I have taken some extracts from the Hutt City Library site from the page
Lower Hutt Past and Present (1941)

I highly recommend a visit to their site for some wonderful info and photos of that district and the early settlers.

I am doing some short overviews from their database:

journal 1 - settlers of LOWER HUTT 1839 - 1941

journal 2 - the PILGRIM MOTHERS of the Hutt Valley

journal 3 - PETONE's first 100 years, - list of names

journal 4 - PETONE men who fell WWI - list of names

journal 5 - FREEMASONRY - Ulster Lodge No. 62

journal 6 - LOYAL PETONE LODGE - No, 6542

journal 7 - Ancient Order Of Foresters - COURT EPUNI, 7314

journal 8 - INDEPENANT ORDER OF RECHABITES

journal 9 - PETONE Branch - Hibernian Australasian Society 1910

journal 10 - PETONE PIONEER BRANCH - Oddfellows

journal 11 - HERETAUNGA LODGE & STAR of PETONE LODGE

journal 12 - PONEKE LODGE - Ancient Order of DRUIDS

journal 13 - PETONE Town Board - formed 1881

journal 14 - HUTT RIVER BOARD - formed 1879


(additions in italics or capitals are mine)
- (remember the article was written in 1941)


Court Epuni was formed on May 28, 1886. Proceedings commenced with a torchlight procession to VALENTINE's Hotel. D.C.R. Bro. HARRIS and all the district officers were present, also about seventy members of the order.
Eleven new members were proposed for initiation, H. G. BROOKS., W. WILLIAMS, W. PARRANT, F. COLEMAN, E. RUSHTON, J. PHELAN, C. EDMONDS, W. BLAKE, H. GOUGH, W. EXTON and M. SMALL.
Mr. N. VALENTINE was elected an honorary member.
The following officers were elected:
* C.R. Bro. J. DAVIDSON,
* S.C.R. Bro. F. UPTON,
* secretary, P.C.R. Bro. LEADBEATER of Court Sir GEORGE GREY.
These three officers deposited their clearance from their court and their applications for membership were accepted.
The remaining offices were filled by:
* S.W. Bro. W. PARRANT,
* J. W. Bro. C. EDMONDS,
* S.B. Bro. M. SMALL,
* J. B. Bro. H. G. BROOKS,
* treasurer, Bro. E. RUSHTON,
trustees:
* N. VALENTINE,
* J. DAVIDSON and F. UPTON,
* court doctor, Dr. WILFORD

Brother H. G. BROOKS, of 51 Queen's Road, Lower Hutt, is the only remaining member of those who met on that historic occasion.

Brother LEADBETER held the office of Secretary for forty-seven years and retired in June 1933, owing to ill health. He passed away on December 5 1938. He had the pleasure of seeing the court grow from such small beginnings to 400 members and after paying for all sickness, funeral and medical benefits through the years that he held office the invested funds increased to more than ?20,000. This was largely due to the trustees who have taken such a keen interest in placing surplus funds to the best advantage.
Mention may be made of W. HEPPELSTON, Caleb LISTY, W. F. ARMITAGE, W. CLARKE, F. CLARK, F. GREENFIELD and L. C. WRAY, who have held that office since 1923.

Brother T. A. ARMSTRONG succeeded Bro. W. S. SMITH as treasurer in 1917 and has held that office ever since. Brother SMITH returned to Petone and has held the office of secretary since the retirement of Bro. LEADBEATER.

Brother LEADBEATER in October 1886, opened a juvenile branch of our order. It is prosperous to-day and many of its members passed into Court Epuni and their children and grandchildren have followed them from the juvenile to the adult court. To mention some, there are seven PARRANTs taking an active part.

Brother F. PRIEST was one of the first juveniles, also W. A. and G. H. GATE, L. PARRANT and James and John HAMILTON. All these and other members still take an active interest in the juveniles.

WILLIAM AUSTIN joined in September 1889 and was for many years treasurer. He is now living in retirement at Otahuhu, Auckland.

Brother W. F. ARMITAGE, one of the early trustees, lives in Otaki.

A. BURNLEY, who joined in May 1887, resides with a daughter at Lower Hutt.

J. HOSIE joined in October 1887 and resides in Petone.