OBITUARY.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 11 December 1894, Page 2

OBITUARY.

MAJOR TUKE. It is with deep regret we have to chronicle the death of Major Tuke S.M. which took place this morning at, 6 o'clock. He has been in indifferent health for some time past and recently a carbuncle, formed in the lumbar region which caused intense suffering. Drs Pairman and Christie, a couple of weeks ago operated on him, and he appeared to be progressing favorably, but blood poisoning set in and despite every care and attention he succumbed as stated above. Mrs Tuke and family have the heartfelt sympathy of a large circle of friends in their sad bereavement. The deceased was very popular throughout the district and highly esteemed for his conscientious, straightforward, and amiable qualities. He was an ardent supporter of all kinds of sport, and at the time of his death was President of the Taranaki Cricket Association and Opunake Racing Club. His remains will be taken to New Plymouth for interment, which takes place on Thursday, at 2 p.m. We extract the following notice of his military career from Mr T. W. Gudgeon's book " Defenders of New Zealand " : Major Tuke first joined the Volunteer Cavalry Corps, then just formed under Captain Gordon (late of the En- • niskillen Dragoons), early in 1864, and was elected officer without opposition, and for some time both the training and the drilling of the corps were left in his hands. On the breaking out""of the war on the East Coast Major Tuke volunteered for active service, and obtained permission to accompany' Major Fraser's company of militia to the scene of operations at Waiapu, where on arrival he was_attached to the late Major Biggs' company of volunteers, then actively engaged against the rebels. He was present at the storming and capture of the pa Kairomiromi (where the fighting was of a most severe character, being a hand-to-hand struggle), and at

the reconnaisance and capture of Pukemaire. He accompanied Major Biggi in his forced marches through the bush in pursuit of the rebels, and was present at the engagement at Kawakawa and capture of the Hunga-Hungo-Toroa pa, where he led hii men up the cliff in the rear of the pa —a most perilous undertaking, but which soon decided the fate of the day; and on botl%f these occasions he was mentioned in despatches. In the meantime he was constantly engaged scouting the district, until he was ordered to Poverty Bay to take part in the attack on the Waerenga-a hika pa. He was afterwards detailed for service at the Wairoa, and participated in many skirmishes involving loss of life. He received a commission in the Hawke's Bay Militia, and was shortly afterwards sent as officer in command of the prisoners at the , Chathams Islands, where he remained for some months. Recalled to the Wairoa, he was again employed on active service against the enemy, and on the completion of his term of service was offered, and accepted, a com-. maud in No. 1 company of Armed Constabulary, and was sent to Opotiki after the murder of the Rev Mr Volkner, to avenge his death. He was actively engaged there and at Whakatane, and in the operations up the Waimana and the Waioeka Gorge, and other skirmishes more or les3 severe. On the escape of the prisoners Trom the Chatham Islands he accom-, panied the division under Colonel Sir George■Whitmore to Poverty Bay, and took part in the pursuit of Te Kooti. At Ruakitura he was severely wounded, which caused him to be invalided for some time. After recovery, he was again detailed to the Wairoa district, in charge of colonial forces during a very troublesome and anxious time, being daily threatened with an attack from a large body of insurgents. Here he received a most complimentary address from the settlers before leaving, which by the rules of the service he had to return. 'On the Poverty Bay massacre taking place he was immediately ordered to the scene of the disaster, and acted as second in command to Major Westrup until the arrival of the reinforcements under Colonel Whitmore. He led the party who volunteered to go out and recover the bodies of the slain, when he was once more ordered to the Wairoa, and from thence to the West Coast on the murder of the Rev. Mr Whiteley. He was then despatched with No. 7 Company of Armed Constabulary to Puk£aruhe, to guard the northern frontier of Taranaki, when he was promoted to the charge of the Taranaki district, and on the retirement of Major Turner, to the further command of the districts of Patea and Taranaki, where he remained until 1879, when the Parihaka natives began to be troublesome, and he had ordfers to organise the force assembled at Oakura under Colonel Roberts, preparatory to the demonstration on that settlement. Serving as second in command on the day of the capture of Te Wbiti, to him was give* the post of honour, and assisted by Captains Gudgea» and , Newall, he arrested the prophets Te Whiti, Tohu, and Hiroki, and dispersed their followers, amounting to the number of 1600. In September, 1883, in consequence of an expected disturbance' at Kawhia, Major Tuke was despatched with a company of the Armed Constabulary to take the command of that district, where he still remains, and at the request of the natives was appointed Resident Magistrate.

This brave officer having served the Government of the colony for upwards of 20 years, being under fire often and seriously wounded once, one can only wonder how it is that the Government has managed to keep so valuable an officer a major ever since year 1867, aud without bestowing upon him the decoration of the New Zealand Crus* he so justly merited.