NINETY YEARS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18893, 7 January 1927, Page 9

NINETY YEARS.

NAVY VETERAN'S BIRTHDAY

GALLANT WAR RECORD

[THE PRESS Special Service 1

AUCKLAND, January 6

The best-known Navy veteran in New Zealand is undoubtedly George Hill, of Takapuna. To-day, January 6th, Hill attained the ago of ninety yours.

He joined the British Navy as far bael: as ISSI, and his war record extends from the days when he joined Garibaldi's men in the light for the liberation of Italy. He was one of the crew of the Leopard at the bombardment of Sebastopol during the war in the Crimea. He also saw service in the Baltic during that war, and during the Indian Mutiny he was u member of Captain Peel's naval brigade, which took a battery of 32-pounders into the heart of India. Mr Hill was slightly wounded at the relief of Lucknow. Later he fought at Delhi under General Sir Colin Campbell. While on the Mediterranean station in H.M.S. Hannibal Hi!! and three of his m.;:tes left the vessel a I Palermo and onh'stcd in Garibaldi's army of iUieratio:'.. During a brief campaign ,u Italy tie was wounded, and later returned to his ;<hip. His temporary desertion was overlooked, probably because ihiglish nyr.ipnthy was vcr'v stronglv \vitb Garibaldi.

Maori Wars. In 1563 Hill came fo New Zealand and joined Major von Touipsky'a forest rangers. He took part iu many actions in Taranaki, and was also in the campaign against the Hauhaus. Later, Hill was a member of Major Eraser's No. 1 company of military settlers at Hawko's Bay, and after that joined the Armed Constabulary. Ho mude a most gallant defence of'the Hiruharama Pa at Mohaka against a raid by To Kooti. It was a very plucky affair. Trooper George Hill, as he was then, of tho Armed Constabulary, joined a party cf Maoris led by Chief Ihaka Whanga, and in order to relieve the pa, they charged past the rifle pits of Te Kooti's men. That they gained the shelter of the pa without the loss of a single man may have been due to the fact that the Hauhaus had previously raided the public house in the settlement nearby. That reinforcement saved tho pa. Trooper Hill was the life of the defence. By his advice tho pallisades were strengthened with bullock chains so that the attackers could not pull them down by the old device of throwing over them a rope to which was tied a cross bar. The result of the defenco was that tho Hauhaus had to retire : when the Teliof force made its appearance. To Kooti for once was baffled.

Now Zealand Cross. Colonel Whitmore, when recommending Trooper Hill for the New Zealand Cross, wrote: "Hill animated th© defencers by his exertions and contributed greatly to the repulse of To Kooti. His conduct is spoken of in admiration by the Maoris themselves." The Cross was duly granted. Hill was at Ruaturi when To Kooti massacred the tribe of Maoris there. He made his escape by swimming two rivers, and also rescused his sister at the same time. The father of Mr Hill belonged to the Navy and was at St. Petersburg with the British Admiral in 1812, arranging with the Russian Government for the burning of Moscow, an event that proved so disastrous to Napoleon. Governor's Congratulations. The following message was received by the veteran from the GovernorGeneral: "Her Excellency and I send you warmest congratulations on your ninetieth birthday, and best wishes for your health and happiness."