THE LATE MR. RAWSON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 15, 2 September 1911, Page 7

THE LATE MR. RAWSON.

AN EARLY VOLUNTEER. As a young man, the, late Mr C. E. Rawson, whose death was announced in Wellington recently, jwas an active participator in the Maori war in the Taranaki district. When the war broke out in 1800, he was about; 20 years of age, and with. ,two .younger brothers, Harry and Fr«?d, git once offered their services, and. joined the volunteers, or settler soldiers, as they were then called. They were actively engaged at, the. battle, at. Waippjw., ~ A force composed of settler soldiers and regulars! marched up from -New Plymouth to attack the Maoris at Wairoka. . Soon .after the fighting, commenced the regulars were withdrawn, and the volunteers were left to.,stem the attack. The fight was very hot, and the volunteers beat the Maoris, with the assistance of some man-o’-warsmen who attacked, from another quarter. The sailors rushed the pa and climbed over the palisading regardless of the storm of bullets. The light was also memorable for the energetic words of encouragement given by Major Stapp when rallying the

volunteers. The Rawson lads had an unenviable experience during the fight. The bugle sounded the retreat, but as they and therec other companions were ; not familiar with bugle calls (they; had only been volunteers for a week) I cbcy remained in the position they bad taken up. Fred Rawson was badly wounded by a Maori bullet, and as this was the first engagement in which volunteers had assisted , the Imperial troops, he was the first volunteer to be wounded in defence of his •■•••nuitry. They waited until nightfall and then made for the ( beach,. and returned to camp. On their way to the beach the little band of volunteers heard* a groan, and after a short search they discovered another' voluneer badly wounded. A stretcher was improvised with guns and coats, and the wounded man carried to the beach, it was intensely cold, and the wounded man was spent, so they decided .that four of them should push on for assistance whilst the other two lay down beside the wounded man in the endeavour to keep him warm. The doctor who was sent out to attend the wounded man and young Fred Rawson was the latter’s father, Dr. T. E. Rawson. After the volunteers were dispensed with Mr C. E. Rawson went to Auckland, and was given the position of warder over the prisoners. He was later made bailiff at New Plymouth, then clerk of tho court, , and subsequently Deputy-Registrar. In those days it was allowable for a man 'to study for the law without being articled, so Mr Rawson pursued his studies and passed Ins examinations as a barrister and solicitor. He subsequently was made a Magistrate, and then District Judge. All these offices bo held in New Plymouth. He was transferred to Invercargill and retired in 1897 on pension. Mr Rawson was hold in high esteem by all who knew him.