Extreme makeover: The Ruapekapeka carronade
February 2010
The carronade at Ruapekapeka pa has undergone a stunning transformation.
Three years ago the carronade was in a sorry state, a rusty relic on a crumbling concrete platform. Now, the broken barrel pieces have been re-assembled, a surface coating applied to combat rust, and a stylish new replica wooden carriage has been created.
History
The carronade before restoration
The carronade has been at Ruapekapeka for a long time, but not much is known of its history. It is similar to the weapon warrior chief Te Ruki Kawiti had when he defended the pa against British troops during the Battle of Ruapekapeka in 1846.
A historical newspaper article tells us something of the history behind how the carronade became broken:
"At the rear of the pa is an old gun... a ball still jammed in the breach on top of the charge. Some settlers' sons went the other day and put a charge of dynamite in it, busting it into two halves" (The Auckland Weekly News, March 3, 1899).
Putting the pieces together
Before work began, the carronade was in four pieces. Two large pieces had been displayed at the pa, and two smaller pieces were in the care of the Whangarei Museum. Even with these four pieces, the barrel is not quite complete. However, it was decided not to reconstruct the missing barrel section as this is part of its history.
A challenge to restore
Restored carronade showing steel tube inside
Still jammed in the barrel, the cannon ball created a challenge for the gunsmith. He suspected there was a charge in the powder chamber behind it, and he was right. So after drilling through the spiked vent hole, he flooded the powder chamber with water and removed the cannon ball with heat and water.
The gunsmith came up with an ingenious way of re-assembling the broken barrel pieces. He fitted a purpose-built steel tube down the barrel, which enabled him to screw the broken pieces together around it. After a coat of rust-converting primer and some matt black paint the carronade was ready to be mounted.
Carronade and carriage being installed
Replica carriage for the carronade
A wooden carriage was built to resemble the ships mounting it would have originally sat on. The carronade is mounted upon a wooden slide, which is in turn is mounted upon a platform, then pivots upon the front block. When fired, the recoil would push the slide backwards along a groove in the platform. People visiting Ruapekapeka will be able to see how this weapon worked.
Built in 1811
Engraved marks were discovered on the surface of the carronade during the process of cleaning: a year, a calibre, and an image of a crown with the letters "GR" inside it. This reveals that the carronade is an 18-pounder, and was manufactured for the British Government in 1811.
Carronade on site at Ruapekapeka Pa
Dawn blessing ceremony
A dawn blessing ceremony was held on Sunday 10 January. Raumoa Kawiti, a direct descendant of Te Ruki Kawiti himself, spoke after the carronade was blessed by kaumatua George Taipari. A gun salute with a pair of coehorn mortors made an exciting finale to the ceremonies of the day.