IN MEMORIAM.—THE BROTHERS HUNTER. (From the "New Zealand Herald." )

North Otago Times, Volume XI, Issue 372, 15 December 1868, Page 3

IN MEMORIAM.— THE BROTHERS HUNTER. ( From the " New Zealand Herald." )

There are no more painful duties befall the daily chronicler of public events than that of recording departed worth and departed frienda. The sad intelligence which has this day reached us of the death of Major ITunter, whilst gallantly loading tho storming party at tho Okutuku pah, bring these feelings forcibly upon us. Wo glean from various sources a brief epitome of tho colonial services of these two fallen officers — perhaps the only epitaph they will receive. The two brothers — Major William Hunter, and Lieut. Henry Hunter — arrived in this Province in the spring of 1861. They were both, we believe, natives of the County Antrim, Ireland, and wore grandsons of the late Archbishop Mazer, the profound author of tho standard work " Mazor on tho Atonement," and nephows by marriage of the celebrated Hugh McNuill, of Liverpool. Coming out with loiters of introduction to several of the leading persons in Auckland, they without difficulty obtained situations under Government. The elder brother, William, who was a Btudont in Trinity College, Dublin, when tho Crimean war broke out, led away by martial ardor, abandoned tho cloisters of tho University, and obtained a commission in a militia regiment, the Antrim RifleB, and after undergoing the regular course of training at Hythe, under Colonel Pitt, became Adjutant of tho Antrim Rifles, in which capacity ho served somo five years. At tho closo of tho Crimean war, when the militia woro disbanded, Major Hunter, accompanied by his brother Henry, emigrated to this Province. The elder brothor was, during tho year 1S62, assistant clerk in the Provincial Council, in which capacity ho became known to and appreciated by many of our public men. After this he went down to Wellington to attend the first Bession of the General Assembly that was held there, and was on board the White Swan when eho was wrecked. Those who were on board that steamer tell us how they saw then the sterling stuff of which he was made. In tho midst of the imminent danger of all on board, he was cool and collected and attentive to others, rogardless of himself. So great was the efficiency with which he discharged his duties during the session at Wellington, that he was offered permanent employment by tho Hon. Mr Bartley, tho Speaker of tho Upper Houao, as clerk assistant in that branch of tho Legislature. But the war in Waikato breaking out in 1863, he flung his prospects in the civil service of tho Colony to the wind, and was about the first to tako service on behalf of the Province when the war was almost at our doors. Colonel Pitt was then engaged in raising the First Waikuto Regiment, and William Hunter was at once gazetted Captain and Adjutant of that Regiment, which post he held till the force was disbanded a couple of years ago. While he held that post, we have been often told that although there were ten regiments of Her Majesty's regulars in the Colony, it was admitted by military officers that there was no more efficient officer or more accomplished drill than William in the combined forces — Imperial and Colonial. His younger brother, Henry, after serving a brief period in the Post Office Department in Hawke's Bay, also joined the First Waikato Regiment, and served throughout the Waikato war, and afterwards in tho Wanganui and Taranaki campaigns. Hjb genial company endeared him to many, and none that knew him will ever forget the light-heartedness of one whose military career was emblematical of those who " inarch to death with military glee." Henry Hunter fell at Te Ngutu o to Manu, leaving a wife and one child. William Hunter fell on Saturday last, leading what was no doubt a forlorn hope upon the Kotuku pa. Whatever tribute the Colony of New Zealand may hereafter pay to the memory of these bravo brothels, we can say this at least, that their many friends in Auckland will long cherish the recollection of them, and will ever sympathise with the aged and widowed mother, iu the loss of her gallant sons.