TO THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE DEAD.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6040, 30 April 1886, Page 4

TO THE MEMORY OF THE BRAVE DEAD.

AFFECTINO RBSfINISOENOES

Wellington, April 20 Yesterday, the ceremony was performed of unveiling a monument, erected at Manaia to the memory of the officers and men who fell during tbe last war on the West Coast, It had been arranged that the Hon Mr Ballance should perform the ceremony, but he was unfortunately detained on the East Coast. Th 3 ceremony was performed by Lieutenat-Colonel Roberts, N.Z.A.C., who as Captain Roberts, led the forces out oi Tc Nputu after the disaster tbcro, when Yon Tempsky fell. Colonel Roberts, in speaking, said : Af ODe of the surviving officers of all the 1 engagements described on the monument, j I should be neglecting a duty which liet-, upon me, to show honor to my dead comrade*, if I did not say a few words expressive of my admiration of the devoted conduct of the brave men whoße names arc hero recorded. When I look at this long sad list my memory rushes back to within a few months of 18 years ago, at the Te Ngutu O Te Manu, where fell the gallant Major Yon Tempsky, whose name appears first on the roll, and no wonder that it duel so appear. He was always the first in dftnger and the last to leave it, ana never asked any man to do that which, by example, he was not prepared to do himself, We do well to honor such men ai him. If he had any fault us a soldier it was the characteristic oneof always beinc in advance, sometimes, mnyhap, too far in advance. The next one on the list is Mtjor Hunter, whoso bravery and courage were always conspicuous, and who fell mortally wounded early in the fight while showing his love and devotion to hisj country. His last wordß I remember well : * "Follow me closely." Captain Ross ie next on tbe list. He lost his life in defending a post which he commanded, unfortunately lor him ; and the handful 01 1 men who were with him were taken a' such a di?advnntage that they were unable to make use of the soldierly qualities that he possessed. Captain Brown fell in the trenches before Ngahapa, while noh!> setting his men an example of scorning dnngcr when duty demanded exposure. The next name is that of Captain Buck, of undoubted courage and cool aomul judgment. Well do 1 remember his firm, unflinching courage at Te Ngutu. Having lost our leaders, we held brief counsel together as to what should be done, and I directed him to hold a certain position and await ray return from the search of Yon Tempsky. He carried] out the orders only too faithfully. 1 re urned to tind him there at the assigned post, but dead with his face to the foe. Captain Palmer and Lieutenant hustings are next on the list, men who met tbeir death while nobly doing their duty, and then Lieutenant Hunter, who was the life ot the ctunp with his sparkling wit and jovial laugh, whose bright humor was not absent in times ol danger. Only a few miutites before he fell he laughingly Baid : "There is one of them ; I can see the white of his eye ; give it to him." These were simple words, but they were words of the brave, sustaining spirit — words to inspire men with courage in the difficulty, and lighten the sense of danger. I would fain run over tbe list of non-commissioned officers and men, who with our allies, the iriendly Natives, the mnJ9rity of whom I knew, and whose courage and devotion I was an eye-witness to, but time does not permit. We are too apt to forget what we owe to the brave men whose memory we are here to day to honor, and the surrouuding circumstances under which they sacrificed their lives. All tbe pomps of war were wanting, but none of its hardships and dangers. There were no brilliant uniforms, no flying banners to cheer the weary, as they filed tbeir way through tangled, gloomy, tracklesß forest, nor blow of trumpet, nor beating of drum to rouse them to the charge, yet how nobly all did their duty ! The last moments of some, perhaps the majority, were not eased by comrade's kindly touch, nor soothed by sympathetic looks and hopeful words. They were often agonised by fiendish yells and savage mutilation of tho foe. I need say no more. I trust this monument will be kept in good preservation aud tho names written thereon, cherished with pride by Reuerationa to come ; and I conclude by expressing my great regret that Captam Hempton, to whom much credit is due for tbe erection of this monument, ii not here today. (Applause.)

Some of the survivors were also present, but most of them were too affected to epcak at any length.