DEATH AT NINETY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32595, 11 July 1945, Page 7

DEATH AT NINETY

MR ROBERT SHEPPARD VETERAN" OF MAORI WAR < OLD TAIRUA RESIDENT The death has occurred at Auckland at the age of 90, of Mr Robert Sheppard of Tairua, a veteran of the latter part of the Maori War and of the South African War. He was accorded a military funeral at O’Neill’s 'Point Cemetery, the officer commanding the Northern Military District, Brigadier A. B. Williams, and a guard of war-rant-officers being present. Born in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, Mr Sheppard came to New Zealand in 1875. He was sulphur mining at White Island until eruptions made it necessary to evacuate the island and he joined the Armed Constabulary, with which he helped' to build the road between Napier and Taupo. He used to describe it as having .been accomplished with a pick in one hand and a rifle in the other. Mr (Sheppard was one of the party sent to turn back Te Kooti, when the aged rebel, after exile and many years of retirement in the King Country, revived the old ill-feeling and led a march on Gisborne. The constabulary party sailed from Wellington on the vessel Wairarapa in February, 1889, for Gisborne and camped at iMotu until the feeble revolt was over. Mr Sheppard was one of the constabulary who built the A.C. mineral bath at Taupo for their own use.

Joining the Royal New Zealand Artillery when the Armed Constabulary was absorbed by that unit, Mr .Sheppard took part in the famous expedition to Rawene to force the Maoris there to pay the dog tax. There was no bloodshed. As a warrant-officer, Mr Sheppard left with the Ninth Contingent for the South African War. He was one of those soldiers selected to visit England for the coronation of King Edward VII. Mr .Sheppard retired at Tairua in 1910, but kept close touch with military matters as a volunteer. He was a keen athlete and dog fancier, and judged the first show at Gisborne 30 years' ago. He has since travelled extensively in the North Island, judging at district dog shows.

Mrs Sheppard died nine years ago. Mr .Sheppard is survived by two sons, Mr R. J. H. Sheppard, of Devonport, and Mr R. H. Sheppard, of Tairua, and two daughters, Mrs T. Rowe, of Napier, and Miss iSheppard, of Tairua. There are 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.