Captain George Augustus Bennett (6 January 1807 – 30 April 1845) was an English military engineer of the

Corps of Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...

Board of Ordnance The Board of Ordnance was a British government body. Established in the Tudor period, it had its headquarters in the Tower of London. Its primary responsibilities were 'to act as custodian of the lands, depots and forts required for the defence ...

. He served in

Corfu Corfu (, ) or Kerkyra ( el, Κέρκυρα, Kérkyra, , ; ; la, Corcyra.) is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the margin of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The isl ...

(1828–1832), on the

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of Ireland (1832–1841), as Commanding Royal Engineer in New Zealand (1842–1845) and first president of the Auckland Mechanics' Institute (1842–1845). Whilst serving in Ireland he devised and implemented the system of

contours Contour may refer to: * Contour (linguistics), a phonetic sound * Pitch contour * Contour (camera system), a 3D digital camera system * Contour, the KDE Plasma 4 interface for tablet devices * Contour line, a curve along which the function has a ...

for

maps. In the

Colony of New Zealand The Colony of New Zealand was a Crown colony of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland that encompassed the islands of New Zealand from 1841 to 1907. The power of the British government was vested in the Governor of New Zealand, as th ...

he designed the flagstaff blockhouse central to the

Battle of Kororāreka The Battle of Kororāreka, or the Burning of Kororāreka, on 11 March 1845, was an engagement of the Flagstaff War in New Zealand. Following the establishment of United Kingdom, British control of the islands, war broke out with a small group of ...

(1845) and other military works.

Early life

Bennett, born 6 January 1807, was the second of three sons of William Bennett of

Portsea Portsea may refer to: * Portsea, Victoria, a seaside town in Australia * Portsea Island, an island on the south coast of England contained within the city of Portsmouth * Portsea, Portsmouth Portsea Island is a flat and low-lying natural i ...

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...

, a major in the

, and Mary Early. William served at

Fort Cumberland A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

, Hampshire, and overseas at

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

commanding the 12th Company, Royal Sappers and Miners,

Sicily (man) it, Siciliana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = Ethnicity , demographics1_footnotes = , demographi ...

in 1810 and 1812–1815, and

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

, but died of

consumption Consumption may refer to: *Resource consumption *Tuberculosis, an infectious disease, historically * Consumption (ecology), receipt of energy by consuming other organisms * Consumption (economics), the purchasing of newly produced goods for curren ...

Gosport Gosport ( ) is a town and non-metropolitan borough on the south coast of Hampshire, South East England. At the 2011 Census, its population was 82,662. Gosport is situated on a peninsula on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour, opposite t ...

, Hampshire, on or about 18 June 1821, aged 37 years. Mary married Major Thomas Alston Brandreth, RA, some years later, in 1826. Paternal grandfather, George Augustus Bennett, had served as an officer of the Royal Marine Force; great-grandfather, William Bennett, attained the rank of rear admiral in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...

. Maternal grandfather, James Early, was an officer of the 1st Royal Garrison Battalion; great-grandfather, Early, a farmer at

Datchet Datchet is a village and civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England, located on the north bank of the River Thames. Historically part of Buckinghamshire, and the Stoke Hundred, the village was eventually tr ...

, near

Windsor Windsor may refer to: Places Australia * Windsor, New South Wales ** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area * Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland **Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...

, had been, by family legend, greatly in favour with

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...

on farming matters. Bennett was educated at

Portora Royal School Portora Royal School located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, was one of the public schools founded by the royal charter in 1608, by James I, making it one of the oldest schools in Ireland at the time of its closure. Origina ...

Enniskillen Enniskillen ( , from ga, Inis Ceithleann , 'Cethlenn, Ceithlenn's island') is the largest town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the middle of the county, between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of ...

, County Fermanagh, Ireland, for some of his early years. His brother, Frederick, was born in Ireland in or about 1816. Carrying on a family line of military service and profession of military engineer, he trained at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from 1823 to 11 July 1827. Breaking from family traditions, his brothers' callings were to the clergy, both taking their degrees at Christ Church, Oxford. William James Early Bennett, went on to make a remarkable contribution to the

Oxford Movement The Oxford Movement was a movement of high church members of the Church of England which began in the 1830s and eventually developed into Anglo-Catholicism. The movement, whose original devotees were mostly associated with the University of O ...

Career

Gentleman Cadet Bennett was commissioned as no. 611, 2nd lieutenant in the

, at Woolwich, on 13 July 1827. He remained there for six months and, after a short leave, was posted to the Mediterranean.

Corfu

In 1828, he was stationed at

, Ionian Islands, where fortifications were being repaired and constructed by a company of Corps of Royal Sappers and Miners. As the works at Corfu were too extensive for the garrison there, a smaller fort to command the anchorage had been devised for the island of

Vido Vido ( el, Βίδο) is an island of the Ionian Islands group of Greece. It is a small island (less than a kilometer in diameter) at the mouth of the port of Corfu. History The island was known to the ancients as Ptychia ( grc, Πτυχία ...

, which, constructed from 1825, would be finished by 1831–32.

Ireland

Ordnance Survey

In 1832 Bennett was assigned to the Ordnance survey of Ireland under command of Lieutenant-Colonel

Thomas Frederick Colby Thomas Frederick Colby FRS FRSE FGS FRGS (1 September 17849 October 1852), was a British major-general and director of the Ordnance Survey (OS). A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society, Colby was one of the leading geogra ...

, RE, and Lieutenant

Thomas Aiskew Larcom Major-General Sir Thomas Aiskew Larcom, Bart, PC FRS (22 April 1801 – 15 June 1879) was a leading official in the early Irish Ordnance Survey. He later became a poor law commissioner, census commissioner and finally executive head of the B ...

