OBITUARY

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14256, 6 January 1920, Page 5

OBITUARY

COLONEL GUDGEON, C.M.G.

The death occurred at Devonport, Auckland, yesterday, of Colonel_ W. E. Gudgeon, 0.M.G.. at the age of 77. Colonel Gudgeon was a courteous gentleman of the old school, and had done much to serve the Dominion, playing a prominent part in,,the Maori war. He entered the service, at Wanganui, as a very young man. Just as the rebellion had reached that district, and from his knowledge of the Maori language and the drilling he had previously received at Taranaki he, was at once placed in the Native Contingent, as Sergeant-Major of'that branch of the service. The first time ,he was finder fire was while occupying the Karaka heights, the morning prior to the taking of the Weraroa Pa, and.for his action in taking prisoners and discovering arms, he gained his commission. He took part in the relief of Pipiriki, and in every engagement at Kiore Kino, the hill pas, and Waimana, where he surprised the notorious Kereopa (the eye swallower), with his 12 apostles, kilhng two of the party. He accompanied Sir Trevor Chute in his campaign, of; 1860, and was present at. both attacks on Okotuku. Later he was appointed to the command of the Native Contingent at Pipiriki, and served L'.•vougn many engagements until the severe action at Moluroa, where Colonel Whitmore encountered the full strength of the West Coast tribes under Tikokowarn. At the termination of.the war he was appointed Eesident Magistrate at Gisborne, but was recalled to take the command of his company, and was left in charge of the district of Manaia until April, 1885, when he gained his majority. He was then placed in command of the land forces at Wellington, and a few months later succeeded Colonel Header as Under-Secretary for Defence. For some time he was a JipWe of the Native Court and Ccmmissioner of the and was also British Resident in the Cook Islands Federation for a time, He was cl' rorated with the C.M.G. on the occasion of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (now King and Queen) to New Zealand. Since retiring from public life Colonel Gudgeon has resided at Devonport,

MRS E. PARKER. Quite a- gloom was cast over Gordoiiton during the holidays by the death of Mrs E. Parker, wife of Mr James Parker, and daughter of Mrs Ede and the late Mr William Ede. Mrs Parker passed away on Christmas Eve, and was interred in the Hamilton East cemetery on December 27th. She lived in and about Gordonton’for the last 45 years, and was 54 years of age. Mrs Parker had one brother, John E. Ede, who was drowned in the Waikato River 35 years ago. The deceased leaves her husband and two daughters, Misses Elsie and Irene Parker, also her aged mother (75 years), to. mourn their loss. Mrs Parker was highly respected by all who knew her, and will be missed in this district..

IVfR WM. QUALTROUGH,

On the morning of 31st December, Mr William Qualtrough, an old pioneer settler, died at Fencourt, Cambridge. Mr Qualtrough, who was born in the Isle of Man, landed in New Zealand with his parents and six brothers and sisters from the good ship Mermaid in 1359, and took up his residence for a time at Pakuranga. After a short stay there he enlisted and took his part in the Waikato War, eventually settling at Klhikihi, where for many years he was a well known farmer. While there he, with his wife, took a leading part in all local, public nnd social affairs. Having disposed of his farm at Kihikihi Mr Qualtrough took up another at Orakau, where his hospitality was so well known as to he almost proverbial. On the division of the Fencourt Estate, near Cambridge, he acquired part of the homestead section, where many a happy evening’s entertainment was held in his granary. Some six years ago he disposed of the greater part of his farm, and practically retired from farming. About six months ago Ids wife died, and from that time on a painful malady from which he had long been a patient sufferer, made rapid strides, until on the closing day of the .. r }i r Qualtrough peacefully passed : ,v.iy. During his illness be was nursed by two of his daughters, Misses Katie and Lily Qualtrough, who, by their care and devotion did much to soothe his sufferings. Mr Qualtroughleft seven children and twenty-two grandchildren.