On Parade (Wellington) Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The cache is located at the 'Parade Ground' a grassy area levelled and cleared for military use in 1942 when building the nearby gun emplacements.
In 1935 the top of Wrights Hill in Karori, Wellington was chosen as a site for a 9.2" coastal defence battery. Although it was not as large as some overseas fortresses such as that on the Rock of Gibraltar, it was fairly extensive with 2,030 feet of tunnels linking magazines, gun pits, engine room, plotting rooms and more.
In March 1942 the authority was given to construct the battery. Engineering reports and cost estimates were submitted to Army HQ in July. Downer and Company got the contract for the underground work and started in November with the driving of the tunnels were completed late 1943. The gun pits were completed in December 1943.
The first gun was installed during June 1944, with the 2nd gun shortly thereafter. Due to the improved situation in the Pacific theatre of the war the third gun was cancelled despite the gun pit and underground works for it having being constructed. The only time the guns were fired was when they proofed them to ensure that they worked properly. The proofing consisted of 3 shots fired - each shot at a different elevation and bearing. The only damage caused by the proofing was some broken windows at the fortress and in the suburb of Karori below.
About 1950 the Fortress Battery was put into care and maintenance with crews from Fort Dorset visiting weekly or biweekly to service and maintain the guns and equipment. In August 1957 the Army decided to decommission many of the coastal defence installations including Wrights Hill.
During the summer of 1960/61 the guns were cut up for scrap and the Battery was stripped of nearly all of its equipment. Ironically the scrap metal salvaged from the batteries was sold to the Japanese.
The Wrights Hill Fortress Restoration Society Inc. took over the custodianship of the fortress in 1992. Open days are held on Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, Queens Birthday and Labour Day. For a small entrance fee you can explore the tunnels, Command Post and plotting rooms.
If you are looking on open days please use the utmost stealth to ensure the cache dosen't go MIA
You are looking for a 200ml Container with logbook, pen and some swaps.
Please NOTE that you must sign the logsheet for each individual cacher, Finds logged not corrosponding with the logbook may be deleted.
Please take some time before leaving to ensure that the cache is re-hidden exactly as you found it.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
TY - Nypbir
Treasures
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