, RE, and advanced to rank of lieutenant on 10 December. By the end of 1834 he'd worked through producing survey memoirs for many county Antrim, Down and Armagh parishes—

Glenavy Glenavy () is a village and civil parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, 17 kilometres north west of Lisburn on the banks of the Glenavy River. In the 2011 Census it had a population of 5,697 people. In early documents it was known as Lena ...

Aghaderg Aghaderg is a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated in mainly in the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half, with some areas in the baronies of Iveagh Lower, Lower Half (2 townlands) and Iveagh Upper, Lower Half (1 t ...

Annaclone Annaclone () is a village and civil parish between Rathfriland and Banbridge in south County Down, Northern Ireland, about 7 km south-east of Banbridge. The village is situated in the townlands of Ardbrin and Tullintanvally and both it and ...

Clonallan Clonallan is a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated in the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half. The parish has an area of 11,464 acres. Etymology The name of the parish derives from the townland of Clonallan Glebe ...

, Donacloney, Donaghmore,

Dromara Dromara ()Placenames NI
is a village,

Dromore,

Drumballyroney Drumballyroney is a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is situated in the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Lower Half. Settlements The civil parish contains the following settlements: *Rathfriland Townlands Drumballyroney civil par ...

Drumgath Drumgath is a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland, southwest of Rathfriland. It is situated in the historic barony of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half. It is also a townland of 375 acres. Settlements The civil parish contains the following se ...

, Garvaghy,

Magherally Magherally () is a civil parish and townland (of 491 acres) in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is largely situated in the historic barony of Iveagh Lower, Lower Half, with one townland ( Tullyhinan) in the barony of Iveagh Lower, Upper Half. The ...

Magheralin Magheralin () is a village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A3 road between Moira and Lurgan, beside the River Lagan. It had a population of 1,337 people in the 2011 Census. The civil parish of Magheralin c ...

Newry Newry (; ) is a city in Northern Ireland, divided by the Clanrye river in counties Armagh and Down, from Belfast and from Dublin. It had a population of 26,967 in 2011. Newry was founded in 1144 alongside a Cistercian monastery, althoug ...

Seapatrick Seapatrick () is a civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies partly across the three historic baronies of Iveagh Upper, Upper Half, Iveagh Lower, Lower Half and Iveagh Lower, Upper Half. Civil parish of Seapatrick The civil parish cen ...

, Shankill,

Tullylish Tullylish ()PlaceNamesNI - Tullylish
Warrenpoint Warrenpoint ( ga, An Pointe) is a small port town and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It sits at the head of Carlingford Lough, south of Newry, and is separated from the Republic of Ireland by a narrow strait. The town is beside t ...

, Ballymore, Drumcree, Kilmore, Montiaghs,

Seagoe Saint Gobhan has long been linked with the parish of Seagoe – recorded for instance as ''Teach dho-Ghobha'' – in County Armagh, Ireland. This saint - ''Gobban find mac Lugdach'' (-639), was primarily known for his abbacy of the monastery ...

— and with Lieutenant Henry Tucker, RE, took charge of the operations in

County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of Meath to the south, Monaghan to the west, Armagh to the north and Down to the ...

from about 1834. Then, as Captain

Robert Kearsley Dawson Colonel Robert Kearsley Dawson (1798 – 1861) was an English surveyor and cartographer of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Early life Robert K. Dawson was born in 1798 in Dover. His father was Robert Dawson, a surveyor. He studied at the Royal ...

, RE, moved on to England in connection with the Reform Commission in 1835, Bennett took over his hill drawing role, superintending the hill-sketchers.

Contours

On Sunday, 1 April 1838, Bennett gave 4th Division over to Lieutenant St George Lyster, RE, and took charge of the Hill-Drawing Department, Statistics and Antiquities; a change of scene that he hoped would restore his health after the pressures of divisional work. Colby and Larcom briefed him at

Phoenix Park The Phoenix Park ( ga, Páirc an Fhionnuisce) is a large urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its perimeter wall encloses of recreational space. It includes large areas of grassland and tre ...

, Dublin, in 1–2 April. Larcom was keen to introduce light and shade into drawing hills and was attempting it on the rail road map. Colby revealed his scheme for heights of hills or elevation by a series of

at 50 ft each having a darker shade near the hilltop, which Larcom thought noble but impractical. A French engraver's example with houses, woods and other features worked into the shade with good effect was also shown, but trees were not distinct and Bennett disliked it. Hill sketching work was expensive and after years of experiments Colby had not then seen any mode of drawing hills on maps that was perfectly satisfactory. Colby reported to the Inspector General of Fortifications, 6 May 1840:

In the Cadastral Map of Ireland the altitudes marked are extremely numerous, and afford great assistance to the sketchers; still this information alone does not enable them to perfect sketches for definite use. Captain Larcom suggested running contour lines instrumentally at certain distances, as affording accurate data to regulate the detorication of hills.

In pursuit of the definite and useful map, Larcom instigated contouring in 1838, with Bennett specifically tasked with perfecting and implementing the new system. In mid-April, Bennett set the department's senior civil assistant,

Charles Whybrow Ligar Charles Whybrow Ligar (1811–1881) was an Ordnance Survey surveyor, Surveyor General of New Zealand and Surveyor General of Victoria (then a colony, now a state of Australia). Early life Charles Ligar was born on 24 July 1811 in Ceylon, now ...

, to making a scale model from card in 50 ft contour heights which, quickly done, worked well. Having taken an office-residence at

Armagh Armagh ( ; ga, Ard Mhacha, , "Macha's height") is the county town of County Armagh and a city in Northern Ireland, as well as a civil parish. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland – the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Pri ...

in April 1838, and inspected the civilian sketchers' work from

Dungannon Dungannon () is a town in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is the second-largest town in the county (after Omagh) and had a population of 14,340 at the 2011 Census. The Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council had its headquarters in the ...

