MR. W. G. P. O'CALLAGHAN.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 128, 1 June 1908, Page 5

MR. W. G. P. O'CALLAGHAN.

A STRENUOUS CAREER.

Mr William George Pring O'Callaghan, chief clerk of the Dunedm Magistrate's Court, who is retiring on superannuation, has been thirty-six years in the Justice Department. His career reads like a romance. He is the son of the late Admiral G. W. D. O'Callaghan, C.8., and was born m Mayence, Germany, in 1842. He was educated at the Royal Navy School, New Cross, London, and entered the navy as a cadet in 1855. He became midshipman in \^Bs7, and while still a cadet served in the Baltic campaign on board H.M.S. Exmouth, the flagship of Admiral Sir William Seymour. He was present at the bombardments of Narva and Eveaborg, and wears the medal for the campaign. _ Under the same Admiral he served in the China war of 1856-9 in the flagship Calcutta and H.M.S.s Encounter, Actaeon, and Retribution. He was present at the operations on the Canton river, including the capture of the fiogue and French Folly forts and the assault and capture of Canton. He was with the expedition up the Yang-tse-kiang river, and in the engagement with Taiping rebels at Nanking. He has the Canton medal. Joining the Channel Fleet in 1859, he remained for several years on H.M.S. Aboukir, subsequently going on the Australian station in H.M.S. Miranda. Mr O'Callaghan left the navy in 1863. and became a lieutenant in the Auckland militia. He went to Sydney to bring over the gunboat Pioneer for service on the Waikato river, and saw service with the Waikato Military Settlers and the Wanganui Rangers. He was present at the' occupation of.

Opotiki, the bloody engagement at Kiore Kino, and the stiff brush at Waioeka gorge,, not to mention the fights at Kete Marae,. Tin , Tiri, Moaria, and many others which happened before 1867. He has the New Zealand medal and^ the rank of captain. After a year in the Armed Constabulary, Mr O'Callaghan joined the Justice Department (1872). He has been Clerk of the Court at Papakura,

Orvehunga, Invercargill, Blenheim, New Plymouth, and Dunedin.—N.Z.

Times,