Jamie came round this morning just as I was getting fed up of job applications & we headed off to Howick Historical Village – A mixture of Maori & early European settler dwellings (mostly the latter) loosely based on the fencible village of Howick, the largest fencible settlement which together with Otahuhu, Onehunga & Panmure formed a chain to protect the young capital of Auckland from attack by either the Maori or the Frence. Fencible comes from defencible as in capable of defence, retired soldiers were offered free passage for themselves & their families, a cottage with an acre of land to become theirs after 7 years part time service. Many jumped at the chance, especially those Irish hit hard by the potato famine. In total 10 ships brought 2500 men, women & children to Auckland
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