Coleraine Coleraine ( ; from ga, Cúil Rathain , 'nook of the ferns'Flanaghan, Deirdre & Laurence; ''Irish Place Names'', page 194. Gill & Macmillan, 2002. ) is a town and civil parish near the mouth of the River Bann in County Londonderry, Northern I ...

and the

Giant's Causeway The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (5 km) northeast of ...

, he resolved that for efficacy and economy, the Royal Sappers and Miners must do the contour work. Settling in Armagh in early May he noted: "got all right and comfortable—shall now set to work—head aches as bad nearly as ever with eternal flushings well it will end one way or another—" The headaches and sore eyes continued, nevertheless, he worked through the method of instrumental contours and by the end of May had made a scale skeleton model of "Bendradagh" in 50 ft contour heights, and soon after cast a plaster model of it. He wrote on 29 May:

I question whether if the contours are taken every 25 ft. above the sea by the instrument, there be anything left for the sketcher to do—It seems to me that these 25 ft contours put to the 1 inch scale will fill the sheet—If so, it becomes a matter of calculation, whether an active Sapper cannot contour with an instrument a square mile a day the present rate of sketching only—One most valuable desideratum for the improvement of the country & easily comprehended by all classes (the other only understood by initiated and useless "to the general"—These contours I think can also systematically be united with light and shade, a union of art and mechanism which would perfect & render simple what has hitherto been a system of hyeroglyphics.

The model proved useful to the sappers and by 13 June Bennett noted that they seemed to be getting on well, that: "the contour system works excellently and I have no doubt of its ultimate success—we shall contour soon a square mile a day instrumentally. How immeasurably superior to the sketching". Colby clarified the development of instrumental contouring in 1840:

The use of contour lines had often been proposed by the Continental writers, on military plans for fortifications, &c., but the extensive use of contours obtained by the aid of levelling instruments had never been tried, from an apprehension of the difficulty and expense of the operation. Lieutenant Bennett has tried them over a small part of the north of Ireland with great apparent success; the time and cost has been small compared with the result.

Similarly, Larcom reported to the Commissioners enquiring into the Ordnance Memoir of Ireland in July 1843, that: "contouring was introduced under the direction of Lieutenant Bennett with such energy and ability that the average cost of contouring different parts of Donegal and Louth amounted only to about 10s. a square mile, or a farthing per acre, which was an addition so small as to be quite justifiable." Bennett's contour map work, 1838–1840, including

Inishowen Inishowen () is a peninsula in the north of County Donegal in Ireland. Inishowen is the largest peninsula on the island of Ireland. The Inishowen peninsula includes Ireland's most northerly point, Malin Head. The Grianan of Aileach, a ringfor ...

County Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

, were successful and well received. Specimens and models of the Donegal work were sent to Chatham to be used in the Royal Engineers training course. Colby moved to contour

before Donegal was complete, but Bennett was moving on and the work passed to his successor, who then turned all hill department draftsmen into contourers.

England

Royal Engineers, under command of Captain

George Barney Lieutenant Colonel George Barney (19 May 1792 – 16 April 1862) was a military engineer of the Corps of Royal Engineers and became Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of North Australia. Early life George Barney was born in Wolverhampton, Staf ...

, RE, had been stationed in New South Wales, Australia, since 1835. From there, Lieutenant

Henry Williamson Lugard Lieutenant Colonel Henry Williamson Lugard (10 July 1813 – 30 November 1857) was a military engineer of the Corps of Royal Engineers. He served as architect and engineer in the construction of military, convict and public works in the Colony o ...

, RE, and Clerk of Works

George Graham George Graham (born 30 November 1944), nicknamed "Stroller", is a Scottish former football player and manager. In his successful playing career, he made 455 appearances in England's Football League as a midfielder or forward for Aston Villa, Ch ...

had been assigned to New Zealand following the

Treaty of Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi ( mi, Te Tiriti o Waitangi) is a document of central importance to the history, to the political constitution of the state, and to the national mythos of New Zealand. It has played a major role in the treatment of the M ...

in 1840. Whilst Bennett was at Woolwich, England, in early 1841, the

Master General of the Ordnance The Master-General of the Ordnance (MGO) was a very senior British military position from 1415 to 2013 (except 1855–1895 and 1939–1958) with some changes to the name, usually held by a serving general. The Master-General of the Ordnance was ...

appointed him to assume command of the engineer department in New Zealand. He and his dog embarked at Plymouth on the ''Lady Clarke'' for passage to New Zealand on 4 September 1841.

New Zealand

Stopovers

The ''Lady Clarke'' arrived in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, New South Wales, on 26 December 1841. After sightseeing trips to

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area in Australia, named after Newcastle ...

and the river to

Maitland Maitland is an English and Scottish surname. It arrived in Britain after the Norman conquest of 1066. There are two theories about its source. It is either a nickname reference to "bad temper/disposition" (Old French, ''Maltalent''; Anglo Norm ...

, to Sydney,

Parramatta Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...

and a brief stay with Sir George and Lady Gipps, then to

Wollongong Wollongong ( ), colloquially referred to as The Gong, is a city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The name is believed to originate from the Dharawal language, meaning either 'five islands/clouds', 'ground near wate ...

where the hills, forest and rivers to Campbelltown caught his eye for picturesque landscape, Bennett continued on to New Zealand by the brig ''Bristolian'' on 28 January 1842. He was joined by several passengers he'd met on the voyage out, a coach-maker and wife, James and Elizabeth Soall. The ''Bristolian'' arrived at

Kororāreka Russell, known as Kororāreka in the early 19th century, was the first permanent European settlement and seaport in New Zealand. It is situated in the Bay of Islands, in the far north of the North Island. History and culture Māori settle ...

