CALL OF DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 113, 14 May 1936, Page 17

CALL OF DEATH.

MAORI WAR VETERAN. ATTAINED TO 93RD YEAR. MR, JOHN BANBUEY. In his 93rd year and after a long and | varied life, Mr. John Banbury lias died at liig home in Grafton Road. Up till recently Mr. Banbury visited his office in the city almost daily, and he was a well-known figure in Queen Street. He was born at Burford, Oxfordshire, about 20 miles from the town of Banbury, from which his surname is possibly derived. In November, 1801, as a youth of 19, he sailed for New Zealand in the ship Cashmere. After a short stay in Auckland he joined the first rush to the Coromandel goldfield, the opening of which he witnessed. Not seeing anj* immediate prospect of wealth there, lie travelled to Dunedin, and he made his way to Gabriel's Gully, but the bleak southern uplands were too cold for him, and lie took ship for Auckland again. Early in 1803 war broke out in the Waikato, and every man in Auckland was conscripted for the defence of the town. For a time Mr. Banbury had to do patrol duty from the Freeman's Bay blockhouse, which stood on the hill just behind the site of the present destructor. After a short stay in camp at Otahuliu, he took a share in building redoubts at Papatoetoe, where lie was under fire in a skirmish, Papakura and Drury. At one stage his detachment was sent off post haste with three days' rations of salt pork and biscuits to the fortified church at Mauku, where settlers and soldiers had been ambushed. At Drury he became orderly room clerk to Major Tighe, affectionately known as "Mickey," who had been loaned to the colonial forces from the 18tli Royal Irish. After reaching the advanced base on the river at Pokeno Mr. Banbury was appointed "conductor" or supercargo on the arme'd steamer Pioneer. This vessel loaded military stores at Waikato Heads and landed them at the various stations as far as Te Rore, on the Waipa River. Mr. Banbury had vivid recollections of the famous Major von Tempsky. For his war service Mr. Banbury received the Queen's Medal at the close of the campaign. Back in Auckla'nd, he was advised to live an open-air life. He entered the employ of •McArthur and Company, merchants, and became a pioneer commercial traveller. In those days roads were at a discount, and the only, way to get from one settlement to another was over. Maori tracks or by sea. In 1804 Mr. Banbury purchased land at Ponsonby, then known as "Dedwood," and built the fifth house westward of the present Three Lamps. He married in 1800, and soon afterward established a small Sunday school which developed later into St. John's Methodist Church. With the late Mr. Samuel Rout he founded the Auckland Scripture Gift Association. He was* one of a small group of citizens who began the agitation which eventually caused the City Council to erect the Grafton Bridge. Mrs. Banbury died IS years ago.

MRS. A. M. INNIS.

A pioneer of the Thames Valley, Mrs; Annie hf|s died -at the age of 70. She ''was the "widow of the late Mr. Arthur Innis, of Wharepoa, Thames, and liad lived with her daughter since the death of her husband two years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Innis, settled on a bush section of 100 acres'on the banks of the Waihou River at Wharepoa when a large block of land in that district was subdivided about sixty years ago. Mr. Innis brought his farm to a high state of production, retiring to live in Thames about 12 years ago. Mrs. Innis is survived by a family of five sons and seven daughters, as follow: —Ifessrs. P. Innis (Paeroa), A. and H. Innis (Kerepeehi), L. Innis (Wliakatane). G. Innis (Wharepoa), Mesdames H. Morrison (Hikutaia), D. Troughton (Turua), J. Doull (Otorohanga), R. Troughton (Morrinsville), A. Brooks (Netlierton), W. Booth (Kerepeehi), R. Alexander (Hikutaia). Two sons lost tlieir lives in the Great War.

MR. OLIVER WILLIAM SOLE,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. The death has occurred at New Plymouth of Mr. Oliver William Sole, aged 75 years. He was a member of one of Taranaki's best-known and most highly respected pioneering fahiilyies. His father, the late Mr. William Sole, came out to New Zealand in 1841 in the ship Oriental, and his mother, formerly Miss Sarah Ware, a year or two later. Mr. Sole was born and spent all his life in New Plymouth. He was associated with his elder brother, the late Mr.' Gus Sole, in the establishment of a, large butchery business. Mr. Oliver Sole was .a particularly good judge of fat stock, and for many years was also a successful exhibitor of fat stock and fat -sheep at shows. He had a very sound knowledge of horses, and was, in his younger days, an accomplished rider. He was one of the oldest members of the Taranaki Jockey Club, and had always been a keen follower of racing, and was keenly interested in the Taranaki Hunt Club. Mr. Sole is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Wallace (Waverley), Mrs. McPherson (Hamilr ton), and Miss Una Sole (New Plymouth).

MR. C. J. ANDERSON,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, Wednesday. A stalwart of the Labour movement in this district in the early days, Mr. Charles John Anderson, has died at the a <re of 70. A stevedoring contractor, he was president of the Labour organisa : tion, Knights of Labour, and was also president °of the Te Kopuru School Committee. He is survived by his wife and ejfrht sons, five of whom served in the Great War, Messrs. Alfred J. (Auckland), Harold S. (Te Kopuru), Fred W., Norman P., George E. (Okoroire), Edward and Charles J. (Hamilton), Hariy (Remuera), and one daughter, Mrs. T. George (Otorohanga). There are 16 grandchildren.

MR. JOHN TAU.

A well-known Maori of high rank in the Nfiatitapu tribe, Mr. John Tau, ha* died at Tauranga. He was a well-known footballer.