DEATH AT NINETY-NINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22878, 5 November 1937, Page 12

DEATH AT NINETY-NINE

MR. THOMAS HOLDER

MAORI WAR VETERAN

One of the pioneers of the province who took part in the defence pf the city when the Maori AVar in the Waikato was developing. Mr. Thomas Holder, died at his home at Nortkcote yesterday at the age of 99 years. Mr. Holder was born near Manchester. He was trained as an architect, and in 1860 he landed at Auckland from the ship Caduceus after a passage or 112 days. In view of the troublous times, he joined the other young men of the colony, and was for some time engaged in sentry duty along the ridges to the south of the city. The life of the infantrymen in the rough country in which they were called upon to operate did not appeal to him, and when recruits were called "for Colonel Nixon's mounted corps he offered his services. When Mr. Holder joined, the corps headquarters were at the stables of x tlie Criterion Hotel at Otahuhu, and ho used to recall that before the men were armed with the cavalry sword they were supplied witjl* pick and :i\p handles from the store of Mr. John Hall. The handles proved a useful weapon in the hands of the cavalrymen, and served .admirably, until the supply of swords was available. Soon after he joined. Mr. Holder met the famous von Tempsky, who had organised a force of Forest Hangers. .Mr. Holder's duties included the carrying of despatches between the fighting zone, which was at Symonds Redoubt, in the vicinity of Drury, and Auckland, Nixon's force then having stables a» Papakura. ,! v . After the war, Mr. Holder resumed his profession as an architect, and ior many years practised in Auckland. He retired many years ago.