51 Conclusion

Conclusion

The previous pages highlight the unexpected similarities between Roman and Chinese engineering, of particular interest to an engineer who has devoted nine years of his retirement surveying Roman engineering and navigational methods in the UK.

The survey showed conclusively that the Chinese had occupied the east coast of New Zealand, in strength, from the Banks Peninsula to the Catlins. Their presence was noted at Reefton, presumably access being via Grey River, from Greymouth. Evidence of Chinese operations was also evident at Omarama, access being possible from the Waitaki River from the east coast. Smelting operations were noted at Banks Peninsula and on the Otago Peninsula, and a full ore handling operation was located at Omarama, probably for gold.

The construction of stone harbours for their general work-horse, the 47m x 11m junk, confirms that trading at least around New Zealand, was in operation. Sadly it will not be known if any returned to China. From the number of wrecked super junks located, it would appear that these vessels were unsuitable for New Zealand’s turbulent seas.

The results of the MAS over all the harbours located, has shown that with the exception of Akaroa fort’s harbour, every harbour held the remains of a junk. This indicated that every settlement had been attacked in a planned manner and the Chinese settlers had been overwhelmed by a superior invading force. One can assume that without reinforcements, over the years of occupation, age and illness would have taken its toll of the colonists. Possibly, the absence of any other inhabitants in the South Island had made them complacent, and they had failed to exercise caution.

It is interesting to note that on three of the Catlins sites, Maori occupied Chinese sites, on two of those sites human bones have been found.

It would appear that New Zealand’s history of the South Island requires rewriting, with a complete chapter having been omitted from 19 AD to approximately 1470, the probable date when the South Island was invaded by the North Island Maori. One can but hope that New Zealand’s archaeologists will follow up my surveys and excavate some of the fortified areas and junk remains. Possibly the sites will generate sufficient remains of trading activities to enable New Zealand’s true history, based on fact, not fiction, to be written.

T.C. Bell, July 2003

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