ANOTHER VETERAN PASSES

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1930, Page 3

ANOTHER VETERAN PASSES

SOLDIER AT AGE OF EIGHTEEN FAMILY LINK WITH WAIKATO WAR DEATH OF MR. E. C. MEREDITH Soldier in the New Zealand Form at the age of 18, Mr. Edward Charles Meredith, who died in New Plymouth during the week-end at the age of 84, lived °to the full the adventurous vears ■ of the Maori wars. With his death old. associations come to life again. It wasthe murder of his father and brother by* the Maoris on July 14, 1864, near Druiy, that started the Waikato war. _ Born in England in 1847. Mr. Meredith landed in Auckland in 1859, off the Neumahal. The fa.mily moved to Otahuhu and two years later to a district three miles from Drury. It was there that the Maoris killed Mr. Meredith’s father and brother. Thia was the act which started the Waikato After the murder Mr. Meredith left for Wanganui and joined the native continent under Colonel McDonnell as colour-sergeant in 1865. The troops were ordered to Wereroa, where they surrounded the pa and took 50 prisoners. The prisoners later escaped from a hulk in Wellington. ‘ , After the taking of Wereroa the troops were ordered to Pipiriki to relieve the Taranaki men who were encircled by rebels. Relieved in its turn by the 57th Regiment the party to which Mr. Meredith belonged was ordered to Opotiki to avenge the murder f of the clergyman Mr. Volkner. The force was made up of two companies of the Taranaki military settlers, tiie patea Rangers, the Wanganui Yeomanry < Cavalry and about 200 natives under, the command of Major- Brassey. Opotiki was taken and then, on October 6, 1865, the pa on the flat at Opotiki was taken. In November the ) native contingent was withdrawn from I Opotiki to. go with Major-General Chute I to New Plymouth. The contingent left , I 'Wanganui on December 29, 1865, an i joined the force the Major-General at j Waitotara. Advancing on New Uymouth, Okotuku was first engaged and then Putahi. Both were taken. lhe force marched to Kakaramea and from there to Turu-turu-Mokai. Otapawa was attacked, and in the engagement ■Colonel Hassard was killed. Three days’ rations were served to the troops after the taking of and the troops set off through the bush from the Ketemarae-clearing towards New Plymouth. After ten days’ march.in<>- on three days’ rations the detachment came out of’the bush at Mattawa. The men pushed on to New Hymouth, where they were joined by the mounted men under Captain F. Mall. The troopa took Waikoko and later rcturned by the coast route to Wanganui, reaching there on February 14, 1866. . , Major Von Tempskey’s force joined Mr. Meredith’s contingent at-Patea and accompanied it through .the bush. The native contingent was then sent again to Pipiriki to relieve the regular soldiers. It stayed there until it was recalled for despatch to Patea under Colonel McDonnell. Several skirmishes with the Maoris followed at Pokaiki, Te N<rtitu o te Manu, Meremere and Ketemarae. In May, 1868, Mr. Meredith chose his land and town section and returned to Wanganui. Two months later hostilities broke out again and Mr. Meredith was appointed orderly room clerk in the Wanganui military office. After the Ti tokowaru trouble and the battle and Ngutu o te Manu about 40 wounded were sent to Wanganui, where Mr. - Meredith had charge of the military hospital. Later he was transferred to Patea as drill instructor and orderly, room clerk. He ended his military career as ser-geant-major of the Hawera Volunteers. ° Mr. Meredith is survived by four sons and one daughter. The children are: Mrs. Green, Koru; Fred. Meredith, Hai wera- Percy Meredith, Australia; Edi <var Meredith and Guy Meredith, both I of New Plymouth.