DEATH OF A PIONEER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12789, 14 June 1912, Page 6

DEATH OF A PIONEER.

:.'-'.'— ] -*■ — — The ranks of tlie early pioneers who experienced tho vicissitudes of the Maori- rising .m this district are gradually growing less. -Their number has been further, depleted by the passing away of another well-known identity, Mr Michael Mullooly: (once known as the "Captain Reed" of Tolaga Bay), whose death .wiU be regretted by a w-ide circle, of old friends. The late Mr Mullooly. had been m, failing health for some time, and passed away last night . at a ripe old: age. Chatting about the late Mr Mujlooly to a representative of . this paper to-day, Colonel Porter, C.8., stated that "Mie.kie," as he was familiarly known, came frotri County Ath|lone, Iceland. Mullooly served , m the Hawke's Bay Volunteers' (infantry), under Captain Tuka m- 1865, and took part m the engagements with the other forces at Waiapu and other engagements that culminated m the fight at Waerenga-a--hika. In 1866 the captured, and surrendered rebels were deported to the Chathanis. together with a guard under Captain Tuke (brother of the officer previously mentioned.), Mullooly was a member of the garrison. Two years later the rebels, under Te Kooti,~overpowered the guard and. seized the Rifleman, Mullooly resisted strenuously, but was niade prisoner fend was left tied up m tbe trenches. Mullooly was vpry neai' being shot, aiid would' liave been so but for his rather friendly relations wjtb some of the Natives. It Is probahle that the whole of the gbard would luive perished but for the fact that a friendly Native, before leaving . .unloosed his bonds. - . Subsequently Mr 'Muljooly settled at lolaga Bay, where he at one time held considerable property, including the two hotels and the local store.V Uiving evidence before Mr W A Barton SaM., m July, 1910, when the old soldiers' claims were being investigated, the -kte' Mr said he was enrolled m the Hawke's Bay volunteers m January, 1855. under , Major Lambert., and served about four years He assisted at the taking of the Waiapu, Pakajinimirumi, and the Pukemaire pas. lie was then ordered to Poverty Bay, and assisted at- the taking of the Waerenga-a-hi«a pa.. They then went to Wairoa under Major Biggs, and he was at the fight at Marumaru. He was then ordered to Wairoa, and oamped there till everything was quiet. They were disbanded and he came over to Poverty Bay, and ioined the military settlers '.in July. 1866. Two or three months later they were ordered to Napier, and he was one. of the party that took ' the Avourtded prisoners from " Unaranui' to the Chatham Elands. He Avas at the Ohathams 20 months, until the prisoners cleared out with the vessel and left the European party behind. The Government sent out a steamer for the latter party, and they returned to Wellington, and from thero were cent to Patea, where Mr Mullooley served m two or three engagements. When the war broke out at Poverty Bay he was left at Wanganui, as he was unfit for duty, and he eventually obtained his discharge. He served m , the militia m 1869 for about nine months, but saw no fighting during that. Tim&. ,