Bay of Islands The Bay of Islands is an area on the east coast of the Far North District of the North Island of New Zealand. It is one of the most popular fishing, sailing and tourist destinations in the country, and has been renowned internationally for its ...

, on 15 February. With a little effort he located the non-existent towns of

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, and

Russell Russell may refer to: People * Russell (given name) * Russell (surname) * Lady Russell (disambiguation) * Lord Russell (disambiguation) Places Australia *Russell, Australian Capital Territory *Russell Island, Queensland (disambiguation) **Ru ...

, inspected Lugard's military works, then moved on to

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

Fort Britomart and residence

Soon after his arrival in Auckland on 21 February, Governor

William Hobson Captain William Hobson (26 September 1792 – 10 September 1842) was a British Royal Navy officer who served as the first Governor of New Zealand. He was a co-author of the Treaty of Waitangi. Hobson was dispatched from London in July 1 ...

granted Ordnance an elevated Lot 1, Section 8, in front of Fort Britomart for the wooden Royal Engineer office-residence he'd shipped with him. Levelled by a strong gale during its construction on 18 March, Bennett rebuilt it in local brick, positioned with a picturesque view of the

Waitematā Harbour Waitematā Harbour is the main access by sea to Auckland, New Zealand. For this reason it is often referred to as Auckland Harbour, despite the fact that it is one of two harbours adjoining the city. The harbour forms the northern and easter ...

. He also employed the Soalls to keep the office-residence and its grounds. Though Lugard had completed the front portion of Fort Britomart's barrack building in September 1841, the rear section had by 28 February 1842 only been built to the loopholes on one side when he returned to Sydney. Like the barracks at

, Lugard had constructed Auckland's fort and soldiers' barracks as a matter of immediate necessity under a paucity of means with soldiers drawn from the 80th Regiment acting as military artificers. Bennett set to completing the work, amongst other matters, and resolving cost overrun caused by New Zealand's unforeseeable circumstances.

Auckland Mechanics' Institute

A meeting had been held as early as mid-July 1841 to establish the Auckland Mechanics' Institute, its objective—"the acquirement and diffusion of useful knowledge, by means of a library, museum, reading room, and discussions and lectures" confined to mechanical science and natural productions—and the rules. On 5 September 1842 the Institute elected the Commanding Royal Engineer, George Bennett, as their president, along with his former senior civil assistant in Ireland and newly appointed Surveyor General,

, as vice-president. The Acting Governor,

Willoughby Shortland Commander Willoughby Shortland RN (30 September 1804 – 7 October 1869) was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. He was New Zealand's first Colonial Secretary from 1841, after having arrived in New Zealand with Lieutenant Govern ...

, accepted nomination as patron on 22 September. The Institute opened its library in rented cottage from 7:00 pm, 30 September 1842, with John Kitchen as librarian. By 1843 they could provide members with a selection of works by approved authors, and their president hoped the ongoing debates "will be instructive and engender a well directed taste for reading."

Tauranga Campaign of 1842

Following the death of the Governor, Captain

, RN, on 10 September 1842, Acting Governor

, RN, intervened in a Maori dispute of ancient origins with a view to end such conflicts. The Tauranga Campaign, December 1842 to January 1843, led by Major Thomas Bunbury, 80th Regiment, exposed the deficiency of military capacity in New Zealand, if not a better process for justifying such campaigns. Bennett took opportunity to examine

pā The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive terraces – and also to fortified villages. Pā sites o ...

. Impressed by Maori knowledge of and practice in fortification and stratagem, his ''Report on the pahs of New Zealand, and the means necessary to attack them with plans and sections of some pahs'' to the Inspector General of Fortifications in 1843 conceived that without sufficient artillery, assaulting a strong pā would result in considerable loss to the assailants. Tragedy through belligerence with insufficiency of means and ignorance of expert assessment was later felt in the siege of the new pā of Puketutu and

Ōhaeawai Ōhaeawai is a small village at the junction of State Highway 1 and State Highway 12 in the Far North District of New Zealand, some from Auckland. The town of Kaikohe is to the west, and the Bay of Islands is a short drive to the east. The N ...

in May and July 1845. Collinson commented that "the field pieces were such as Lieutenant Bennett, two years before, had pronounced useless against ordinary pahs, and this was known to be one of extraordinary strength." Bennett had equipped the expedition for field operations, with tools and materials including some remaining from his house, and carried on the construction of barracks and other facilities at Hopukiore / Mt Drury, Maunganui, with the mechanics. In consequence of Bunbury's letter to the General commending the engineer's exertions, Bennett advanced to rank of 2nd Captain in September 1843.

Thorndon Barracks

On 23 January 1844 he ventured to

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

in the Colonial Brig ''Victoria'', to arrange barracks for soldiers of the 65th Regiment. As a prison had been blunderingly built on part of the Mount Cook military ground in 1843, rendering it unfit for military barracks, Bennett gained authorisation from Governor

Robert FitzRoy Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy (5 July 1805 – 30 April 1865) was an English officer of the Royal Navy and a scientist. He achieved lasting fame as the captain of during Charles Darwin's famous voyage, FitzRoy's second expedition to Tierra de ...

