OBITUARY

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1934, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR E. J. W. GREGORY. | MAORI WAR VETERAN. j (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. | The dc-atli occurred at Seymour Street, Ponsonby, Auckland, yesterday, of Mr Edward J. W. Gregory, at the age of 94 years. He was one of the oldest surviving Maori War veterans Deceased was born at Yatton, near Bristol, on November 9, .1839. Taking part in the Maori War in Taranaki from .1866 onward, he was one of the few survivors of the AVhitecliffs massacre of ISG9, and was the last person to shake hands with the Rev, John Whiteley shortly before he was murdered. Air Gregory retained a. surprising memory and an active physique to an advanced old age, and could tell many stirring stories of those troublous times.Mr Gregory was one of the band of military settlers recruited in Australia and brought lo Now Zealand in the sixties. As a sergeant, he went with a force of soldier settlers to Sentry Hill, near Now Plymouth, in 1863, and two days later the historic redoubt was built. Mr Gregory also helped to build the Whitecliffs redoubt at this time, and he used to relate how his party of 30 was ambuscaded on the. beach by a force of Maoris established on the cliffs. The Europeans escaped by dashing in small groups to the lee of the cliff and waiting until relief arrived. When the war was over Air Gregory married and took .up land at Drury, which afterwards, became the seed farm of Arthur’Yales i and Co. .Tie retired nearly 30 years ago and went to live at Ponsonby. Airs Gregory predeceased him. He is survived by three . daughters, Airs H. j J. Beeehe, of Hamilton, and Airs J. S. [ Aliller and Airs S. Aladdaford, of Pon- [ sonby, and there are six grandchildren.

MR JOHN H. KISSEL. (Per Press Association. —Copyright.) INVERCARGILL, This Day. The death occurred suddenly of Mr John Homy Kissel, aged To. He was a former Mayor of North Invercargill. He was also a member of the Invercargill Licensing Committee, and was keenly interested in both Rugby football and bowling. MR GEORGE S. LANGFORD. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) INVERCARGILL, This Day. The death has occurred of Mr George Sherwin Langford, who for the ! past 10 years had been mine manager at the Linton Coal Company’s mine at Ohai. He was the first to introduce electricity into the Southland coal mines, and, realising the coal bearing nature of the Ohai district, was the first to advocate extensive boring operations there. I - ■■■■■■■ MR R. PENTECOST. The death occurred at Mangateparu, at the home of his daughter, Mrs W. H. Kerr, of Mr Richard Pentecost, aged 91). Mr Pentecost was born in Kent, England, and came to New Zealand f Avith his parents in 1556. The family settled in Canterbury, which settlement had been established only six years previously. Their first night was spent in a tent pitched on the site on which the Christchurch Cathedral now stands. After spending his early days in Canterbury Mr Pentecost moved to the Whnkamarino goldfields, Marlborough, after which lie engaged in farming in Taranaki, Later he went to the Bay of Islands, Avhere Mrs Pentecost died in -1014. Since then Mr Pentecost had resided with his daughter, Mrs W. H. Kerr. He is sur-1

vived by two eons and five daughters