THE MONUMENT AT MAWAIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VII, Issue 1292, 27 April 1886, Page 2

THE MONUMENT AT MAW AIA.

THE CEREMONY OF UNVEILING. The ceremony of unveiling the Monument which has been recently erected in the octagon that forms the centre of the township of Maaaia, to the memory of i tbe offieeis, non-eoniniissioned officers, and men who fell during the last war on the West Coast of this island, was performed on Easter Monday. It had been arranged that the Hon. Mr. Ballance, Defence Minister, should perform the ceremony ; but unfortunately the hoD. gentleman, owing to circumstances over which he had no control, was unable to be pre6eofc, ami the duty fell npon Lieut.-Colonel Roberts, N.Z.C., who is now in charge of the Armed Constabulary on the coast. Notwithstanding the circumstance that the weather was showery, there was a large attendance of spectators, iucluding most of the oldest and best known settlers in the district. Among these were many who had taken part in the fighting either oa the East or West Coast, and if we do uot single out any for special mention, it is because we should not be certain that aoy list which we might give would iuclude all who should be included. On the dais there were Colouel Roberts, Major Gascoigne, Captain Mace, N.Z.C., Capt. Wray, Messrs. Livingston, Lloyd, Milraoe, D. Hn<jhes, the Chairman of the Manaia Town Board (Mr. Philip McCarthy), the members of the Town Board, and several others. I The Chairman of the Town Board ! opened proceedings by saying : Ladies and gentlemen, — Before the ceremony of unveiling this monuiueut, for which purpose we are here to day assembled, commences, it devolves npou mead Chairman of the Town Bourd to make a few introductory remarks. When the question arose as to where this monument should be erected it was decided by Colonel Roberts, Major Gudgeon, and Captain Hempton that Manaia was the most suitable place. When that decision was announced a special meotin<» of the Town Board waß lield to make nirangertients. I can h^muo >ovi wo svcr« vovy pleased that it should bo erected here. No lime was lost in completing arr.iugein.6ut9, aud now to-day we are here to uuveil the monumeut. I may udd that we sent out inviuitiors to a good ninny people to be present today, and several apologies have been received from those woo were unable to come, but as tune presses I vi ill only read oue^ aatl that came to hand this morning from tho Native Minister. It is as follows: — v I deeply regret that I cannot bo present at the ceremony of unveiling the monument to the brave ineu who foil during the last war ou the West Coast. — J. Ballance." I have now to call on Colonel Roberts to perform the ceremony. Lieutenaut-Colonel Roberts (who was in uniform, and wore the New Zealand war medal and the New Zealand Cross) Bdid— Mr. Chairman, Indies, and gentlemen : It is with melancholy pleasure that I accept t lie honor of performing the ceremony of unveiling this monument. The diape Laving been removed, Colonel Roberts continued — As one of the survivmg officers of all the engagements described ou tlm monument, I tbink I should be neglectiug the duty which lies upon me to show honor to my dead comrades if I did not say a few words expressive of my admiration of tbo devoted conduct of the brave men whose names are here recorded. When I look at this long sad list my memory tushes back to within a few months of eighteen years ago, wuen at Te Ngulu-o-ttt-UttAlVVl tbeve fell iho gallant Major Yon Tempsky, whoae name appears first on the roll. And no wonder tbat it does so appear. He was always t'je first in danger and the last to leave it, and be never asked a man to do that which by example be was not prepared to do himself. We do well to honor such men as him. If he had a f.iuit ii 3 a soldier it was the characteristic one of al<vay« be/ag in ad ranee, sometimes, mayhap, too far in advance. The next on the list is Major Hunter, whose braveiy and courage were always conspicuous, and who fell mortally wounded early in the fight, while showing his love and devotion to his country. His last words I remember well, " Follow me closely." Captain Russ is next on the list. He lost bis hfo in defending a post which he commanded, and unfortunately for him, and the handful of men be had with him, lie was taken at such a disadvantage that In 1 was unable to make use of the soldierly qualities that he possessed. Captain Browa fell in the trenches before NgiUiapa, while