MAORI WAR HERO

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6805, 8 January 1929, Page 8

MAORI WAR HERO

“ROWLEY” HILL CELERATES 92nd. BIRTHDAY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The only living man who won tho New Zealand Cross during the Maori Wars is Mr. Rowley Hill, of Takapuna, who celebrated his ninety-second birthday yesterday. He is a familiar figure at all ceremonial gatherings when veterans wear their medals, as ho has a whole breast of them for exploits both on land and sea. All Governors for years past have known him, because no one could pass a man with such a show of decorations. He is a small museum in himself. Some time last year he had a bad turn, but these old sailors and soldiers are touch morsels, and “Rowley,” as he is generally known, is still answering the breakfast bell with unfailing regularity. On Saturday morning he went down to the beach, and though bo did not take a header, he did have a paddle, -which is more than most people of 90 would care to do.

According to Whitaker’s Almanack for 192 S ,there are five survivors of the few participants in the Maori wars who won this coveted distinction. The list is as follows: —Benjamin Biddle, George Hill, Wm. Lingard, Francis Joseph Mace and J. Mac Kin tosh Roberts. Four of these were awarded the decoration on the date of its institution, namely March 10, 1869, Mr. Hill’s award being made on April 10 o£ that year.