, having recently arrived in New Zealand and then in Wellington, to obtain a piece of the 10 acre Native Reserve at Thorndon Flat. In exchange, land preferred by and better suited to Maori would be set apart for their exclusive use. Thorndon Barracks required the triangular area within the fork and ditches of the Whakahikuwai and Tiakiwai streams, from Molesworth Street to a frontage on Hobson Street. Confident of a land grant, Bennett completed the barrack proposal by May 1844—estimate and plans of the site, hospital, hospital kitchen and privy, soldiers' barracks, officers quarters, officers' kitchen and officers' privy, guard room and cells, barrack sergeant's quarters and store—some being copies of Fort Britomart buildings. Like

Albert Barracks The Albert Barracks was a major British military installation that overlooked Auckland, New Zealand, from the mid-1840s to 1870, during the city's early colonial period. The perimeter wall was built between 1846 and the early 1850s, in the area ...

in 1845, he would not have considered it justifiable to propose barrack buildings on ground not made over to the

, and no permanent structures were built. In 1848 Lieutenant Collinson, RE, followed up the request for the Crown grant of the land to Ordnance but the Executive Council declined a grant, though allowed temporary use. Attorney General

Daniel Wakefield Daniel Wakefield (1776–1846) was a writer on political economy. Life Daniel, born in 1776, was the second son of Edward Wakefield (1750–1826), merchant, of London, by his wife Priscilla Bell, daughter of Daniel Bell. Edward Wakefield (1774 ...

's view was that reserved lands couldn't be granted without the consent of the Maori beneficially interested in them. The site is now remodelled as

Katherine Mansfield Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp; 14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923) was a New Zealand writer, essayist and journalist, widely considered one of the most influential and important authors of the modernist movement. Her works are celebra ...

Memorial Park, Queen Margaret College, and SH 1

Wellington Urban Motorway The Wellington Urban Motorway, part of SH 1, is the major road into and out of Wellington, New Zealand. It is 7 km long, ranges from three to seven lanes wide, and extends from the base of the Ngauranga Gorge into the Wellington CBD. Fro ...

Great South Road

Bennett mentioned building roads through the island, ready for military use, in 1843. ''The Southern Cross'', 6 April 1844, expressed the want of proper roads to convey surplus produce to markets. Cutting roads from Auckland through the interior to Wellington and to the Bay of Islands would be immediately beneficial. If troops were needed, "they would at least be better employed in making roads than idle in barracks or drinking in town. Captain Bennett, the Officer of Engineers, would also have an opportunity of keeping himself in the practice of his profession, and connecting his name with the most useful undertaking in the Colony. Under his directions we might expect to have the best lines selected for the most important of our roads." The Great South Road from Newmarket, apparent since 1843, forced its way south as a military road from 1861.

Grange and gardens

Bennett had purchased land about Auckland—suburban farms at Epsom and Mt Eden near

Three Kings The biblical Magi from Middle Persian ''moɣ''(''mard'') from Old Persian ''magu-'' 'Zoroastrian clergyman' ( or ; singular: ), also referred to as the (Three) Wise Men or (Three) Kings, also the Three Magi were distinguished foreigners in the G ...

in 1842 and 1843, as well as a site for his new residence on the heights of Khyber Pass Road, Lot 7, Section 3, just over 5 acres, at the head of

Grafton Gully Grafton Gully is a deep (about 50 m) and very wide (about 100 m) gully running northwards towards the sea through the volcanic hills of the Auckland volcanic field in New Zealand. It divides the CBD from the suburbs of Grafton and Parnell in ...

/ Glen Ligar in July 1843. There, with its commanding view over the harbour and islands, Government House and

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a buri ...

, he established Bennett's Grange, later reported as named ''Glenhead''. The view was painted by several notable landscape artists— John Guise Mitford and the Reverend

John Kinder John Kinder (born September 28, 1974 in Santa Ana, California) is a Japanese American stock car racing, stock car racing driver. He is a former competitor in the NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman and the Winston West Series, and in the United ...

in the 1840s and 1850s. The newly formed Agricultural Society in Auckland held its first show on Tuesday, 19 December 1843: "The exhibition of Floral, Horticultural, and Farm Produce, was held in the large room of Hart's Hotel, and was in every respect highly creditable to the colony, and to this settlement in particular. Considering the very early stage of the agriculture of this settlement, the exhibition may be said to have exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. The flowers from the garden of Lieutenant Bennet were exceedingly beautiful, and show how much the lovers of Flora may expect in such a delightful climate as this." "Mr. Bennett" was awarded the prize for the ''Flower Bouquet'' category. Many flowering plants, which he was the first to have in the Colony, went by his name.

Flax fibre industry

The

flax Flax, also known as common flax or linseed, is a flowering plant, ''Linum usitatissimum'', in the family Linaceae. It is cultivated as a food and fiber crop in regions of the world with temperate climates. Textiles made from flax are known in ...

trade was extensive in the north of Ireland when Bennett left for New Zealand. It was thought that a national good might be achieved from it, and to that end a society was formed in Belfast in 1841 to advance good practice and economy. A fibre industry in New Zealand made good export sense and to that end efforts were put to mechanising the production of fibre from New Zealand flax, ''Phormium tenax''. By October 1843 and late 1844, Bennett's cultivation of common flax, ''Linum usitatissimum'', at his Auckland suburban farm and experiments in processing by boiling green flax with fullers earth, producing some very fine examples, caught the interest of ''The Southern Cross'': "We understand Mr. Bennet is about adapting machinery to the after process of cleaning. We trust his experiments will succeed. Mr. Bennet has always manifested a praiseworthy interest in furthering the prosperity of the colony since he came amongst us."

The New-Zealand Festival

In May 1844 about two or three thousand Maori from various tribes and remote districts peacefully assembled together for a week at

Epsom Epsom is the principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about south of central London. The town is first recorded as ''Ebesham'' in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner. The ...

