LIEUT.-COLONEL CHARLES STAPP.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9068, 28 April 1891, Page 2

LIEUT.-COLONEL CHARLES STAPP.

In "this weak piping time of peace" those who took an active part in the war with the natives are apt to be forgotten; and their services too often have gone unrewarded. Apongst those who did the State some service in those troublesome times is Lieut-Colonel Stapp, who after tbree and thirty years' colonial service, has through ill-health been compelled to retire and seek that rest which he is so well entitled to. He entered the Imperial service by joining the 58th Regiment in Dublin in April, 1842; ard the following August went to Lancashire with his Company to suppress the Chartist riots. In September, 1843, his Company left Kingstown, Ireland, in a ship taking convicts to Tasmania; and ho afterwards went to Sydney, where he did duty in escorting prisoners from place to place. When the war with the natives broke out at tfie Bay of Islands, the 58th Regt. was sent there, and engaged in what is termed " Heki's war" in 1845-46. He was presont during the attack on Okihau pah, which took place on Bth May, 1845. and also formed one of the party which stormed and took Oahiawai pah on the Ist July of the same year. He, on the latter occasion, carried a wounded man from the pah when' under terrific fire, for which he was thanked in "Orders." On 16th July, 1845, he was with the night attack, in boats, at the destruction of the Arawas' pah, up the Waikare River, and was also present at the destruction of Kawhiti's pah at F.uapekapeka, on the 11th January, 1846. Returning to England about the time of the Crimean war, Colonel Stapp volunteered for service there, and was appointed a staff officer under Lord William Paulet and General Storks, who commanded on * the Bosphorus. and Dardanelles; and waa appointed Superintendent of Hospitals, which position he held till the breaking up of that vast establishment on July 31st, 1856. He returned to New Zealand about 1857, and then retired from the Imperial service In June, 1858, he was appointed Adjutant to the Permanent Staff of Tara. naki Militia. On the war with the natives breaking out in 1860, Captain Stapp took an active part in several of the engagements with the Maoris—the fight at Waireka standing out the most prominent. Whilst holding the position of Adjutant he accompanied a force to Omata to rescue thirty-four settlers, women and children, who were surrounded by the rebel natives. Colonel Stapp was given command, and took the men into action. The enemy held a strong position, and numbered three to one of the European forces, but the Maoris were beaten with heavy loss t ,and Colonel Stapp was personally tbanked by Governor Colonel Gore Brown, and also by the officer commanding the Imperial forces. He was also mentioned in a complimentary manner in the despatches. Colonel Stapp was present at the attack on the Huirangi redoubt, and he also commanded the colonial forces, although not senior officer at the taking of the pahs Takurarike and Orongomaihangi at Kaihihi, these expeditions being under the command of General Pratt. He was also present at the storming of Kaitaki in 1864, when the force waa under the command of Colonel Warre and Major Atkinson. Colonel Stapp is mentioned in all the despatches which-refer to those engagements. In 1865 he was made Brevet-Major, and placed second in command of an expeditionary force sent to Opotiki, on the East Coast, to capture and punish the rebels who had murdered the Rev. Mr Volkner, and the captain, crew, and passengers of the Kate at Whakatane. In rnakiLg the appointment the then Defence Minister stated, "The Government thought it desirable that an officer of experience and known reputation should be appointed as second in Command." When the force arrived off Opotiki, H.M.S. Brisk was to have covered the landing of 240 men, who went as a "forlorn hope." They'"were closely packed in a small steamer, which the pilot, on entering the river, run aground. The men, however, got safely on shore, though not without considerable difficulty and danger. Very stormy weather at the time prevailed, which caused the force'on the land to be for three days without food or cover, as neither provisions nor tents could be landed. The men during that time were exposed to a most violent thunderstorm, the hail and rain coming down in torrents. When the storm abated the men embarked again on the little steamer, which ,inad*v^ another attempt to go up the river to Opotiki, but the flood carried her towards the bar, where she stuck. The rebels, seeing the helpless position of the