OLD SOLDIERS' REMAINS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVI, Issue 112501, 5 April 1892, Page 2

OLD SOLDIERS' REMAINS.

: * ' • • We make no apology for publishing. at length the following very interesting diary, which was made by Mr C. Burnett ■during the work of exhuming the remains o£ the soldiers who were killed and buried, about 25 years ago at Nukumaru. diary was written as a report to the Soldiers' Monument Committee, of which Mr Burnett is the Hon. Secretary, and it contains a full account of a labour of love in search for the last relics of our gallant old defenders. These have now been deposited in their last resting place, under a fitting monument to the bravery of the spirits that once animated them. We think the work of searching for and removing them is well worthy of being placed on record, and we have to thank Mr Burnett for giving us the opportunity of performing that duty. With these few words of introduction we give Mr Burnett's words verbatim :— A general meeting was called by letter and. post card to be held at the office of C. Burnett, on the Bth of March, 1892, to consider the question of removing the Nukumaru remains. Only Major Neill attended, but Mr Bassett and Mr Stewart sent excuses. I gathered generally that the Committee were in favour of the remains being removed to a place beneath the monument, and accordingly On Monday, 14th March, 1892. — I went to Nukumaru, accompanied by SergeantMajor McMillan. The carter Williams drove, and Wilkius, the grave digger, went to carry out the work. C. Burnett. March, 15th, 1892. We arrived upon the ground about 2 p.m. on Monday, the same day, William Handley's son acting as guide. SergeantMajor McMillan pointed out the remains of a mound at the N.W. end of the burying ground (which was situated on the top of s razor-back sandhill or ridge, the burying ground being about two chains or so in length), where he said a number of natives were burried in one grave, and pointed out that the soldiers were buried in graves commencing close to the before described mound. Wilkins aud his mate Williams began at once to dig, and sunk two grave;like holes, one across the ridge and one lengthwise, but nothing was fonnd at a depth of five feet, when I and McMillan, at a little before 3 o'clock, left to catch the train at Nukumaru for town. The lengthwise of hole was extent about 12 feet to depth of six feet, and about 4 p.m. Wilkins changed his plan, and commenced to dig about the centre of the ground. By dark they got down about four feet, and found two remains. Tuesday, the. 15th of March, 1892.— Work began early at same place, and by dinner time two more remains were found in the (same hole. AH four lay side by side in the direction of the ridge. Work was begun in the afternoon about two feet to 5.8., or town end of ground. Cross sectional trenches of about four and a half feet long and five feet deep were dug to no purpose. About 3.30 o'clock work was begun in a ireah place two feet from last digging at town end of ground. A trench like the last was sunk in the direction of the hill, and at about f our'f eet deep the remains of one man were found (a buckle of a.belt with 50th Reg. upon it was found.) Work was carried on till nearly dark. Wednesday, 16th March, 1892.— Work was begun early. A fresh trench was begun still further towards the town end, and two feet from the last one, similar in size and direction to the last. The re-, mains of one man were found lying in the direction of the ridge. Another small trench was opened, still working in the same direction aud two feet from the last, but found nothing and could feol nothing at five feet deep. Wort was then abandoned at the town end for the time being, and was begun at the further side of centre at about 9 a.m. At about two feet from the trench where the four were f6und a cross trench was sunk, which disclosed traces of remains on the upper .side of -the trench. .. The 'remains of five were then consecutively found side by side, lying across the ridgo at a depth of about four feet, pretty close, as if buried in one grave. These were collected about 2 p.m. Work was then begun about three , feet further on in the same direction (from town) and a cross trench dug, three remains being found lying across, but ■ not at right angles. These were got" out a little past 5 p.m. Work was then begun about two feet off, still in the same direction. A cross trench was dug, but nothing was found that evening. Work was carried on till nearly dark. Rain commenced in drizzles about a little past (5 o'clock. Thursday, 17th March, 1892. — It rained ■ pretty hard aud constantly till dinner time. After dinner work was resumed, and the trench opened the evening before finished, but nothing was found. The last trench was about seven or eight ?eet from the trench opened on Monday after--1 noon, when the work was begun next the mound. Work was then begun again at the town end, and several more trenches were sunk to no effect, and nothing more was found. Work was carried ou till nearly dark. Friday, 18th March, 1892.— Cloudy but fine morning. Work was begun early at the upper end, and the ground betw.een the trenches, described in yesterday's proceedings as about neven or eight feet, was thoroughly explored, and two more found about 10 o'clock lying lengthwise side by side. Work was then resumed in the trench first opened on Monday, and some cross tienche? bunk, butnoth--1 ing found. A great deal of excavating was done at this end, but nothing but the foot of a tread board was found. It came on to rain pretty hard about dinner time, aud no more woi'k could be done. The trenches were filled in so as not to hurt cattle, but no more could be done. Work was practically completed, and the remains taken to the hotel, where they arrived about 3.20 p.m. It rained the rest of the afternoon. Saturday, 19th March, 1892.— The cart left Nukumaru Hotel at 7 o'clock with the remains, and arrived at Kai Iwi at about 9.15 a.m., Wilkins intending to come in by train, but some landslips delayed the train and he had to come in with the cart, having telegraphed to Mr Sharpe about 11 a.m. that the cart would be at the site of the uonument at 1 p.m. At 1.5 p.m. theca-t arrived, and a trench was at once dug in the centre of the site of the monument, where the five bags of remains were buried about three feet below the surface, and covered up about 3 p.m. The fact was intimated to Captain Clapham by me at about 5 p.m. Wilkins and Williams seem quite satisfied that they have got all the remains within the enclosure.