TO DEFEND AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 172, 23 July 1929, Page 9

TO DEFEND AUCKLAND.

NATIVE CHIEF'S OFFER.

MEMORABLE JOURNEY RECALLED,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day.

The death yesterday of Mrs. E. Liorgan, of Ruatangata, widow of Mr. Philip Morgan, recalls some stirring events in the early history of North Auckland and the exploits of her father, the late Mr. George Edge, of Maungatapere, who died in September, 1897. _ Mr. Edge arrived in New Zealand in the early "forties, and he was for many years employed at mission stations on the Wairoa River with Dr. James Buller, father of Sir Walter Buller, and afterwards as a special constable with Mr. Aubrey when Mr. Aubrey was Customs officer" for both the Whangarei and Kaipara harbours. This was before the davs of county councils, when only a bush track existed between Whangarei and Tangiteroria, and the journey had to be made on foot, the traveller carrying food and blankets on his back. Subsequently Mr. Edge settled on Limestone Isiand, where he was employed in taking goods and passengers from vessels to Mangapai. , When the Hauraki natives threatened to sack Auckland, the chief Tirarau collected 800 fighting men at Maunr»atapere and offered their services to Sir George Grey to defend the city. The message to Sir George Grey was entrusted to Mr. Edge for safe delivery. He delivered it and was back in Maungaiapere in three days, a feat that has never been explained.