attacking force, opened fire on the men,' wounding several:'* The weather moderating, the force again landed, and took up a position. They then attacked the natives, and succeeded in capturing thirty-two of the murderers, 1 who were tried by court-martial, when some'wero hanged, and others ordered to be imprisoned. Colonel Stapp' haying : been appointed to the command, the responsibility rested on him of carrying out the sentences. During the expedition Colonel Stapp rendered valuable services by "feeding the force under his command with captured cattle and other provisions belonging to the rebels, from whom he also took sufficient horses to mount a troop of Wanganui Cavalry, which formed a portion oi the force. For these distinguished and valuable services' Colonel' Staup received the thanks and congratulations of the Go.vernor and Defence Minister (Colonel Haultain).,.- ■ > - - Returning to Taranaki, be was appointed Adjutant to the Military Settlers force; but Major Atkinson wishing him to resume his old position as AdjutantTfffiihe Mililia and Volunteers, Colonel .Stapp^did so. It waa about this time that a subscription was raised in New Plymouth, for the.purpose of purchasing a suitable testimonial to be presented to Colonel Stapp as some recognition of his services as Adjutant for the period of six years. , The money-was presented to him, and he purchased a piece of plate, on which a 'suitable inscription was engraved. ...... «- In 1869 he organised and commanded the force sent to recover the bodies, of the Rev. Mr Whitely, Lieut. Gascoigne/ and the: other victims of'the White' Cliffs massacre, for which service he .received the thanks ,of thY" Government' 'of jthe tday. Tho above' are only a portion of the "Bervices rendered by Oolo'nel/Stap'p-in the -field during times- of danger, but,'as the Wanganui Merald says, they* are sufficient ,to bliow that he has' been a valuable^man to the. country, and that his, retirement from its "service after.33, years**, hard and often dangerous work should ' remind the settlers and the Government o t f the colony that this is no ordinary case of retiring in uccoydance' with the- regulations -of the service,and that if possible • the man J who has served his country so well should bo the recipient of some special recognition now that owing to. advancing years and ill-health he is compelled to retire from the -public service." • Major , Atkinson, xon behalf of the officers ''of the Taranaki District, . in March, 1872,"' presented Colonel Stapp with a sword, stating that never was a token of esteem and'confidence more honestly earned and richly deserved} at for fourteen years the recipient had occupied a post responsible position,- the Onerous duties of which he had performed with {tact, temper, judgment, and untiring zeal. .Nor was this all, for during the wretched- years which had passed over Taranaki, Major Stapp had freely'and frequently risked his life in the common cause. - • -/,- Referring to Colonol Stapp's retirement, the Wanganui Herald says :—;" The Volunteers on this coast hold him in high esteem, us a thorough soldier and strict dis« «pH»ari»n, Under hii gomip&nd tho djfr

- fereat corps havß been worked up to .a state of high proficiency, and their officers instructed in field work by one who has '. not only seen active service, but played a most distinguished part in days gone by, when the country was ravaged by war, and the settlers flying for their lives into the larger towns', whilst their homesteads were being given to the flames, and their stock driven off into the bush or wantonly destroyed. The hardships and exposure undergone by the gallant Coloael in those days have left him in his old age a martyr to a rheumatic complaint, from a severe attack of which he is just recovering, otherwise he would have' been present at the Palraerston Encampment to take leave of the officers and men so lojg under his command, who we feel sure will join v'th us in the hope that Colonel Stapp may speedily recover from his present indisposition, and live many years to enjoy a", well-earned leisure. With respect to the terms on which he retires from the public j service, we think something should be done, as he will only receive between £600 and £700 compensation. When we remember that there are men drawing pensions of £300 a year, who never performed any more risky service .for the country than walking to and from their offices, and whose terms of service ,, were not nearly so long, it does seem wrong that a man like Colonel Stapp should be shelved with so small a pecuniary solatium, after. 32 years' arduous and often dangerous service."