MAORI WAR VETERAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1926, Page 4

MAORI WAR VETERAN.

TE NGUTU-O-TE-MANU SURVIVOR. It has-been given to few of the old pioneers, hardy as they were, to survive for over half a century, and in the full vigour of manhood, such scenes in which the late Mr. Chas. A. M. Hirtzel, of Palmerston North, took part during the Maori War of 1863-66. Nor do many men at the advanced age of 86 years, maintain close association with so many of the affairs and institutions of the present day as did that gentleman prior to his last illness, which terminated fatally on Tuesday evening (says the local Times). The late Mr. Hirtzel was a Devon man, being a native of Exeter. He came out to New Zealand 66 years ago as a medical student, but be heard the call of the land and was first employed on a large estpte in Canterbury. Later, he resided with his family at Napier and Gisborne, and then, about 25 years ago, settled in Palmerston North, during the greater part of that time being curator of the Museum. The late Mr. Hirtzel joined the Colonial forces in 1863 and served in the Defence Force Cavalry until 1866, during which time lie took part in the principal engagements on the East Coast of the North Island. Being on active service, he first distinguished himself when attached to the expedition under Major Brassey, who was sent to avenge the murder of. the Reverend Mr. Volkner and settlers in the Bay of Plenty. In 1865 he rejoined !(s old corps in the Poverty Bay district, and was soon after engaged in the attack on the stronghold, of the Hauhaus at Waeren-ga-a-hika; and while repulsing a sortie of the enemy received a serious wound in the leg. On the disbandment of the defence force, Lieut. Hirtzel received a com mission in the Wanganui. Yeomanry Cavalry, and at the attack on Pungarehu bv the force under the command of Lieut-Colonel McDonnell he was in charge of a detachment of dismounted iften. Tn. the middle of the engagement, during the heaviest of the fire, he was in the act of climbing over the palisading erected around the pa when be was struck down by a bullet which entered his body near "the spine and lodged in his shoulders. This wound very nearly proved fatal, and the ball was extracted with some difficulty by Dr. Spencer, at that time surgeon of the Eighteenth .Royal Irish, and later of Napier. Soon after recovering he again presented himself for. active service, and was present at the disastrous repulse of our forces at the second attack on. the village of Te Ngntu-o-te-iManu, where so many of our officers fell. Lieut. Iliitzel was particularly commended for his conduct at Pungarehu during the action, and for saving the life of a Maori woman just before receiving lies wound. An incident which. the late officer often recounted with great gusto was his arrest and trial as a deserter during the East Coast campaign. He had been sent down to Wellington with a prisoner, but the boat by which lie was to return sailed tie day before he arrived. He was thus stranded in Wellington tor several weeks, during which time lie had been “posted.” On his arrival lie was court-mania lied, but of <‘ouree it was merely a point of military etiquette and the young officer had hie sword returned very quickly.