MAORI WAR VETERANS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 715, 15 July 1929, Page 10

MAORI WAR VETERANS

DEATHS OF TWO MORE PIONEERS Two more members of the fast diminishing band of Maori War veterans died during the week-end. They were Mr. A. V. Harrison and Mr. John Bain. Mr. Alfred Valentine Harrison died at the home of his son in Manurewa on Sunday, at the age of 90. Born in Exeter, England, Mr. Harrison came to New Zealand with his father anc brothers in the ship William Bryan, landing at New Plymouth in 1841. There were only three white men in Taranaki when they landed. In 1845 Mr. Harrison eame to Auckland in a trading schooner. A year or two later news of rich goldfields in California decided Mr. Harrison, his father and brothers to try their luck there. The party was successful and by 1852 had accumulated about £2,000, which was a considerable sum in those days. In the same year they visited the Australian fields, but were disappointed, and they returned to New Zealand. Mr. Harrison went to Gabriel's Gully, Otago, and made a good strike, getting about £ls a day ior three months. In 1862 Mr. Harrison married Miss Hannah Dean, and in the following years, when the Maori War broke out, he joined the militia and for seven years saw active service. Auer the i wars he engaged in farming in Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay and also did a little gum-digging in North Auckland Mr. Harrison is survived by . five sons, and four daughters. The are 14 grandchildren.

MR. JOHN BAIN

One of the oldest Europeans to born in the Auckland district, a well-known veteran of the M* orl War, Mr. John Bain died at his in Wanganui Avenue, ITerne Ba>. 0 Saturday, at the age of 86. The Bain family enme to New L* land in the ship Brilliant in 1841, proceeded to Cornwallis, where . “ John Bain was born. For the pa* *; years he had been the recipient c annual cheque of £ 5 bequeathe* • Mr. J. M. McLachlan to the descendant of the old colonists unions. When the family removed to A land, Mr. Bain went to school on _ site of which the present St. Theatre is built. He was vcf to a carpenter, but on the outbre~ . the Maori War he joined up ana ? active service for many years, a 1 the war he engaged in many • tions, including flax-milling, an *Vjji 5 was given charge of several n. aX " in different parts of the pro vine - invented a new process for vr the raw flax. He later ! many other occupations, me I building and gold-digging Mr. Bain is survived by his