DEATH OF MR. J. G. BEAMISH

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1932, Page 6

DEATH OF MR. J. G. BEAMISH

TURUTURU-MOKAI SURVIVOR. EARLY SETTLER OF PATEA. One of the two survivors of the historic Turuturu-lMokai engagement of 1868, Mr. John Gillman Beamish died at Patea on Saturday at the age of 90 years. Death followed a brief illness, though his health had been failing for some time. Born in 1846 in County Cork, Ireland, where he was educated and taught the rudiments of farming, Mr. Beamish arrived in New Zealand in 1868, landing at Auckland. He pushed straight on to the Patea settlement at the heads. A few weeks later came the Maori disturbances, and Mr. Beamish joined the No. 2 Armed Constabulary Force under Sergt. (afterwards judge) Scannell. Mr. Beamish, it will be remembered, was one of the small force of 24 under Capt. Ross which fought off a large number of Maoris who attacked the Turuturu-Mokai redoubt by nightin that engagement Mr. Beamish was severely wounded. Mr. Beamish opened a store _ ana bought the Masonic Hotel, placing it in care of a tenant. Alternately he conducted a farm near Kakaramea and then the hotel, leased the farm and retired at Patea. He was a borough councillor for a number of, years, a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Domain Board, churchwarden of St. George’s Anglican Church and .a Justice of the Peace. In 1875 Mr. Beamish married the daughter of one of the first civilian settlers in the district, Mr. William Dale. He is survived by his wife, two sons and. six daughters.