OBITUARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 245, 30 July 1935, Page 5

OBITUARY

NATIVE VETERAN OF WARS.

THE AMBUSH ON WAIRAU BEACH

DEATH SENTENCE AND PARDON

(Per Press Association).

NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day

George Taylor, a well-known Maori and veteran of the Maori wars, who was once sentenced to death, but later pardoned, is dead, aged 90. Taylor was concerned in the ambush and massaore of eight men of the 57th Regiment on Wairau Beach on May 4, 1863. Among the dead was Assist-ant-Surgeon W. A. Hope, who had been unarmed and for whose murder Taylor was later tried. Taylor was captured on May 29, 1863, by Lieutenant Waller, of the 57th Regiment, and found to be in possession of Hope’s watch and chain and of his ring and locket. Taylor’s trial raised a storm of controversy because although all believed him guilty, many doubted the legal evidence. Taylor was convicted and sentenced to death. Taylor’s defence, that the fighting at Wairau was an act of warfare, was considered by the’ - Governor as sufficiently valid, and Taylor was sent to Auckland prison to serve imprisonment for life. There he was recognised by the governor of the gaol as one of the young Maoris who had visited Europeans when the steamer Lord Worsby was wrecked at Cape Egmont, on September I, 1863. His good work on that occasion was remembered and when the facts of the case were placed before Sir George Grey, Taylor was granted pardon. He later returned! to Taranaki. A large tangi is in progress. ,

THE REV. J. H. ROGERS.

(Per Press Association). TIMARU, July 29.

The death occurred to-day of the Rev. John Henry Rogers, Anglican clergyman, aged 91. Mr Rogers, who was born at Bristol, came to New Zealand in 1902' and has been stationed at Sheffield, St. Albans, Hinds, Timaru, Shirley, North East Valley (Dunedin), St. Clair and Anderson’s Bay. He came back to Timaru seven months ago and continue! in active work almost to the time of his death.