hi, I never knew that matui/Somes island had a animal quarantine station that treated animals befor entering Wellington or that Matui was named after Kupe's daughter.
Thanks for your response Hannah. The island certainly has an interesting history. Did you also learn about it being a quarantine station for people? See if you can find out more. It would be great to hear from some other Tui members.... Mrs W
The lighthouse “The lighthouse lamp shines forth from far to guide their course aright. 'Tis like the eye of providence that sheds its glorious ray And now the weary mariners no longer feel dismay. The port of safety is in view - the winds and ocean roar As if in rage to lose their prey that hums to the shore. But soon the harbour’s mouth is gained - all dangers at an end.” William Lyall, the island’s first lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse that stands on Matiu/Somes Island today was constructed in 1900 and later automated. This replaced the original lighthouse that was built in 1866, and was the first harbour light in the country. The island's name In many Maori traditions, it was the demigod Maui who pulled New Zealand from the depths of the sea, but it was the daring Polynesian explorer Kupe who brought names to numerous places in Aotearoa. Matiu and nearby Makaro islands were named by Kupe in honour of two of his daughters. In 1839, Matiu Island was assumed by the New Zealand Company, along with much of greater Wellington. The island was renamed Somes, after Joseph Somes, the company’s deputy-governor and financier at the time. Somes remained the island’s name for the next 150 years. In 1997, the New Zealand Geographic Board assigned the official bilingual name of Matiu/Somes Island in acknowledgement of the island’s remarkable Maori and European history. Quarantine station From the early 1870s until 1920, Matiu/Somes Island was frequently used as a human quarantine station. The quarantine facility was erected on the island in 1872, shortly after the immigrant ship England came into Wellington Harbour flying the yellow quarantine flag. A monument stands on the island to those who lost their lives while confined on Matiu/Somes. Animal quarantine station For over 100 years, beginning in the early 1880s, Matiu/Somes served as an animal quarantine station. Dogs, cattle, sheep, red deer, llama and other livestock arrived from all over the world. The animals were kept on the island until given a clean bill of health. Many of the buildings on the island were built to accommodate this large-scale quarantine operation. A world at war For such a small island, Matiu/Somes played a large role in New Zealand’s defence and security strategies for both world wars. German internees on Matiu/Somes during World War I In World War I and much of World War II, the island was a camp for enemy alien internees who were considered a security threat. On the summit of the island, you can see five concrete structures that remain from a World War II heavy antiaircraft artillery position. The gun emplacements were built in 1942, but never had to be used in war.
hi, I never knew that matui/Somes island had a animal quarantine station that treated animals befor entering Wellington or that Matui was named after Kupe's daughter.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response Hannah. The island certainly has an interesting history. Did you also learn about it being a quarantine station for people? See if you can find out more. It would be great to hear from some other Tui members....
ReplyDeleteMrs W
It wa really fun learned alot thanks Miss W
ReplyDeletei learnt so much i didnt no thx miss w
ReplyDeleteWe so need 2 use this more often
ReplyDeletei know we need to use it for homework
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe lighthouse
ReplyDelete“The lighthouse lamp shines forth from far to guide their course aright. 'Tis like the eye of providence that sheds its glorious ray And now the weary mariners no longer feel dismay. The port of safety is in view - the winds and ocean roar As if in rage to lose their prey that hums to the shore. But soon the harbour’s mouth is gained - all dangers at an end.” William Lyall, the island’s first lighthouse keeper.
The lighthouse that stands on Matiu/Somes Island today was constructed in 1900 and later automated. This replaced the original lighthouse that was built in 1866, and was the first harbour light in the country.
The island's name
In many Maori traditions, it was the demigod Maui who pulled New Zealand from the depths of the sea, but it was the daring Polynesian explorer Kupe who brought names to numerous places in Aotearoa. Matiu and nearby Makaro islands were named by Kupe in honour of two of his daughters.
In 1839, Matiu Island was assumed by the New Zealand Company, along with much of greater Wellington. The island was renamed Somes, after Joseph Somes, the company’s deputy-governor and financier at the time. Somes remained the island’s name for the next 150 years. In 1997, the New Zealand Geographic Board assigned the official bilingual name of Matiu/Somes Island in acknowledgement of the island’s remarkable Maori and European history.
Quarantine station
From the early 1870s until 1920, Matiu/Somes Island was frequently used as a human quarantine station.
The quarantine facility was erected on the island in 1872, shortly after the immigrant ship England came into Wellington Harbour flying the yellow quarantine flag. A monument stands on the island to those who lost their lives while confined on Matiu/Somes.
Animal quarantine station
For over 100 years, beginning in the early 1880s, Matiu/Somes served as an animal quarantine station. Dogs, cattle, sheep, red deer, llama and other livestock arrived from all over the world.
The animals were kept on the island until given a clean bill of health. Many of the buildings on the island were built to accommodate this large-scale quarantine operation.
A world at war
For such a small island, Matiu/Somes played a large role in New Zealand’s defence and security strategies for both world wars.
German internees on
Matiu/Somes during World War I
In World War I and much of World War II, the island was a camp for enemy alien internees who were considered a security threat.
On the summit of the island, you can see five concrete structures that remain from a World War II heavy antiaircraft artillery position. The gun emplacements were built in 1942, but never had to be used in war.
copy and pastier much hannah
ReplyDelete