DEVONPORT - NORTH HEAD
On Saturday 9th July a small group of us headed off to Northhead with Mr and Mrs Massari. We learnt so much while we were there, not only is it one of Aucklands most beautiful sites, with views of the city, Rangitoto Island and more, it is a very important historical site.
Here are some of the facts we learnt:
- The disappearing gun was meant to be used to defend New Zealand against the Russians in World War I and the Japanese in World War II, fortunately it was never fired in anger, only during practise. (Holly)
- The observation rooms had maps painted on walls running across from one side to another, they were used to identify where the enemy was and the officers on duty would give information to the gunners if needed.(Holly)
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- At the observation posts almost below the ground, there were two metal pipes protruded on the edge of the wall, these are known as voicepipes. They were used to give information to the gunners if there was danger. The men on duty at the observation would speak into the voice pipe and the men on the otherside would hear the important message. (Maggie)
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- There is a maze of tunnels where the men were protected underground, they kept their ammunition and guns in special rooms as well as their food. (Maggie)
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- During World War II there was a boom defence net that was strung across the Rangitoto Channel from North Head to Rangitoto Island, it was an anti-submarine device. It was made of wooden posts with steel netting strung between them and below the surface of the water. If a submarine hit it, it would rise to the surface of the water, allowing the military to fire at it. (this however, never occured) (Saunoa and Susana)
On our walk to North Head, we noticed a statue of a ball with a bird on top of it. The bird is a sculpture of the Korotangi (Weeping Dove), this bird represents the early Maori settlers and travelled in one of the original seven canoes that landed in New Zealand, carrying the first Maori settlers from Hawaiki in about 1350AD. (Saunoa and Susana)
