THE MAORI WAR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 856, 30 June 1910, Page 8

THE MAORI WAR.

CLAIMS FOB MILITARY SERVICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, June 29. Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., investigated several claims for military servieo rendered in the Maori war at the, Magistrate's Court this morning. Chas. Matthew Cray, 57 years of age, stated that in ISCB ho was enrolled in the first-class militia at Wanganui, and in November of that year the corps was called out for active, service. A coinpony of sixty was sent to a redoubt at Wereroa and assisted to rebuild the redoubt, and on October 13, after the defeat of Colouel Whitniorc. flic corps went to Wereroa and became the advance post. At about i p.m. on the afternoon of November 12 they were attacked by a band of 200 of Tito'kowaru's men. Firing was kept up for five hours at u distance of about a chain. The blockhouse and canteen were set on fire and several attempts were made by the Maoris to rush the redoubt, but on each occasion they were beaten back with joss, retiring at >J p.m. Next day at noon Colonel Whitmore sent a party of cavalry from Nukumaru with orders to evacuate the redoubt. The company therefore retired upon Nukumaru and were .there met by the Native Minister who thanked them for their services and gave them leave to return to Wanganui. On December 1, 1868, witness was a member of the party of firstclass militia that went out to build Bryce's redoubt on the bank of the Kaiiwi stream. After being there for a little while he and a number of others were sent to lake up a position on the bank of the 'Wanganui river at Finnimore's woolshed. After being tbere for several days they were ordered back to Wanganui. "Witness subsequently received the New Zealand war medal. J. C. R. Islierwood, of I.yttelton, retired, 65 years of ago, said that he joined the 6!) th regiment of lino as an ensign and exchanged into the -15th. He left the Army to settle in New Zealand, and was gazetted out. On December H, 1800, ho retired to take advantage of the Auckland Waste Lands Act, JBSS, and left England in the ship Glenmark on April 21, ISCfi, and lauded in Lytlelton on December 20. In the rneautimo the Act on which he had relied hail been repealed, and' he therefore had no claim, but he had Clause 01 of tho Act of 1867 specially introduced to meet his case and similar ones. It had been urged that even if his claim was a proper one it was not obligatory upon the Government to make any grant. Ho served under Colonel M'Donnell in Titokowaru's camp from the commencement until tho camp 'at Waihi was given up. From there he went to Turuturuuiokai, whence ho was taken to Waihi to join the Wellington men in the attack at Tengatuoteinanu, where he was given command of No. 2 division, armefl constabulary. He had petitioned Parliament on several occasions, and Commissioner Baker had said that his claim should receive special consideration. He had lived in New Zealand continuously since 1800, with the exception of six months, when he visited England. Albert Edwin Cresswell, an ex-Govorn-ment official, 65 years of age, said that he arrived in Hawko's Bay in 1563. There was trouble on the East Coast, and ho was sworn in at Napier as a volunteer. Guard had to be kept round the town every night during the Hau .Hau scare. He was in the Omaranui fight and the Mohaka massacre, being a non-commis-sioned officer in the militia in the latter. Ho had served from 1805 to' 1808, and had received no recognition of his services. Other claimants were; Alfred Gee (63 years), James Egoor (S5 years), Thomas Henry Anderson (61 years), James Scott, John' Harris (60 years), Thomas Young (60 years), Ada M'lunlay (daughter of Thomas Furinan), Henry Berry, Helen Elizabeth Wallis (widow of Henry Wallis), Joseph Nealo (65 years), Henry Brown (07 years), Ralph Davison (09 years), Frank Burnan Standish (71 years), Andrew Hope Black (6!) years), and John Carruthers Nicholson (OS years). The magistrate mil make a report to the Department.