WITH VON TEMPSKY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20075, 12 October 1928, Page 15

WITH VON TEMPSKY.

A VETERAN'S MEMORIES.

MARCH THROUGH TARANAKI*

GREAT LEADER'S METHODS. In 1862 George Vert, a Yorkshire youth of 18 years, " jumped his ship " at Nelson to go gold-digging, later served in Von Tempsky's Forest Rangers in Taranaki, and yesterday celebrated a hale and hearty 85th birthday in Auckland. Mr. Vert went to sea as ail apprentice in the " Geordie " colliers, but before his several years had expired spread his wings and made a voyage to Wellington and back again to London. The vessel was the Bride, and her outward journey took 149 days. lie came back to Nelson in the barque British Merchant, and, succumbing to the gold fever, departed with two other deserting seamen for Hokitika, commencing tho overland journey with 251b. of oatmeal as their only asset. 41 No Dogs in Tow," In the Buller Gorge they met thrco men, who told them that if they did not have some money they could do no good on the diggings. So they changed their' plans and went 350 miles on foot from station to station seeking work. " There was plenty of work for a man with sheep dogs," he said, " but runaway sailors do not have dogs in tow." One mate dropped out at Renwicktown and the other two, getting a free ferry and 5s each from the fen-yman—a kindness Mr. Vert could never forget—reached Blenheim, and at Picton shipped on a timber schooner for Wanganui. There they had trouble. They wanted the port rate of wage, were charged with desertion, and won their case because they had not been put on the ship's articles. It is interesting to learn that " lumpers " were then paid half-a-crown an hour. At the time, Von Tempsky was recruiting a company at Aromoho, and, perhaps with an excess of caution, the pair joined under the name of Davidson, and posed as brothers. First the company was stationed in the redoubt on St. John's Hill* near tho spot where the Hewett family had been massacred, and finally left as advance guard for General Chute's force when it marched to Taranaki. The Valiant Scout. They led the force on its march through the dense bush round Mount Egmont, and Mr. Vert gives a vivid impression of Von Tempsky as a commander. " Armed with drawn pistol and a long bowie knife, with which he was a match for a swordsman," he said, " the major, a man of small stature, but of dominant personality, marched some 50yds. ahead of his company, which often had to travel in Indian file. If he suspected ambush his hand would go up, and, while we halted, he woald listen and creep forward, often putting his ear to the ground, and always ready to fire on the instant. Perhaps ho would want us to extend, and he would signal the order by throwing ont both arms. I'or " forward " the order was given by a forward motion of his i hand.

"He was marvellous, and a plainspoken gentleman he was," said Mr. Vert. " We had to do a, lot of reconnoitring at night, and there was never any funs or commotion. He would come round tho tents, and at each would whisper, ' Another journey, boys,' and soon wa would be moving in absolute silence along the tracks, Von Ternpsky always leading. Sometimes our advance was signalled by dogs, which the Maoris had tied up along (he track. The men, by the way, were armed with short rifles, pistols for which we often had to mould onr own bullets, and tomahawks." Arduous March, It took the fores eight days to get through the dense bush on the east sida of Mount Egmont. W T e had to cut a bullock track all the way, and when wa got out we were pretty well famished, and I remember the men of the force with which we joined dropping handfuls of biscuit into our hats as we passed." After camping for a time at Bell Block tho force proceeded down the coast, and at Opunake' Mr. Vert's mate—the other " Davidson " —was wounded, and Mr. Vert was detailed to take him back. Thus ho was not with the force when Von Tempsky fell. " I was sent to Wanganni by boat," ho said, " and I never heard of my temporary brother again., At [Wanganni I was "» one-ma:n unit. They gave me ft tent, and I camped by myself for a time. Things got a bit lonely, being »n army of one with no particular orders, «o I handed in tho tent and -went to Rangitikei. When the Ohinemuri gold diggings were first opened, I galloped off there, and by and bye was at* sea again in the old Starl, Captain Fairchild, which was transporting troops from Waitar.i to the East Coast. The captain wanted to put my mate and me in uniform. He said we were sailors on a' New Zealand man-of-war, but we would not have that, and when the Bhip crot back to Auckland with sheep wa signed off. " I never got mv Maori War Medal, added Mr. Vert. " I suppose the trouble was that 1 had signed on as ' Davidson." I had one man to say he had served with me-—the major's own servant—but thoy wanted two witnesses, and so I did not# bother any more."