To the Memory of the Brave Dead.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5604, 28 April 1886, Page 3

To the Memory of the Brave Dead.

AFFECTING REMINISCENCES. [Peb Phbbs Association.} WELLINGTON, Apbil 27. Yesterday, the ceremony was performed of unveiling a monument, erected at Manaia to the memory of the officers and men who fell during the last war on the I West Coast. It had been arranged that the Hon Mr Ballance should perform the ceremony, but he was, unfortunately, detained on the East Coaßt. The ceremony was performed by Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts, N.Z.A.C., who as Captain Koberts, led the Forces out of Te Ngntu after the disaster there, when Von Tempekey fell. Colonel Koberts, in speaking, 6aid : Ae one of the surviving officen of all the engagements described on the monument, I should be neglecting a duty which lies upon me, to show honour to my dead comrades, if I did not Bay a few words expressive of my admiration of the devoted conduct of the brave men whose names are here recorded. When I look at this long, sad list my memory rushes back to within * ttw months of 18 years ago, at the Te Ngutu O Te Manu, where fell the gallant Major Von Tempskey, whose name appears first on the roll, and no wonder that it does bo appear. He was always the first in danger and the last to leave it, and never asked any man to do that which, by example, he was not prepared to do himself. We do well to honour suah men as him. If he had any fault as a soldier it was the characteristic one of always being in advance, sometimes, mayhap, too far in advance. The next one on the list is Major Hunter, whose bravery and courage were always conspicuous, and who fell mortally wounded early in the fight while showing his love and devotion to his country. His last words I remember well-: "Follow me closely." Captain Rosb is next on the list. He lost hiß life in defending a post which he commanded, unfortunately for him ; and the handful of men who were with him were taken at soeh a disadvantage that they were nnable to make use of the soldierly qualities that he possessed. Captain Brown fell in the trencheß before Ngahapa, while nobly setting his men an example of scorning danger when duty demanded exposure. The next name is that of Captain Buck, of undoubted courage and cool Bound judgment. Well do I remember hfa firm, unflinching courage at Te Ngut*. Having lost our leaders, we held brief counsel together as to what Bhonldbe done, and I directed him to hold a certain position and await my return from the search for Von Tempskey. He earried out the orders only too faithfully. I returned to find him there at the assigned post, but dead, with his face to the foe. Captain Palmer and Lieutenant Hastings are next on the list, men who met their death while nobly doing their duty; and then Lieutenant Hunter, who was the life of the camp with his sparkling wit and jovial laugh, whose bright humour was not absent in times of danger. Only a few minutes before he fell he laughingly said : " There is one of them j I can see the white of his eye ; give it to him." These were simple words, but they were ffords of the brave, sustaining spirit — words to inBpire men with courage in the difficulty, and lighten the sense of danger. I would fain run over the list of non-commissioned officers and men who, with our allies, the friendly Natives, the majority of whom 1 knew, and whose courage and devotion I was an eye-witness to, but time does not permit. We are too apt to forget what we owe to the brave men whose memory -we are here to-day to honour, and the surrounding circumstances under which they sacrificed their lives. All the pomps of war were wanting, but none of its hardships and dangers. There were no brilliant uniforms, no flying banners to cheer the weary, as they filed their way through tangled, gloomy, trackless forest, nor blow of trumpet, nor beating of dram to roase them to the charge, yet how nobly all did their duty ! The last moments of some, perhaps the majority, were not eased by comrade's kindly touch, nor soothed by sympathetic looks and hopeful words. They were often agonised by fiendish yells and savage mutilation of the foe. I need say no more. I trust this monument will be kept in good preservation, and the names thereon written, cherished with pride by generations to come ; and I conclude by expressing my great regret that Captain Hempton, to whom much credit is due for the erection of this monument, is not here to-day. (Applause.) Some of the survivors were also present, but most of them were too affected to speak at any length.