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Founding Fathers (Wellington) Mystery Cache

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Hidden : 9/21/2008
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This historical lookout commemorates the centenary of the capitals founded by the New Zealand Company Settlers. From this vantage point there are fabulous views of the harbour and surrounds. The founding fathers are still here and continue to keep an eye on their legacy.


The settlement of New Zealand by the New Zealand Land Company in 1840 was preceded by the preliminary expedition, led by Colonel William Wakefield, brother of Edward Gibbon Wakefield. The expedition was dispatched from London to make necessary arrangements for the settlement of the colonists, who were to arrive early in January, 1840. The Tory herself carried no colonists, in fact, apart from the officers and crew, there were only six cabin passengers aboard. Of this important party, many later played a conspicuous part in the development of the colony. Colonel Wakefield guided the infant city of Wellington through its first critical years. Edward Jerningham Wakefield, Edward Gibbon's only son, was prominent in the political life of the colony and published a most exciting account of the first years of the settlement, Adventure in New Zealand. He came out as a mere youth of nineteen, as he said himself, in search of adventure. Another mere youth, Charles Heaphy, was employed as draftsman to the company. His record is a particularly creditable one. He left behind a magnificent collection of paintings and drawings, did great exploration work, was Commissioner of the Thames gold-fields, fought in the Maori Wars, reaching the rank of Major and earning the Victoria Cross. The naturalist was Ernst Dieffenbach, New Zealand's first political refugee, a Berlin medical student who had been exiled to London. His explorations and reports were notable contributions to the development of the colony. He was, incidentally, the first white man to climb Mount Egmont. Dr. Dorset, a popular figure in early Wellington, was surgeon to the company and was proprietor of a well-known establishment in Wellington, the Medical Hall. The only other passenger was a native Nayti. who had found his way to Europe in a French vessel, and returned as interpreter to the expedition. His services were dispensed with soon after the arrival in New Zealand. He is the only member of the party who is lost in oblivion. The pace of European development was too much for his simple outlook and like so many of his fellow natives he has been disregarded as a factor in the bestowing of the blessings of civilisation. The master of the Tory, Captain Edward Main Chaffers, a distinguished naval officer, had been master of the H.M.S. Beagle, the survey ship with Charles Darwin aboard, which had called at the Bay of Islands in 1836. He also remained in Wellington as unofficial harbourmaster, where he rendered incalculable service by charting the harbour and discovering the passage at the entrance which bears his name. Several of the crew also remained in New Zealand, but the master and his cabin passengers certainly occupy a most prominent and creditable position in the history of the colony.

To solve this cache you will need to locate the following information. All information is within this monument site.


M: The number of letters in the name of N.W. facing statue minus the number of letters in the name of S.E. facing statue
N: The granite for this monument was gifted by the London County Council. What is the last digit of the year was it opened by the Duke?
A: The city that is 6787 miles away from this point. How many letters in this city?
B: The Actors in the Drama arrived in Wellington Harbour from England, what was the first digit on the day that they arrived?
Y: How many benches surround the outside of this monument?
C: What is the distance to New Plymouth divided by 40?
P: What is the distance to Nelson divided by 11?
H: In what year was the Waterloo Bridge, London was demolished. What is the last digit of the year?
J: What is the sum of the following? The distance to Auckland plus Christchurch minus Invercargill divided by 3
V: How many columns are holding up the roof of this monument?

The WP2 cache co-ordinates: are S: 41 MN.ABY E: 174 CP.HJV.

Check your solution

The final is in a small round plastic 125ml camo container holding a log book and a pencil.

It is recommended to wear warm and windproof clothing should a gentle zephyr be blowing. Please hide the cache back exactly how you found it. THANKS!!!

CAUTION: Photographs welcome but NOT of final location. Management reserves the right to remove any logs and images giving away the final location, after all this is an unknown puzzle cache. Don't spoil the fun for others. You have been warned



ADV
Moneydork Rediguana

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

1: Trbpurpxre 2: Haqre lbhe srrg

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)