REMINISCENCES OF THE SIXTIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 141, 7 August 1911, Page 6

REMINISCENCES OF THE SIXTIES.

RELIC OF THE MAORI WAR. Reference was made, at Saturday’s meeting of veteran soldiers that too many relics of the Maori war were allowed to leave the district, says the “News.” Captain Maqe, N.Z.C., specially referred to the fact that Antonio Rodrigue’s New Zealand Cross had been sold out of New Zealand altogether. The remarks were prompted by an announcement by Mr. G. A. Adlam that Mr. John Mynott had managed to secure a pistol belonging to “Jimmy,” the Maori guide" of the 43rd Regiment, and was prepared to sell it to the association for £5.

Members were' not bver-enthusias-tic, appearing to doubt the genuinness of the pistol,, and a motion was proposed to refer the matter to the committee 1 . ' Rut presently Mr. Mynolt brought along "the pistol itself, and its was taken from its case in splendid i.order, r Captain Mace had said that he was .-prepared to put half a sovereign towards the purchase if the pistol were found to be genuine, and he made good when Colonel Ellis read out the following inscription which was engraved upon the revolver: “Presented to Henri Te Waka hy officers oi tire 43rd Light Infantry for gallant conduct on- all occasions when acting as guide to tire regiment in Taranaki. December, I 860.” It was promptly decided to purchase tire relic, about £2 10s being forthcoming from members, and to hand it to the Taranaki museum authorities in trust lor tiro association.

Several of those present remombered 4 ‘Jimmy’/ quite veil. He was, they said, a fineljig, Maori. who came over to Taranaki; from Fort Roberts, ’iauranga, with the He was with Captain Corbett’s company. Homi Te Waka, was wounded at Wai'ea when, Captain Close was siiot, and after -completing his service in 1 aranaki lie went to Hawke’s Hay, where he was killed. One ol the veterans remarked that he owed his life to this guide, A horse was straying near the edge of the bush for a couple of days, and ho was very anxious to go out and got it. In fact, he was going, but “Jimmy” warned him not to, as the horse was only a bait, and the Maoris were waiting in ambush to sh) t whoever approached it. It was subsequently found that the warning was quite justified.