, about three miles from Auckland town. Though ''The Southern Cross'' reported that the meeting was "for the purpose of still more cementing that friendship and good feeling which their now superior knowledge teaches to be essential to their comfort and happiness", Bennett noted that it was "for the purposes of a correro with the Governor—The natives wish to sell their land to whom they please, & the native chiefs wish to be governor over their own people with their own laws—how far this is applicable with English rule I leave for wiser heads." Joseph Jenner Merrett's panorama of the event on Saturday 11 May 1844, ''The New-Zealand Festival'', looking across the Market Road / Great South Road intersection to Mount Saint John, depicts the arrival of Governor

in naval uniform, followed by a military officer, Attorney General William Swainson, Colonial Treasurer Alexander Shepherd and others on horseback, with Maori chiefs and Europeans in procession along "Market Road" from

Remuera Remuera is an affluent inner city suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located four kilometres southeast of the city centre. Remuera is characterised by many large houses, often Edwardian or mid 20th century. A prime example of a "leafy" sub ...

. Colonel

William Hulme William Hulme (c.1631 – 1691) was an English lawyer and landowner from Lancashire responsible for the creation of the Hulme Trust (also known as Hulme's Charity). Early life The Hulme family's pedigree was recorded by the Heralds in a Vi ...

and officers of the 96th Foot went on foot. "Each tribe occupied a separate portion of the ground, where temporary huts had been erected for their accommodation; and His Excellency visited each of them, shaking hands with the principal chiefs, and addressing them in short speeches, which were interpreted by the

Chief Protector of Aborigines The role of Protector of Aborigines was first established in South Australia in 1836. The role became established in other parts of Australia pursuant to a recommendation contained in the ''Report of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Abori ...

. After these proceedings were over, the natives performed a war dance in honor of His Excellency." Having seen Maori war dances once or twice, Bennett found it entertaining rather than frightful. In the area of today's Mount Saint John Avenue,

Apihai Te Kawau Apihai Te Kawau (died November 1869) was a paramount chief of the Ngāti Whātua Māori ''iwi'' (tribe) of Auckland (), New Zealand in the 19th century. Te Kawau's father was Tarahawaiki and his grandfather was Tūperiri, the principal leader o ...

's Auckland tribes had arranged, as presents for distribution to their visitors, a 500 yard long tent of blankets, in front of which was a wall of potatoes in

kete (basket) Kete are traditional baskets made and used by New Zealand's Māori people. They may be of many sizes, but are most often found in sizes similar to large handbags. Kete are traditionally woven from the leaves of New Zealand flax called harakeke a ...

and salted sharks for flavour. Bennett commented: "These were all meant for presents to the Visitors & were distributed much to their satisfaction—The day after the distribution took place Auckland was visited by a succession of Maoris each with his share of potatoes on sale"

Bay of Islands trouble

Following

Hōne Heke Hōne Wiremu Heke Pōkai ( 1807/1808 – 7 August 1850), born Heke Pōkai and later often referred to as Hōne Heke, was a highly influential Māori rangatira (chief) of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe) and a war leader in northern New Zealand; he was ...

's flagstaff felling in July 1844, Governor FitzRoy, Lieutenant Colonel

, 96th Regiment, Bennett and 15 soldiers, sailed for the Bay of Islands in the brig ''Victoria'' and HMS ''Hazard'' on 22 August, to amicably settle grievances.

Bishop Selwyn George Augustus Selwyn (5 April 1809 – 11 April 1878) was the first Anglican Bishop of New Zealand. He was Bishop of New Zealand (which included Melanesia) from 1841 to 1869. His diocese was then subdivided and Selwyn was Metropolitan (late ...

and

George Clarke George Clarke (7 May 1661 – 22 October 1736), of All Souls, Oxford, was an English architect, print collector and Tory politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1702 and 1736. Life The son of Sir William Clarke ...

, Protector of Aborigines, also travelled to the Bay of Islands. They found 160 troops from New South Wales, camped at the Bay. The total force including Hazard's sailors and marines amounted to some 250 men, confident of being able to give Heke and followers a severe chastisement, even at his pā. FitzRoy, Hulme and Bennett thought differently. FitzRoy asked Bennett to report on the roads to Kerikeri and Waimate. They were good in places but impractical for moving heavy artillery in others. Bennett also tried to draw local farmers' drays and bullocks into military service, but not without encountering their fear of revenge if they were to ever seen to be voluntarily involved. If the Government required them, the soldiers would take them, resolved the matter. Bennett had also observed that the country was "utterly impracticable for the evolutions of disciplined troops". Government House at Russell (Okiato) had been destroyed by fire in 1842 and Lugard's temporary barracks, just a few years old, had fallen into disrepair. On 30 August, Hulme and Bennett agreed that it was "useless to repair or let it remain" and had all windows, iron fastenings, doors, hinges and locks removed. Fitzroy, Hulme, Bennett, Lieutenant Barclay and Mr Hamilton arrived back in Auckland on the Government Brig ''Victoria'' on 6 September, with HMS ''Hazard'' and the troops. FitzRoy's consultations with Maori and consequent solutions seemed to have helped. ''The Southern Cross'' wrote: "We do not apprehend anything serious from these war-like preparations. Our friends in the other colonies need have no fear for our safety." Trouble had also been brewing at

Port Nicholson A port is a maritime law, maritime facility comprising one or more Wharf, wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge Affreightment, cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can a ...

and in late January the Robert FitzRoy intended sending Bennett there to examine the Hutt, in preparation for an expedition to occupy and build a fort. To FitzRoy's order, he designed a transportable wooden

blockhouse A blockhouse is a small fortification, usually consisting of one or more rooms with loopholes, allowing its defenders to fire in various directions. It is usually an isolated fort in the form of a single building, serving as a defensive stro ...

to shelter 20 soldiers, of which five would be made for Auckland, Russell, Whangarei and the

Hutt Valley The Hutt Valley (or 'The Hutt') is the large area of fairly flat land in the Hutt River valley in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Like the river that flows through it, it takes its name from Sir William Hutt, a director of the New Zeala ...

