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AFTER SIXTY YEARS.

AUCKLAND REVISITED. REMINISCENCES OF A CRIMEAN VETERAN. ■ (BY TELEGRAm.—SPECIAL COUKESrONDENT.) Auckland, May 11. Unusually interesting aro the reminiscences of Mr. Archibald .Fullerton, now on a visit to Auckland for the first time after an absence of GO years. " I came up to Auckland on Good Friday, and I have been living in wonderland over since," he said to a " Herald" reporter. Mr. Fullerton is an old Crimean naval veteran, who resides at Port Chalmers. Ho is well-bronzed and seasoned with the sunshine and storm of 7G years, but is bale and hearty withal. He knew the Auckland of the early days as. a boy of 16. Naturally he finds much to marvel at in the wonderful changes that have taken place during the last 60 years. Mr. Fullerton, besides being one of the few remaining veterans of the .Crimean campaign, enjoys the distinction of being the soli?, survivor of the crew of H.M.S. Acheron, whose visit to Auckland in the'forties may bo remembered by a few of the oldest residents. The Acheron, a barque rigged paddle, steamer of 760 tons (the steam being used only as an auxiliary power), was dispatched by the British. Government in 1847 to New Zealand for the purpose of carrying out marine survey work on the East Coast of the North.lsland. "It was at the Bay of Islands in 1848 that we first saw New Zealand," said Mr. Fullerton in recounting the events of the Acheron's visit, of which he still has a keen recollection. '' Wo came out to continue the survey work that had been started by Captain Cook. We had tho maps of Captain Cook, and though they were necessarily imperfect, our Captain, often remarked that they showed very good work considering the kind of instruments that were in use in the days of tho great navigator."; Captain Stokes was in command of the Acheron, and his second in command was Commander (afterwards Admiral) Richards. The officers also included Sailing Master Evans (from whom Evans Bay at Wellington takes its name), and Dr. Lyell, whose memory is also perpetuated in' Lyell Bay on the ; outskirts of the. Capital City. During her cruise in these waters the Acheron.made a survey round the Three Kings; the Poor Knights, and down the .coast .to Auckland, and subsequently to Wellington. , The vessel also brought out a tender -of 31 feet keel. This craft, which Mr. Fullerton states was rigged as a f<jre and aft schooner, was sent out for the purpose' of, doing'survey .work on the West Coast of tliis Island. She was first brought to Auckland,' and in order to avoid the long journey of taking her round the North Cape, she was: taken overland across the isthmus from the Waitemata to tho Manukau. Sixteen bullocks wore required for the undertaking, which was., successfully accomplished. The. small vessel, however, had but a short career, being shortly afterwards wrecked on the West Coast. A year or two later Mr. Fullerton went Home, and in 1851 he joined- H.M.S. Rodnoy, and a few years later participated in the siego of Sebastapol, where ho had a taste of tho hottest of the Russian-fire, one shell (the only one, by the way, .that struck Rodney's hull) wounding no fewer than 13 men. Mr. Fullerton wears the Crimean and Turkish medals and the Sebastapol clasp as mementoes of that momorablo and stirring campaign.

He left -the navy' in 1858, arid went to the Victorian gold diggings. When tlio discovery of gold in Citato took place in 1861 lie found 'his way-.to the; southern' province of this colony. After a '.taw' years ."mining'' he obtained employment in the Harlionr Service, in which he, remained till about six or seven years ago, ..since' whenjie has lived in quiet retirement at his home, Rodney Cottage, in Port. Chalmers. : " This is my last cruise upon the water," ho,said, in speaking of his trip to Auckland, tho main obicct of which was to visit a married daughter. ;.. " Have I, visitcd ; :-.the^Veterans'. Home? Yes, of course I have. I went out ar/l had dinner with tho old chaps. -I was delighted with the comfortablo home that thev have out the way in which all their wants are attended to. I have also visited all your other splendid institutions, such as tlio Art Gallery, and the Free Library. Never in my wildest Vdreams when'l'came here as a boy did I dream of Jiving to see such fine institutions in Auckland."

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19080512.2.97

Bibliographic details

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 10

Word Count
745

AFTER SIXTY YEARS. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 10

AFTER SIXTY YEARS. Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 10

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