MAJOR YON TEMPSKY.

Otago Witness, Issue 878, 26 September 1868, Page 4

MAJOR YON TEMPSKY.

A. comrade of the late Major Yon Tempsky has furnished the Grey Rwer Argus with an interesting sketch of that gallant soldier, whose loss is now mourned by New Zealand. It is as follows :—

May I trespass on your kindness by asking you to publish this shpfrt memoir of the late Major Yon Tempsky ? I think it will be interesting to some of your readers, as I know that members of his never-to-be-forgotten band of Forest Rangers are now on the West Coast, having returned, after their exertions as true and good soldiers, to their occupation as miners, as it was to this class of men that Major Yon Tempsky always, gave the preference as recruits in hiß corps.

The late officer was by birth a Prussian, and descended from a noble family. His brother is a colonel in the Prussian army, and was wounded in the late campaign between Prussia and Denmark. Major Yon Tempsky was a soldier born, and from his earliest youth was a wanderer over all nations. He was also a man of great literary attainments, and an expert linguist. His hook of travels in South America is still read by the literati with intense interest. His youth, after service as an officer of Prussian Hussare, was spent chiefly in South America, and afterwards on the Californian and Melbourne Goldfields, and his adventures in these place, as told by himself, have beguiled many a weary hour with his comrades over the picquet fires during the late campaign in the the North Island.

After the first advance of H.M. troops beyond Drury, in 1863, the want of a body of bush-scourers was sadly felt, and Major Yon Tempsky offered his services to raise a body of men, similar in equipment and tactics to those used by the South American Government against the Indians. His offer was accepted, and a reference to the files of the Auckland papers will show the immense service this corps under his command was to the Government. At Oraku, he was on the storming party, and the ready manner in which he brought his men into action to intercept the escape of the natives will never be forgotten by those engaged. After the suspension of hostilities in the Waikato District, Major Yon Tempsky's services were again in requisition to accompany Major-General Chute in his famous overland campaign to Taranaki. In this he was under fire two or three times. When Colonel Hassel fell, Yon Tempsky was there, and our beloved and respected General's order, U s7th, advance ! Forest Hangers, clear the bush !" will never be forgotten. Hi 3 health was much impaired by the exposure consequent on this campaign ; and, to his honor may it be said, his sickness — acute rheumatism — was brought on by lying out at night in the wet and cold, when he had a comfortable, warm tent to go to ; but he elected to share the same hardships as his men, declining a tent where they had none. He, after the campaign was over, returned to Auckland to recruit, and passed a short time with his family ; but as soon as he was well, his restless spirit and love of adventure took him to the Auckland Goldfields, where he had been some years before, and which he always predicted would sooner or later turn up trumps : how his prophecy has been fulfilled the present events in Auckland show. Having resided some little time in Coromandel, he returned to Auckland, and devoted his time to literature and painting. His pictures of some of the most exciting scenes in the Maori war have elicited the highest commendation. When the Armed Constabulary was formed he accepted an Inspectorship : how well he performed his duty has been lately before us, and so fresh in our memory, that it is needless for me to comment on it. He is now gone, and I will say no more. I see that the accouut of his death pays, " Yon Terapsky is dead, but he nobly fell in battle." I know that all his old comrad.es will feel certain of this. His death is a national loss ; although an alien, he zealously fought for the British flag, and, whether as a soldier or citizen, was universally beloved and respected. He has left a widow and three infant children as a legacy to his adopted country.