AFTERWARDS.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 6, 1 March 1900, Page 41

AFTERWARDS.

That eventful siege at Mohaka would have made most men sigh i'or the arts of peace, and long to turn their swords into ploughshares and their carbines into mowingmachines, or something of that sort, lint not so with Hill. Fighting was his trade ; ho we must not be surprised to find him soon after the events narrated above taking part with the defence forces in the expedition to Lake Waikarernoana, under Colonel Herrick. He was given charge of a large whaleboat on the lake, and had by thin time boon promoted to first-class sergoant. Some of the A.C. force used to cruise round the lake in whaleboats looking for Tc Kooti's men, who had entrenched themselves on the rocky north-west shore. Hill's boat waa on one

occasion very nearly cut off by three large canoes full of Maoris, and the Hauhaus also fired from the shore, but did no damage beyond hitting the boat in the bow. Not long after this we discover Hill on the march from Napier to Lake Taupo with No. 1 Division of the A.O.s — a fine lot. of fellows, looking workmanlike in their blue shirts and shawl-kilts in lieu of trousers — and chasing Te Kooti at the back of Tokaanu, where, in the Pourere fight, in which Hill was engaged, the gallant Captain St. George was killed. Then peace began to settle down on the land ; and life in the redoubts at Taupo, Tauranga, and elsewhere, work in the military road parties ; later on a share in the celebrated march on Parihaka, in 1882 ; and finally a useful career in the Grovernment Torpedo Corps (No. 2 Service Compauy), complete Hill's long soldiering record. His

medals and clasps number thirteen, and represent a host of engagements and adventures "by flood and field." The war-medals which he has the honour of weaving are the Baltic, Crimean (with Sebastopol Bar), Tm*kish, Indian Mutiny (Relief of Lucknow Bar, and Capture of Lucknow Bar), New Zealand War Medal, and New Zealand Cross, besides the Garibaldi Rosette (-which is shown in the photograph), and the Government Long Service Medal. In addition to these decorations the much-travelled "Rowley" wears two Humane Society's Medals, the second of which was awarded to him in 1897, for saving life in the harbour at Devonport ; so that the " Soldier of the Queen " whose career we have followed has turned his native pluck to service in rescuing the lives of his fellow-creatures as well as in sending them to the Reinga.