THE
PAREMATA BARRACKS (A Bit Of History)
Our
James SLIGHT'S first New Zealand station would appear to be at the Paremata
Barracks on the Porirua Harbour, a few miles north of Wellington.
The
Paremata Barracks were built at the instigation of Governor George Grey with the
purpose of thwarting the efforts of the Maori chief, Te Rangiheate, whose tribe
harassed the European settlers in the Wellington area from their bush sanctuary
in the Upper Hutt.
Governor
Grey was of the view that if he established a military post at Porirua and
regularly patrolled the area between Porirua and the Upper Hutt valley he could
contain the Maoris and stop them plundering the settlers. He was indeed
successful.
The
first troops to go to Porirua were detachments of the 58th, 96th and 99th
Regiments. About 220 men left Wellington on the 29 April, 1846, in the steam
frigate "Driver" and the transport "Slains Castle". After a
buffeting in a Cooks Strait gale it took a week to reach Paremata.
Governor
Grey wanted something more durable than a stockade and arranged for military
barracks to be built. It was not until the 7 August, 1847, before the building
was completed and taken over by H .M. S. Ordinance.
James
Slight arrived in Wellington from England, via Hobart and Sydney on the
"Levent" on the 27 July, 1846. He sailed from Wellington on H.M.S.
"Calliope" on the 30 July, 1846, with a detachment from the 65th
Regiment, (The 65th "Yorkshire North Riding" Regiment of Foot, (
The Royal Tigers ) C. O.s C. E. Gold & A. F. W. Wyatt. ) Arrived
in Wellington from Australia in 1846, and stayed until 1865, so achieving the
longest period of service in New Zealand -- nearly 20 years. Active in
Wellington and Wanganui in 1846 - 47, the regiment distinguished itself in the
Taranaki and Waikato campaigns from 1860 - 1866. The Maori called thr regiment
the "Hikety Pips" (65th), and greatly respected the men. ) arriving at Porirua on the 1 August, 1846. His wife, Athelia, and baby
daughter, Mary Jane, stayed at Wellington with the other wives and their
children.
Imperial forces stayed at the Barracks untill June 1852, when
the last units of the 65th Regiment withdrew. The Barracks were extensivively
damaged by an earthquake in October, 1848, and again by a further earthquake on
the 23rd of January, 1855. The remnants of the Paremata Barracks may be viewed
by proceeding from State Highway 1, across the railway line from a point a
little south of the Mana railway station.
Later
Private Slight was transferred to Wanganui, probably encamped at the Rutland
Barracks or the York Stockade. He
was given a free discharge from the Army at Wanganui on the 31st December, 1839.
The
Slight's were given a land grant near Marton where they are said to have been
the first settlers. They lived the
rest of their lives at Marton. They had seven more children after their arrival
in New Zealand, all of whom married.
Athelia died at Marton on the 14th July, 1892, aged 73, and James died on the 22nd April, 1905, aged 86. Both were buried at Marton, New Zealand.