nobly setting bis men an exauipte of scorning danger when duty demanded exposure. The next name on 'be list is that of Captain Buck of undoubted courage aud of cool sound judgment. How well do I remember hi 8 firm, unflinching conduct at Te Ngntuo te Manu. Having lost our leadeis we btld brief counsel together as to what was to be done, and I diiected him lo hold a certain position and awaic tny return from a search forVonTempßky. He carried out orders ouly too faithfully. I returned to find him there at the assigned post, but dead, with his face to the foe. Captain Palmer &nd Lient. Hastings are next on the list — men who met their death while nobty doing their daty ; and then Lieut. Hunter, who was the life of the camp with his sparkling wit and jovial laugh, and whose bright hnmor was not absent, in the time of danger. Only a few miuutes before he fell, he laughingly said, "There is one of them; I can see the white of his eye; give it to him." Mere simple words, but they were (.be. woeds of a brave euskaio'iDg spirit, words to inspire men with courage in a time of difficulty, and to lighten the sense of danger. I would fain run over the list of non-commissioned officeia and aien, and of our allies, the friendly natives, the majority of wbora I knew, and of whose courage and devotion I was &n eye witoees, but time does not permit. I notice here with much pleasure some wbo took an active part in the scene to which I have briefly alluded, and who no doubt would wish to add their testimony to the worth of dead but not forgotten comrades. We are too apt to forget what we owe to the brave men whose memory we are here to-day to honor and the surrounding circumstances under which they sacrificed their lives. AH the pomps of war were ! wanting, but none of its hardships and dangers. There wero no brilliant uniforms, no flying banners, to obeer tbe weary ns they filed their way through tbe tangled gloomy trackless forest, nor blare of trumpet, nor beat of drum to rouse them to the charge, yet how nobly a)l AH their duty ; and the last moments of some, perhaps tbe majority, were not eased by a comrade's kindly touch, nor soothed by sympathetic looks or hopeful words, but were often agonised by the fiendish yells of a savage and mutilating foe. I need say no more. I trust this monument will be kept in good prjservatioa. and that the names thereon written may be cherished with pride by generations to come ; and I conclude by expressing my great regret that Captain Hempton, to whom much credit is due for the erection of this monument, is not here to-day. — (Applause.) Major Gascoigne having been asked to say a few words, said : — Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, — I have not come hero prepared to speak; but it needs do preparation to enable me to Bay bow pleased I am to be present here to-day to assist in doing honor to tbe memory of the brave men whose names are reoorded on this monument. Bat beyond saying

tbat I cannot aJ<3 * Word to whftt OoL Roberto bu ao nicely said. I join with him in hoping that the monument will b« kept in good preMrvatioo, and thai it will ever serve to remind tbe coming generations that tbey were let a good example by brave men to whom tbe performance of duty was regarded as more than life itself, and wbo died in fighting for their Qaeen aai country. (Applause.) Mr. Livingston having been called npon said, with evident emotion:— l cannot take any part in tbe matter. I feel too much. Some of these men were shot down alongside me. They were good men. I really cannot say a word more ; but perhaps the Rev. Mr. Wilks may be able to give ns a few words on the labjeet. Rev. Mr. Wilka : I am lorry to say I am not prepared to speak in connection with the matter. Long before I came to New Zealand the war between the two race?, the struggle between the brown mac and tbe white man, was over, but from what I have read and from what I have beard from those on this coast wbo have survived the old days, I know that we in this district, wbo now live her* in peace and quietness and under the blessings of taw and order and civilization, are greatly indebted to tho heroes of the post for what they did for us. Colonel Roberts has told you how these men whose memory we are today honoring served and suffered and died, but it mar be news to some here, as it waa to me last night, when be mentioned it to me. tbat in those times there were few towns in the North Island where tbe people had not to carry