OBITUARY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 February 1925, Page 6

OBITUARY

MAORI WAR VETERAN

MR. THOMAS EATON

Another of ihc few remaining Maori war veterans passed away at Auckland on Saturday—Mr, Thomas Eyton, who was 82 years of age. He was the son of a lieutenant-commander in the Royal .Navy, and was born and educated in Essex. Receiving a nomination to a clerkship in Trinity, House, London, which has to do with the lighthouse and similar services, he remained there for two years, but the outdoor life called him, and lie decided to emigrate to New Zealand, which was then much in the public eye at Home. He arrived here in 1862, and the Maori War gave the adventurous young Englishman all the excitement for which he thirsted. He first joined the Otaliuhu Cavalry, ;in 1863, and was afterwards with the Taranaki Bushrangers and with the Patea Light Horse, serving up to 1869. During the war he was present at the engagements fought at Manutahi, Otauto, and Nukumaru, and others. After the war lie went to Wellington, where he was in the Treasuryfor five years, and then left the Government service to enter private business. Eor a number of years Mr. Eyton resided in Auckland, and always took a great interest in the Veterans’ Association. His comrades from the Veterans’ Home at Mount Roskill were present in uniform at his funeral.