Stokes Valley History Part Ten

Koraunui Hall, Wars and the Wairarapa

The Koraunui Hall

The shearing shed that later became the Koraunui Hall

The Koraunui Hall was originally the woolshed on the property of Mr S D Thomson who gave it to the people of the Stokes Valley in 1927. Until that time, the school had been the only building available for public use. Enthusiastic working bees organised by Tom Delaney dismantled the woolshed and re-erected it on its present site. Later improvements were also made and the hall committees of the time did lots of extra work to raise money to cover costs. Eventually it was decided to hand over the hall to the care of the Hutt County Council. The first regular screenings of films commenced at the hall in 1941.

A Hall Incident

The Koraunui Hall has been the scene of many uproarious and riotous meetings. At one memorable meeting, when the hall was not yet complete and the holes that were to eventually to become windows were still sealed with corrugated iron, a resident noted for his almost permanent state of intoxication arrived in an hilarious mood. He began to contribute his lubricated and colourful interjections to a meeting that was rapidly becoming excited. It was not until this man had taken complete charge that two younger fellows saw fit to remove him from the hall. Struggling and protesting he was carefully aimed at the open doorway and hurled into space. The door having then been locked against his vulgar and forceful protestations, the enraged man, undaunted, prepared to enter by a window. He lunged at the iron, tearing and struggling until it moved sufficiently to let his body through. Clambering onto the sill, he paused, reeling slightly, before he catapulted into the anteroom with a crash and an oath, to the accompaniment of an ominous rending sound. How great was his anger on perceiving, impaled on the iron and flapping insolently in the breeze, the complete seat of his Sunday-best trousers. Those at the meeting gathered, from his loud curses and ravings, that his intention now was to sue the hall committee for a new suit.

Wairarapa Via Stokes Valley?

When the problem of the Rimutaka deviation was first dealt with, the engineers were instructed to search every possible alternative, one of which was a route through Stokes Valley. An extract from the Public Works Statement, 1923, is as follows:

Another suggested route, with a tunnel piercing the main dividing range at a point known as Narrow Neck, has been investigated. This line would leave the existing line either at Petone or Lower Hutt and run up the eastern side of the Hutt Valley as far as Taita cemetery, from that point tunnelling through the ridge into Stokes Valley, thence down the Valley and up the right branch of Stokes Creek, tunnelling through the diving range into Whiteman's Valley, and from Whiteman's Valley by a long tunnel into Brockett's Creek, thence grading down the foothills on the western side of lake Wairarapa to join the existing line near Pigeon Bush. This route was considered impracticable as it involved between seven and eight miles of tunnelling, in addition to very heavy earthwork.

Maori Wars

Stokes Valley played little part in the Maori Wars, nor was it affected by the risings in the Hutt Valley, as it was well off the beaten track. However, during the Taranaki Maori Wars an extract from the Wellington Independent dated 23 March 1860 is not without interest.

A public meeting was held on Monday evening last at the "Highland Home," Upper Hutt, to take into consideration and for the adoption of such measures as would be best calculated for the prevention of the inhabitants drawn or to be drawn as militia being quartered away from their own neighbourhood. It was then proposed by Mr Huse and seconded by Mr Player "That a petition be forwarded to Major Rawson Trafford, Commander in Chief of the Militia Forces, offering the male adult population of the Upper Hutt as Volunteers to serve as Militia and to do duty as he may think fit from Stokes Valley to the Mungaroa."

Also from the Wellington Independent of 3 April 1860:

Drawn for the Militia: Robert Stokes, Wellington, printer. Thomas Jackson, Stokes Valley, Sawyer.

First World War

During the War of 1914-1918 Stokes Valley was little affected, the population being small and most of the men, due to their family responsibilities, were exempt from service. As far as can be recalled, the only man to proceed overseas from Stokes Valley was J Pearce who lost his life in July 1916.

Second World War

Stokes Valley can record with pride the part it played in the Second World War, and for its size its contribution was considerable, many of the single and young married men donning uniform. Two young men who lost their lives were Gavin Christianson and A McCoy.

When American forces became active in the Pacific, the area of land on the western side of Stokes Valley's Main Road , extending to the foot of the Valley to opposite Glen Road, and some of the land on the other side were used as a dump for thousands of tons of ammunition, tanks and guns. A guard-house was established near the Valley entrance, the area being under the control of the U.S. Marine Corps. Frequently Stokes Valley was used for military manoeuvres, long convoys of military vehicles from Trentham Camp travelling up the Main Road, at times very late at night.

Stokes Valley Home Guard

At a meeting in the Koraunui Hall in May 1940, it was decided to form a platoon of the Hoe Guard. About 15 eligible men were present. Mr J Dalton was elected Platoon Commander and he appointed as his Platoon Sergeant A Holloway, who later received a commission.

Arms and uniforms were not available for some time, but local rifles were gathered, this resulting in an amazing collection, no two being alike and some of 1960 vintage. For uniforms, the men bought their own boiler suits. The platoon was first attached to a company at Upper Hutt but was later transferred to Taita as part of the Hutt Battalion. Sunday mornings were spent at the local rifle range, and though no grant of ammunition had been made, there always seemed to be enough for a practice. These unofficial shoots paid dividends later when the platoon fired a recruits' course at Trentham, the whole platoon qualifying and half gaining their marksmen's badges. On Monday nights there were parades at the Hall or brief exercises in the darkness.

On Japan's entry into the war the platoon went out to Paekakariki to establish posts on the old hill road, several weekends being spent in this area. Uniforms and American P.14 rifles were then provided.

In June 1942 the Taita Company was transferred to the Rimutaka Battalion and became responsible for the Akatarawa Saddle area. At this time the platoon had a converted Spandau machine gun, a Hotchkiss automatic, a Bren gun and three tommy guns. In 1943, soon after the battle of the Coral Seas, the platoon was stood down and all arms and equipments withdrawn. The average strength of the platoon had been one officer and 22 other ranks.

Stokes Valley History Part Eleven...