. The blockhouses measured internally 17 ft x 20 ft x 9 ft stud, with common gable weatherboard roof, loopholed walls of kauri posts vertically arranged between top and bottom plates; room enough for 16 beds. It was envisaged they could be erected in less than twenty-four hours in any location conveyed to by water and serve as temporary barracks for some of the troops expected from Sydney.

Defence of Kororāreka

Heke had resumed agitation by felling Kororāreka's flagstaff again on 10 January 1845. On 23 January, in consultation with Hulme and Bennett, the Executive Council ordered a blockhouse be placed to protect the flagstaff reinstated in its original position on

Flagstaff Hill Flagstaff Hill usually refers to a hill on which a flag was erected. It may refer to: Place names Australia * Flagstaff Hill, near Linton, Victoria * Flagstaff Hill, Melbourne, a hill in the historic Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne * Flagstaff Hill, S ...

. Perhaps aware of his possible casualty, Bennett signed his will on 25 January. In the latter half of February, one of Bennett's transportable blockhouses was shipped to Kororāreka, with Graham, on HMS ''Hazard''. Its components were brought ashore between 4:00–10:00 am on 17 February and carried up Flagstaff Hill by ''Hazard's'' crew, where it was erected by them over the next two days of squalls and fine weather. The flagstaff was taken up on 22 February, erected, ironclad, rigged on 28 February and 1 March, and painted on 5 March. Complete, the blockhouse flanked an ironclad flagstaff enclosed within a strong triangular palisade, all surrounded by a "V" ditch 16 ft wide x 12 ft deep and inaccessible scarp; all devised by Bennett to "puzzle John Heki to cut it down a fourth time." A second blockhouse, Fort Phillpotts, with a breastwork and two guns on a platform, was built by civilians lower down the hill. The navy installed a gun battery over Matavia Pass. Then, in the early morning of 11 March 1845, the

began. Bennett noted in his journal:

without any concerted plan of operations Poor young Campbell having unfortunately left the Blockhouse (leaving only 3 men within) to dig some foolish trench some half mile off—allowed his post to be surprised—The 4 men were killed—on looking back & seeing the Bl. Ho. surrounded & in possession of a mass of natives he retired down the hill to a second Bl. Ho. made by the Civilians—& thus the flagstaff & key of the Position fell into John Heki's hands.

Defence of Auckland

Bennett had been working through improvements to Fort Britomart through 1844–1845—designs and estimates for cells, magazine, sentry boxes, guardhouse, commissariat store. News of Kororāreka having been attacked on 11 March arrived in Auckland by the Government Brig ''Victoria'' on 14 March, landing women and children from the Bay of Islands. The Legislative Council, meeting on Saturday, 15 March 1845, put their agenda aside to read the despatches from Kororāreka, and after discussion, passed the resolution:

That the Barracks be immediately made impregnable against musketry attack, and sufficient as a place of refuge for the habitants of Auckland—and that the Male population of the Settlement be sworn in as special Constables and efficiently armed, and that such arrangements and precautions be made that such an armed force can be brought into active service at the shortest notice under experienced and efficient leaders.

Rumour spread that Heke would attack Auckland, perhaps within a day or two; his forces generously estimated to be about two thousand men. Bennett commenced preparing Fort Britomart to the Governor's instruction and the approved plan from 17 March, employing all available military and civilian labour. The fort was strengthened with ditch and parapet dimensions based on those used at the

Lines of Torres Vedras The Lines of Torres Vedras were lines of forts and other military defences built in secrecy to defend Lisbon during the Peninsular War. Named after the nearby town of Torres Vedras, they were ordered by Arthur Wellesley, Viscount Wellington, ...

of the

Peninsular War The Peninsular War (1807–1814) was the military conflict fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. In Spain ...

. The remaining four blockhouses were reassigned—two to flank Fort Britomart's parapet, one inside its gate and one, surrounded by a ditch, to the hill about 300 yards behind Government House. George Graham fortified St Paul's Church as a refuge for the people. FitzRoy's coordination of the defence plan tended to ruffle, particularly Hulme and Bennett. In any case, what happened at Kororāreka was not to be repeated at Auckland. Bennett also advised FitzRoy on a substantial barrack needed to quarter the expected troops.

, as it came to be called, was proposed to be built on the high ground specially reserved for public purposes behind Government House, though for military use, title was required to be granted to the Board of Ordnance. Bennett's proposal of enclosing the barracks, assuming that FitzRoy would agree that temporary field works were inadequate for keeping soldiers in, was for a loopholed defensible wall. The bastioned loopholed scoria stone wall was built several years later, in 1848. In due course Bennett received orders to prepare plans and estimates for a temporary barrack, officers quarters, mess house and kitchens, cook houses, guard house and cells for five-hundred men. Graham carried through with plans and estimates, and with Bennett's consent, discussion with FitzRoy, from which a temporary wooden barrack for 86 men would be built first. By late March Bennett was reporting very ill, fearing "getting worse every week". He had endured months of increasingly severe headaches but persevered. He turned out with the rest ready for action during a scare at 3:00 am, 1 April, but after half an hour, with nothing likely to happen and barely able to stand, he had to retire. Whilst FitzRoy dealt to military plans with Hulme, ''The Southern Cross'', 12 April, reported:

Much as has been done towards placing the barracks in a tenable state of defence, to the great credit of the Engineer department, we think that more is indispensable, anticipating an actual insurrection and attack from the Natives. The western side of the town is quite unprotected, and Queen-street and its neighbourhood might be ransacked and burnt with impunity.

The Auckland Battalion of Militia moved to construct Fort Ligar, an earth redoubt with surrounding ditch and a Martello gun tower at its centre, on the western ridge in mid April. Surveyor General Charles Ligar had been appointed as their Lieutenant Colonel. Defended by two militia companies, it intended to provide further refuge and stores.

