EARLY HISTORY RECALLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18827, 30 September 1924, Page 8

EARLY HISTORY RECALLED.

VETERAN'S GOLDEN WEDDING

TARANAKI WAR INCIDENT.

Memories of early New Zealand are brought up in connection with the ce)o bration to-day of the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. J. Gregory, of Seymour Street, Ponsonby. Mr. Gregory, who is nearly 85 years of age, was born in England, and came to New Zealand at an early age. Fifty years ago he married a New Zealand-born lady whose hemic was in the Bay of Islands,the ceremony taking place at All Saints' Church, Ponsonby. > ' Mr. Gregory saw much active service during the Maori War, and held a lieutenant's commission. Ho was in Taranaki during tho latter campaigns there. Mr. Gregory was ono of the last, persons to sob the Rev. John Whiteley alive. One day in February, 1869. the pioneer Methodist missionary ■ had tea at Mr. Gregory's house, and 20 minutes later, while riding to Pukeruhe, he was, attacked at White Cliffs by Wetcre and his Ngatimanipotos,. and killed. . , ;

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory later went to Buckland, where they had a farm.. After many years' residence there, Mr. Gregory sold the property, and in 1903 he and Mrs. Gregory came to Auckland, where they, have remained up to the present.