MAORI WAR VETERANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17562, 30 August 1920, Page 6

MAORI WAR VETERANS.

TABLETS TO THEIR MEMORY. UNVEILING CEREMONIES. The unveiling of four memorial tablets, erected in memory of the Maori war veterans buried in the Roman Catholic churches at Howick and Panmure, took place yesterday afternoon. The ceremony at Howick was < performed by Sir Frederick Lang, Speaker of* the House of Representatives, while Dr. H. W. Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, performed that at Panmure. There was a large attendance at both functions, and" stirring addresses were delivered by Sir Frederick Lang, at Howick, and by Dr. Cleary, .at Panmure. Other speakers included Messrs. Edward Fitzpatrick, P. Quinlan, and P. Malone. -The four tablets contain the names of 126 veterans, including a larg~ number of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles, a corps of time-expired Imperial soldiers, specially selected for their good character, vigorous health, and their capacity for settlement in a new land. This force was sent out to New Zealand upon the representations of Sir George Grey, then Governor of tho colony, who distributed the veterans along was then the southern border of Auckland, as a bulwark against Maori aggression. Each soldier was given a cottage, a sec. tion of one acre, an advance for furniture and stock, and in return was required to perform a certain amount of military duty. Thus were founded the settlements of Howick, Panmure, Otahuhu, and Onehnnga.