Following is an excerpt of a speech given by historian and author Alan La Roche marking the 170th anniversary of the founding of Howick. The occasion was marked by a lunch hosted at the Howick Club on Sunday and attended by around 150 people including former Howick Borough mayor Morrin Cooper, organisers Jim Donald (Howick Local Board) and Jenny Foster (former Howick Village Association town centre manager), Rob Mouncey, president of the Howick & Districts Historical Society, and Times Newspapers directors Reay and Brian Neben.
A working group is to be formed to formulate ideas to mark Howick’s 175th birthday in style. Ideas so far include a re-enactment of the first Fencibles landing at Howick and to invite Lord Howick from the UK to attend. Mr La Roche will write a fortnightly column on our history in the lead-up to the big celebration.
“On November 15, 1847, 170 years ago, the first settlers arrived at Waipaparoa –Howick Beach. They were members of the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps, called Pensioners in their day, but we call them Fencibles.
There were three sailing-ships that brought these retired soldier-settlers who would settle in Howick. They were the Minerva, the Sir Robert Sale and the Sir George Seymour (which sailed) from Britain to Auckland Harbour.
After the war in Northland, the Governor needed troops to protect Auckland. Fencibles – retired soldiers – were much cheaper than regular soldiers.”
- Do you have ideas to mark Howick’s 175th birthday celebrations? Email editor@times.co.nz
