OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1920, Page 6

OBITUARY.

VETERAN JOHtf FLYNN. The Correspondent of the Hawera Star writes .as under:— T)ie passing of Veteran John Mynn in his seventy-ninth year makes the third Maori- War veteran to pass the Great Divide during the last month, and the only known local veteran that took part in tho, Te Ngutu-o-te-MaiiH engagement on September 1, 1868/ when Major von Tempsky and many Brave men fell. Our veteran friend: Was born in County; Roscommon,-Ireland arid at an early age came out to these colonies, taking' part' in the various goldfield rushes in those exciting days with varied success. Arriving in New Plymouth in the early 'sixties, he was one of a party to take provision*•"tft.-Mat-aitawa to the exhausted expedition under General ,Clmte, which started from Normanby on January 17, 18(10. through the biish to New; Plymouth. The'march was to be done in three days, but took eigh't days, running out of pro-' visions in' the meantime.. Our veteran often told me how these famished, weary, and tattered troops enjoyed their repnst brought, to th*m by the relief party. In the ill-fated engagement of Te Ngutii-o-te-Manu he was early put out of action, and was propped up asrainst a rata tree. He could see, his commaridiiicr officer; Major von Tcmsky, and comrades falling • close to him, but was .powerless to render assistance, expecting at any moment to be cleft in two bp an enemv tp.mahawk. As recently as April 2!i last I drove the old veteran to To Ngntu-o-te-Manu, where we met Mr *..'. von Tempsky, son of his his old commanding officer. The whole engagement as he then saw it was vividly described to a little \>n*n r»at met that day on the memorable ««• action. We afterwards visited the monuments near Normanby, erected in memory of many fallen heroes that gave their lives around IJawera, and as a result wo now live in peace blessed with great prosperity. We next visited the late Veteran Cosslett Johnson, the old warriors parting to meet no more or relight their carlv battles over again. Shortly after this event the late veteran went, for a change to be with one of , his daughters in Wanganui. Hearing he was none too well, I had a mn down to see him on Friday. July 2a, and found him gradually sinking. I could sec it would be my last.chat. He was fairly cheerful, but the strong man was bowed down and the sands <jf time limited, and so passed at an early hour on Monday morning, August 2, one more of our fast-disappearing Maori war veterans. Tn the early days our veteran had many narrow escapes when running the mails from Xew Plymouth round the coast; benighted, bogged, and tide bound, he slept many nights in the open. He was at all times on good terms with the Maoris, and his cheerful, frank manner endeared him to them. Hone Pihama being his staunch friend, thus enabling Her Majesty's Royal mail to be carried over the Waimate Plains. When the mountain track was in virgin bush, and no railway between here and Wanganui, his line of coaches were the line of communication. The late Mr John During joined him as partner for a term. The late veteran.was in business in Hawera for some considerable time. His late wife and daughters were musical lenders in Hawero. His wife predeceased him by fifteen years last June. Towards the end he was totally blind. There survives him four sons, viz.—Frank, Jim, John and Tom; and four daughters—Mrs W. A. Qiiin (Hawera). Mrs N. McCarthy (Wellington), Mrs Dwyer (Wanganui), and Miss Mollie Flynn, to mourn their loss.

A WANGANUI PIONEER. By the death of Mr T. D. Cummins, who passed away on Friday at the age of 74 years, Wanganui loses another of its pioneer settlers (the Chronicle reports). The deceased was a native of .New South Wales, having been bom at Port Macquarrie, but had spent practically all 'his life inNew Zealand, having crossed the Tasman when 13 years of age. When the Maori War took place on this coast Mr Cummins saw active service with the Wanganui Cavalry Volunteers as a sergeant, and subsequently as troop sergeant-major. He was a fine rifle shot, and took a keen interest in shooting, being the winner of the carbine Championship of New Zealand in 1872; Tihe dteceased always retained his interest in military matters, and for many years was secretary of 'the local branch of H.M. Veterans. He was also prominently associated with the Fire Brigade, of which he was captain for many years. He was one of the founders of the Firo Brigades' Association of New Zealand and filled the offices of president and vice-president. Mr. Cummins occupied a scat on the Borough Council for several years. He was also a chairman and secretary of the Wanganui River Trust i and secretary of the Aotea Madri Land Board. In the earlier days of Wanganui, Mr Cummins was the leading provision merchant in the town. A widow and grown-Up family are left to mourn their low.