Death

Captain George Augustus Bennett died about 11:00 am, Wednesday, 30 April 1845. Some thought had been given to a return to England, though he was deteriorating to general debility with some four hours of activity each day. Arrangements were being made in New South Wales for Captain William Biddlecomb Marlow, RE, to relieve him for a return to Sydney for the benefit of his health. Mrs Soall was unremitting in his care. The Reverend John Churton who'd visited that morning, imagined the cause to be a rapid swelling of the throat. Commander David Robertson-Macdonald, RN, HMS ''Hazard'', severely wounded at

, was also recovering there. The Governor and suite, and almost all Aucklanders, attended the funeral at St Paul's Church on 2 May. It was performed with full military honours and the flag was lowered. He was buried adjacent to Governor Hobson's grave at St Paul's burial grounds in

Symonds Street cemetery Symonds Street Cemetery is a historic cemetery and park in central Auckland, New Zealand. It is in 5.8 hectares of deciduous forest on the western slope of Grafton Gully, by the corner of Symonds Street and Karangahape Road, and is crossed by th ...

. ''The Auckland Times'' wrote:

The death of this Officer was not in the slightest degree suspected, as a likely event, by any, but his medical attendants. Capt. BENNETT was only 38 years of age; but in the Colony, few, if any were more respected. Not being a married man, he nevertheless invested a considerable capital in the country, and gave encouragement, to others to follow his example. Captain Bennett ever set an example of being a Colonist among us, as well as an Officer of the Government service, and doubtless, he will be much missed, by the Auckland people, even if it were only on that account. But his spontaneous kindness as "''President of the Mechanic's Institute''," and his other encouragement by every useful purpose, or contrivance for the advancement of the Colony, of course, made his sudden disappearance, a loss to the place,—a loss which they cannot but deplore, especially at the present critical moment,—when it is so necessary, and yet so difficult, to provide for the renewal of actual Colonists.

Bennett's grave vanished during the 1960s

Auckland Southern Motorway The Auckland Southern Motorway (also known as the Southern Motorway, and historically as the Auckland–Hamilton Motorway) is the major route south out of the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is part of New Zealand State Highway 1, State Highw ...

works, and construction of the Anglican memorial wall and platform surrounding Captain Hobson's grave.

Legacy

Contour line

Contour line A contour line (also isoline, isopleth, or isarithm) of a function of two variables is a curve along which the function has a constant value, so that the curve joins points of equal value. It is a plane section of the three-dimensional grap ...

s "united with light and shade for perfection and clarity" persist in new map technologies

Auckland Libraries

The Auckland Mechanics' Institute carried on with technical classes, lectures and a fine arts and industrial exhibition in 1873 but foundered in the depression that decade. The institute, with its library established under Bennett's presidency, passed to the Auckland City Council to form the Auckland Free Public Library in 1879. The merging of Auckland's territorial local authorities into one Auckland Council on 1 November 2010, reformed the public-library network into the largest in Australasia—

Auckland Libraries Auckland Libraries is the public library system for the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It was created when the seven separate councils in the Auckland region merged in 2010. It is currently the largest public-library network in the Southern He ...

St David's Presbyterian Church

Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth Soall, inherited Bennett's property, ''Glenhead'', in Khyber Pass Road. In 1901, she sold a section of it to the Presbyterian Church for the relocation of St David's Presbyterian Church in early 1902. In 1924, the Presbyterian Church purchased ''Glenhead'' to build larger church for the growing congregation and as a war memorial to members who had died in the

Great War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Bennett's house was replaced with the old wooden church. The foundation stone for the new brick church was laid on

Anzac Day , image = Dawn service gnangarra 03.jpg , caption = Anzac Day Dawn Service at Kings Park, Western Australia, 25 April 2009, 94th anniversary. , observedby = Australia Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cook Islands New ...

1927 and the opening dedication service held on 13 October. The New Zealand Engineers were permitted to install within the church on 3 June 1928, a memorial tablet to 3 Field Company members lost in the war. The Engineers chose St David's for it being a soldiers' memorial church, its location and in respect to the Reverend

William Gray Dixon William Gray Dixon (1854–1928) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister. Dixon was born in Paisley, Scotland, and studied at Ayr Academy and the University of Glasgow. In 1876 he was appointed Professor of the English Language and Literature at th ...

, Minister of St David's, 1899–1910, who'd had been their chaplain, 1906–1910. The

Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers The Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers is the administrative corps of the New Zealand Army responsible for military engineering. The role of the Engineers is to assist in maintaining friendly forces' mobility, deny freedom of movement to the ene ...

have held an annual memorial service there since. Their choice of place, in it also being on the former estate of the Commanding Royal Engineer of New Zealand, was seemingly serendipitous.

Military Works

Though

Hone Heke Honing is a kind of metalworking. Hone may also refer to: * Hone (name) (incl. Hōne), a list of people with the surname, given name or nickname * Hõne language Hõne is a Jukunoid language spoken in Gombe State and Taraba State, Nigeria ...

had burnt Bennett's flagstaff blockhouse after the

battle A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

in 1845, its platform and defensive ditch survive in good order. The present flagstaff dates from 1858.

Crest of Bennett

''Crest''—Out of a mural crown or, a lion's head gules. ''Motto''—De bon vouloir servir le roy (To serve the king with good will).

Publications

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, George Augustus 1807 births 1845 deaths People educated at Portora Royal School Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich Royal Engineers officers English surveyors Ordnance Survey British military personnel of the New Zealand Wars 19th-century New Zealand military personnel 19th-century New Zealand engineers New Zealand surveyors Flagstaff War Burials at Symonds Street Cemetery