A GALLANT CAREER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 843, 24 July 1879, Page 2

A GALLANT CAREER.

Visitors to the Museum (says the New Zeakmder) will notice on guard there soldierly-looking member of the Armed Constabulary, whose breast, decorated with a profusion of medals, showed that he has served his country long and well. Prompted by curiosity we enquired of him some particulars of his career, and the incidents given were most interesting. His name is George Hill, or as he is more familiarly known, Rowley Hill, a native of England, and some 43 year of age. A slight, active, sinewy man, the very beauideal of a colonial soldier. He only recently rejoined the constabulary force at Napier, at the commencement of the present Maori disturbance, but previously he had seen active service both afloat and ashore. At the time of the Crimean War he was m her Majesty's navy, m the Baltic Flying Squadron, under Admiral Plumridge, and there won his first medal. Subsequently he was m the Crimea m H.M.S. Leopard, Captain .George Gifford, and there again saw active service, obtaining a medal with the Sebastppol bar, and also the Turkish medal for bravery, A few years after he shared m some of the most stirring scenes of the Indian Mutiny, having joined the- Shannon frigate, under Sir Wiilian Peel, and for good service he received his third medal and two bars, one for the capture of Lucknow. He also, while m the Mediterranean, inH. M. S. Hannibal, the Admiral's vessel, m 1861, saved the life of one of the crew who had fallen overboard, and for this good service he received the Royal Humane Society's medal. After this his varying fortunes brought him to New Zealand, and he joined the Forest Rangers, nnder Major Von Tempasky, and his memento of that epoch of his marked service is the New Zealand medal. But m April, 1860, he won a still prouder trophy— the New Zealand Cross, for conspicuous bravery against the Hauhau Maoris. He was the one military European who with twenty friendly natives held the Mehauhe (Jeruselem) Pah against Te Kooti, and repulsed all attacks until Te Kooti retreated, and then although like all brave men he is modest as to his deeds, we glean from him that at the hazard of surprise and instant death he bore the tidings to Captain Trogood ; who sent a despatch to Colonel Lambert m command of the forces, that Te Kooti and his men were m retreat and thus aided, m the effectual following up of the Buccess which he and his armful of friendlies had Becured m the beleagured pah. Rockoning up Private Hill's services they show 10* years m Her Majesty,s Navy, 7* m the New Zealand Constabulary, 3 years under Von Tempasky, and two years m Major Fraser's volunteers. In addition to this he for a [short time saw service under Garibaldi, and shows scars and a mutilated hand obtained m some of the engagements under this leader. He was also wounded m the Indian mutiny, aud also slightly m the New Zealand native War. Like all men thoroughly trained m martial

discipline he iB reticent to a degree as to reasons why, with all the evidence of good service he bears, that beyond the annual pension as bearer of the New Zealand Cross, he has no further reward, and that he still rates only as a full piivate m the Armed Constabulary. He admits that he has declined promotion to a sergeantship because of " imperfect education, but seeing what very indifferent men, of rawest materials and doubtful abilities, do by some means get into remunerative 'appointments, it seems passing strtnge that no better appointment can be found for a tried veteran than sentry at one of our public institutions.