revolvers to defend themselves from the natives. Those times are now gone, but how much we owe to men like Yon Tempsky. Hunter, Ross, and othen, heroes who must ever be to New Zealand what tbe heroes of England are to the Old Country. Who among ns does not reverence the brave, noble, generous Wolfe, who on the heights of Abraham overthrew the French forces, and while giving up his life for his country gained for England the grand dominion oi Canada ? Who among us does not feel fats blood rush and every nerve tingla wuqq he reads (lie graphic Btoriei of bow British officers with h hnndful of troopt overthrew vast hosts in India? We are now living in times of peace, but the elements of trouble are at work, and it may not be long before the storm buriU. Its effects may evon reach us here, and it may be that some here may yet have to take up arms against the enemy, and have to defend our homes against tbe hosts of France, Germany, or Basna. Should the time ever come may we have men to lead us and enoonrage us like the brave fellows whose memory we are to • day honouring. I was reading the other day Froude's book, wherein he says that New Zealand is destined to be tbe greatest nation in the South Pacific, and in reading a book on America I saw it stated tbat nearly alt the great men who assisted to make the United States were born, bred, and educated in the States. I have no doubt tbat tbe history of America will be repeated iv our case, and that tbe children of New Zealand will make New Zealand a great nation, and will ever be ready to exhibit self-sacrifice for their country, and that tbeir names in turn will be held ia as much honor and respect as are tbe names inscribed on this granite held by 01.— (Applause.) The Chairman — It devolves upon me to return thanks, and most sincere thanks, to Captain Hempton for bis management of moneta'y matters in connection with this monument. From what I can learn from some of tbe officers wbo weve in the war, the loot money was not large, and that Captain Hempton started with a capital of about £80 to raise this monument ; but the money was allowed to accumulate, and aided by subscriptions from tbe officers and men, and from other sources, enough money was obtained to raise tbe monument we now see before as. Every credit is due to Captain Hempton tor bis work in raising this monument, » monument which will hand down to posterity the memory of the brave men who sacrificed their lives to secure for os the homes we have on these rich and fertile plains. I also most sincerely tbank tbe gentlemen who have come so far to assist, and the public generally wbo by tbeir attendance bare helped to make tbi« ceremony a success. Mr. D. Hughes said they wonld like lo hear a few words from Captain Wray, who was one of tbe heroes of the hour. Captain Wray being disinclined to attempt to speak, merely proposed a vote of thanks to tbe chairman. Mr. J. Caff thought tbey saould not disperse without saying something of those who were still left. He bad heard nothing said about Colonel Roberts, Major Gascoigne, Messrs. Livingston, Lloyd, Hughes, Milmoe, and otbere, who bad all borne tbeir part in fighting for tbeir country, and had fortunately survived their fighting days. As a civilian, he knew something of what these men bad done, and be knew how well they deserved of their country. He gave some reminiscences of bis own experience on the Coast, when he and other residents of Napier bad to up to Poverty Bay, Tologa Bay, and Other places, mentioning inataacea ot bis meeting with Colonel Roberts, Major Gascoigne. and Mr. Heslop, who were then on that coast. He referred to one incident iv particular, wb«n Major Gascoigne, having followed the enemy up, and having cornered them found himself without ammunition. He held them while be sent for ammanition, bat betore tho parly could gel up be was compelled ti retire. He (Mr. Cuff) was one of tbe party, and though tbey were in tbe saddle frum 3 a.m. one day to 1 or 2 tbe next afternoon, tbey failed, and be described tbe disappointment tbey felt wben tbey met the retiring fo cc. He apologised as a stranger for taking sucb a prominent part, but he thought tbey could not do other while honoring tbe dead than give tbe survivors three cheers.— (Applause.) Three ringing hearty cheers were given, and thus terminated the proceedings. Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy subsequently entertained at lunch Colonel Roberts and those who bad taken part in the ceremony.