieutenant Rangihaetea, and the two local chiefs Nohorua and Puaha signed tue deed, and a slx-pourder off Blinkmsopp’s ship was banded to them in 1866 this gun. Puhuri Whenua as toe Maoris named R, was retrieved from the beach at Kakapo, Port Underwood, by Captain Scott, of the Falcon. It had been lying around for years, and even after it was retrieved it remained lying around unt’l 1875. when it was mounted outside the Blenheim Municipal Chambers. At the time of the relief of Mafeking the gun was used to fire a salute and was then dismounted by some of the more enthusiastic of the residents. Thereafter it fell into disrepair, ard was left to rust in an obscure corner of Seymour Square.— J.M. (Wellington).