A Memorial.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4070, 28 April 1886, Page 3

A Memorial.

[By Teieoeaph.J WBLimeToir, April 27. On Monday the ceremony was performed of unveiling the monument erected at Hanaia to the memory of the officers and men who fell daring the last war on the West Coant. In the absence of Mr Ballance> the ceremony was performed by Colonel Boberti, one of the survivors. Colonel Eoberts in speaking, said— Ae one of the surviving officers of all the engagements described on the mono* meat, I should be neglecting a duty which lien.upon me, to show honour to my dead comrades, if 1 did not say a few words expressive of my admiration Of the devoted conduct of the brave men whose names are here recorded. When I look at this long, sad Hit my memory

rushes back to within a few months of 18 years ago, at the Te Ngutu O Te Manu, where fell the gallant Major Yon Tempskey, whose name appears first on the roll, and no wonder that it does so appear. Ho was always first in danger, and the last to leave it, and never asked any man to do that which, by example ho was not prepared to do himself. We do well to honour such men as him. If he ha‘d any fault as a soldier it was the characteristic one of always being in advance, sometimes, mayhap, too far in advance. The next one on the list is Major Hnnter, whose bravery and courage were always conspicuous, and who fell mortally wounded early in the fight while showing bis love and devotion to his country. Hia last words I remember well: “ Follow me closely.” Captain Boss is next on the list. He lost his life in defending a a, post which he commanded, unfortunately for him ; and the handful of men who were with him were taken at such a disadvantage that they were unable to make use of the soldierly qualities that ho possessed. Captain Brown fell in the trenches before Ngahapa, while setting his men an example of scorning danger when duty demanded exposure. The next name is that of Captain Buck, of undoubted courage and cool sound judgment. Well do I remember hie firm, unflinching courage at Te Nguto. Having lost our leaders, we held brief counsel together as to what should be done, and I directed him to hold a certain position and await my return from the search for Von. Tempskey; He carried out the orders only too faithfully. I returned to And him there at the assigned post, but dead, with h’.s face to the foe. Captain Palmer and I Lieutenant Hastings are next on the I list, men who met ttheir jdeath while i nobly doing their duty; and then Lieutenant Hnnter, who was the life of the camp with his sparkling wit and jovial langb. whose bright humour was not absent in times, of danger. Only a few minutes before he fell he laughingly said : “ There is one of them ; 1 can see the white of bis eye ; give it to him.” These were simple words, but they were words of the brave, sustaining spirt— to inspire men with courage in the difficulty, and lighten the sense of danger. I would fain ran over the list of noncommissioned officers and men who with our allies, the friendly Natives, the majority of whom I knew, and whose courage and devotion I was an eye-witness to, but time does not permit. We are too apt to forget what we owe to the brave men whose memory we are here to-day to honour, and the surrounding circumstances under which they sacrificed their lives. All the pomps of war were wanting, but none of its hardships* and dangers. There were no brilliant uniforms, no banners to cheer the weary, as they filed their way through tangled, gloomy, trackless forests, nor blow of trumpet, nor beating of drum to rouse them to the charge, yet bow nobly all did their duty 1 The last moments of some, perhaps the majority, were not eased by a comrade’s kindly touch, nor soothed by sympathetic looks and hopeful words. They were often agonised by fiendish yells and savage mutilation of the foe. I need say no more. I trust this monument will be kept in good preservation, and the names thereon written, cherished with pride by generations to come ; and 1 conclude by expressing my great regret that Captain Uempton, to whom much credit is dne for the erection of this monument, is not here to-day. (Applause.) Some of the survivors were also present, but most of them were too affected to speak at any length.