THE LATE MR MEREDITH

Hawera Star, Volume L, 5 August 1930, Page 4

THE LATE MR MEREDITH

M AORI WAR- VETERAN A correspondent from Normanby, who: knew the. late .Mr E. K?. Meredith well, recalls that he came to Normanby in the late ’seventies of last century. Ho had been clerk of the resident Magistrate’s Court at Patea. At Normanby he was the first, correspondent of the “Hawera. Star” and .for several years was ihon. secretary off the Athletic Club. He adted as Sergeant-Major to the Normanby Rifles during the disturbance with the Maoris, when they ploughed the settlers’ land about !l'8 1 78. Mr Meredith and his family lived at Normanby till about ISfllfi, when, he settled, in North Taranaki, and there he. had! lived ever since.

During the Maori Wars Mr Meredith had many exciting and interesting experiences. His father and brother were murdered 'by the. Maoris at Drury in 1864 and he then joined the Native Contingent under Colonel McDonnell, and iwias present at the capture of Weraroa, the relief of Piperiki, the expedition to Opotiflci to avenge Mr Voikner’s death, and the capture of that settlement. (He was then attached, to General 'Chute’s force: in Taranaki, marching through Patea and Kakarnmea to Turitturu-Mokai and taking 'Otapawa ,en route. Then was taken the historic march through the forest to New Plymouth that resulted! in the opening of the inland! route through Taranaki, now the •Mountain Road. Major Von 'Tempsky’s Rangers joined' up with the force and with them Mr Meredith was present at several of the exciting engagements in this- district. After the war he was transferred to ,Wanganui, .where he was first orderly room clerk and then in charge off the military hospital, going later to Patea as drill instructor, and thence to, Normanby, Where he lived until about l'Sfi'S. Ho ended his military career as 'Sergeant-Major of the Hawera Volunteers. Mr Meredith is survived by four sons and one daughter —Mrs Green, Horn; Fr.ed. Meredith, Hawera; Percy Meredith, Australia'; Edgar Meredith and Guy Meredith, both of New Plymouth.