FOUGHT AGAINST THE MAORIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 160, 8 July 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

FOUGHT AGAINST THE MAORIS.

STORY OF AN INMATE OF HAM WORKHOUSE.

Th,e vicissitudes of life are well illustrated by the story of the Hon. Lietit.-Colwie. Thos. Mitchell, in Block No. 7, of the West Ham Union Workhouse, who was .'.niter? viewed a few weeks ago by a representa>» tlve of "Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper.'', ,Pan; pers retire early to bed, and the interview; took place in the dormitory. The majority of the other bedfellows sat, np to listen* . , some interpolating remarks from, distant . corners of the room, while others rendered a deep-chested snoring accompaniment, oblivious alike of their own misfortunes ahd the entertainment they were missing. Put. ting his arms over the bedclothes, the fresh-complexloned, white-bearded servant of his country said he would be 80.next birthday. Twenty-three years ago !he~;eomi muted his pension for £2500, and the Bio-hey was now all gone, owing to various mis* fortunes. About a twelvemonth ago he arrived at the gates of the workhouse destK tuto, and he supposed he should' end hi^ days there. Passing from thh. phage of ilia life to speak of his career as a soldier, the pauper colonel brightene* up. A native-of Jctbury, in Gloucestershire, he said he enlisted in the 15th Hussars as far hack a_f • 183G, while the Queen was yet a princes si His regiment was stationed at jyewbridgtf Barracks, Ireland. He started as' a private and rose from the ranks, through all. the various grades, up to that of major, being made honorary lieutenant-colonel nh.retlrIng after 30 years' service. !He got hit. commission for no special, act .o/;va}oui-» but in his own words,"For doing my 'duty..'* Half ruefully he said, "I never had the. ' Chance of earning the, Victoria Cross. V Then he added reflectively, "There's more men die deserving the V.C. than livei-to. wear it." His only experience q„ active service was during the Maori "War In New: Zealand, the' Duke of Cambridge haying

placed him in command of a' Iquadron of cavalry. Though often under Are be escaped without a scratch. The Maoris" he' thought were a fine race of men. "If they said they would do anything thoy woUld '_&> it, or die In the attempt;"""" Late, in hid career he spent 15 years InTudin, returning to civilian life in 1876, Remarking that two of his brothers were at Balakiava. thej Old'man covered himself up to sleep, again,; recalling the lines, slightly varje^lr— "' ', '""

He lay like a warrior taking his rest, -,» With his blankets drawn around lilw. "'

Mr Charles Arnold, supported by a comedy company, is at present on feia way to South Africa, where he rrtennk to commence a tour ' extending' through Central Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The company will be under the management of Mr A, Botfanci and L.J, Lohr, and will open'in' Johannesburg on or about July 1; Mr Arnold will appear" in several 'ot his past London successes, r! viz., "Captain Fritz," "Paul, of %\__ Alps;'*' and "What Happened tb Jones.,*' wtiioli latter play has been performed by h.rn 340 times at the Strand Theatre t ftaU don, and is now being toured % thitee companies in .England, mid fbvfr in America. During this tour Mi'■^i old will also produce several • recent Eiiglish and American successes. '^ *