EARLY TARANAKI.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 May 1925, Page 4

EARLY TARANAKI.

STAR ARTICLES APPRECIATED. LETTER FROM FREMANTLE. (To the Editor). Sir, —Someone kindly sent- me from New Zealand your issue of November 15 last, containing some very interesting narratives of the early days of Taranaki. As an old New Zealander (having been born in 1875 at Fielding) the narratives were of deep interest to me, especially as one of the narrators (Mr. Chas. E. Gibson) happens to be mv uncle, whom I have not seen since about 1891 or 1892, when I was book-ing-office clerk in Hawera. My grandMrs. Chas. Gibson, lived for many years in Normanby, where a Mr. Rowe was a horticulturist in a- large way. I wonder if his gardens are still there? Reverting to the above narratives and the earlier days in your issue, I can find no mention of tliei details surrounding or in connection with the von Tempsky episode which occurred somewhere near Waitara and where a memorial now stands. Also, *if _my memory it not at fault—l have resided in Western Australia for a period of 28 years —there was the “Battle of Clyde,” which took place at the mouth of the Paten River on the north side. I still have in my possession a very old sixpence which I picked up on the site when I was a Boy. Perhaps you may be ab'© to. publish the details of these two items at some future date. My late father, R. K. Bradbury, was a private in the old A.C. Force, and I have his war medal.With kind regards and happy memories of Hawera. I am, etc., M. C. BRADBURY. 162 Wray Avenue, Fremantle, Western Australia.