OBITUARY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16725, 7 January 1920, Page 7

OBITUARY.

COLONEL GUDGEON. (press association telegram.)

AUCKLAND, January 6. Colonel "W. E. Gudgeon, C.M.G., died nfc Devon port yesterday, at tho ago of seventy-eight vears. JHo had boon living a retired lifo for tho past few years, and had l>ocn in failing health for six months past.

[Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. fpudgcon, C.M.G., took an active part in tho Maori Wars. In the Wanganui district ho was placed in charge of a contingent of friendly Maoris. His first engagement with rebel Maoris was while he was occupying the Karaka heights, the morning before tho "Wercroa Pa was taken. Ho was then a sergeant-major in tho forces. Ho was accompanied in that engagement by Colonel McDonald and Captain Wirihann. He also took part in the reliof of l'ipiriki, which was besieged bv Pehi Turoa, a chief of the Upper Wanganui, and several hundred men. Colonel Gudgeon went to the East Coast, and was second in command of tho Maori Contingent of Opotiki. Ho was present at engagements at Kiorc Kino, the Hill Pas, and Waimnna. At tho last-named place he surprised the notorious Kereopa —"Eyeswaljower" —who later was hanged at Napier. Colonel Gudgeon accompanied General Sir Trevor Chute in several campaigns. Ho served under Colonol McDonald and Sir George Whitmorp in the campaign on tho West Coast against Titokowaru, fought in Poverty Bav, and followed Te Kooti in his flight to tho fastnesses of tho Urcwera Country. When the war ended, about ISO-?, ho was appointed Resident Magistrate at Gisborno, nut in the disturbance at Parihaka in 1881, when the prophot To Whiti assumed a. threatening attitude, be was again called on to take command of a Maori company that assembled at Parihaka. In 1885, he was appointed to command the land forces at Wellington, and a fow months later he was appointed Under-Secretary for Defence. He was Commissioner of Polire for some time, and then was appointed a judge of tho Native Land Court. In ISS9 ho was appointed British Resident of the Cook Islands.]