TURUTURU MOKAI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 12 July 1912, Page 8

TURUTURU MOKAI.

44th ANNIVERSARY

(By Our Tokaora Correspondent.)

Forty-four years this day was fought the noV historic battle of TuruturuMokai. The site of the engagement is situated about H miles from Hawera, and two from Normanby. Few of those who take part in that affair are now in the flesh. During the year a commemorative cairn in Waihi Cemetery has been erected, and a concrete wall with iron rails encloses the burial place of the brave men and others who fell on that memorable occasion; also a monument in Victoria Park, Normanby. These were unveiled by the late Prime Minister, Mr Thomas Mackenzie on May 29, when two survivors from Turu-turu-Mokai were present, namely, Messrs J. G. Beamish, of Patea, and G. Tuffin, of Wanganui. There was also one survivor of Te Ngutu-o-te-Mami veterans, Mr John Flynn. The names of all those who are known to have fallen are inscribed on the monuments.

To make the Victoria Park monument complete, a couple of obsolete cannon are needed. The Defence Department have none in store. Mr Livingston informs me there are quite_ a numl>er in a state of neplect and decav pt Tauranga. There used to be for many vears a Russian cannon that was captured in the Crimea war stationed outside the Volunteer Hall at Hawera. It was subseouently removed to the sports ground. The carriage has rotted away, and when I last saw the relic it was overgrown with rank grass. On Wednesday last I was talking to a borough councillor about it. and I mentioned that it would be the correct thing if those who were in charge of the gun would hand it over to the Normanby Town Board, to be placed near the monument, as it appeared to the writer that Hawera residents had no sentiment with respect to such articles. My friend agreed with me, and remarked. "It would be a food r"^ve to have the 'old thing' out of that!"