LINK WITH THE PAST

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page 10

LINK WITH THE PAST

Son of General Who Fought in Maori Wars Among those who are leaving for England by the Arawa to-night are Mr. and Mrs. Laurence L. Williams, Salamaua. New Guinea. An Englishman, Mr. Williams’s connection with New Zealand is a somewhat remote yet very interesting one, for his father was the late General E. A. Williams, C. 8., R.A., who served as commandant of artillery with the Imperial Forces in the Waikato, at Tauranga (including the Gate Pa action), MauutaJii camp (Taranaki), Fatea and Wanganui, during the troublous times between 1864 and 1866. The late General 'Williams was evidently a man of parts, for his son lias in his possession portions of a day-to-day diary giving particulars of the writer’s activities and recording events in a most natural way. For example. be tells of the difficulties experienced in landing the troops at I’atea. and the loss of some lives in the operation. The diary is scribbled in pencil, for the most part, on the back of leaves in a sketch book. It sounds odd for an officer of artillery engaged in war .against a primitive people in the bush to carry a sketch book, but Major Williams. as he was then, was actually a very fine artist, skilled in the use of water colours and possessed of good technique. On each page of the book is a sketch, in colour, of various points of interest. There are several of views in Auckland harbour. There is one overlooking Devonport, and across the neck of land toward Raugitoto, aud another of Fort Brittomarl. near Orakei. Another sketch takes iu a wide sweep of Alanukan harbour, and there is a particularly good one of the entrance to the Batea River, witli two small paddle-wheeled vessels near the bar. Probably these are the steamers which were sent down the coast from Ouebunga with troops to contend against the warring Taranaki's. There are also sketches of Mount Egmont and Wanganui, all faithfully drawn and delicately limned. Such sketches would, of course, be welcome additions to the Dominion Museum collections, and may go there yet, but the present owner lias not quite made up his mind on the matter. He informed "The Dominion” that the sketches shown were only part of a more extensive collection, and I hat he had at his home some 60 paintings in water colours and oils from (he brush of his gifted father. Mr. Laurence Williams is accompanied by Mrs. Williams and their baby. Mrs. Williams is a sister to Mr. lon L. Idriess, the author of "The Cattle King.” a life of the late Sir Sidney Kidman. “Forty Fathoms Deep.” “Flynn of the Inland,” “The Drums of Mer,” “Desert Column” and “Gold Dust and Ashes,” the book which relates with such vivid force the part aeroplanes have played in opening up the New Guinea goldfields.

One of the primary reasons for the trip is to enable Mrs. Williams to meet her husband's people in the Old Country. Later they are to return to New Guinea via Suez. They have grown to like New Guinea and have iMWome inured Io I lie temperature, which is round about 90 degrees in the shade in the daytime. There is relief at. night, however, as Hie cool winds then come down from the lofty mountains to cool Hie air and induce sleep. Mosquito curtains were always used, Mr. and Mrs. Williams said that both felt the earthquake tn Wellington nn Thursday morning, but said they were quite used to that, sort of thing in New Guinea where the “goiiria” was regarded as one of the natural products. There had been times when their house had rocked so badly that they had to hold on to something in order to keep their feet, but such violence was not usual.