BACK IN 1834.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1358, 8 February 1912, Page 4

BACK IN 1834.

THE HK-ST TROOPS IN NEW ZEALAND. 'J'hn first troops in New Zealand (relate Captain Kyre Kenny in the Now Zealand "Military Journal") worn a company ol Hie 501k I'oot, commanded by a Captain Johnson a Peninsula veteran. In 1831 a whaler culled the Harriet was driven ashore and wrecked near Capo Hgmoiit. The captain, John Gerard, had his wife and two children with him. Kvery one was landed safely, with tents, provisions, and ten muskets and ammunition. About two hundred Nalivos, armed with guns, tomahawks, etc., cairn , down and plundered the ship. Gerard and his men entrenched, tlieir little camp, and, when they were attacked, made a gallant defence for some hours, killing and wounding some thirty or forty Natives, and losing eleven men killed and wounded themselves. intimately tho Natives stormed the camp, killing the wounded, and making Captain and Sirs. Gerard nnd Ihe remainder of the crew prisoners. After sumo days Captain Gerard was allowed to leave in a boat with some of his crew, upon his niomisiiif,' to bring back a cask of powder and somo gims. He succeeded in making his way to Sydney, where he appealed to Sir li. liourke, the Governor, who wnl 11.M.5. Allisnloi-, Cuplain Lambert, K.N., and a tompanj of the lillth Fool, to rescue .Mrs. Gerard and her children and the seamen. Captaii! Lambert landed with a small-arm party, tho company of the 50th, anil the marines, and, after fighting several actions, capturing three pas, and burning two villages, all the pri'-onors were ultimately rescued and embarked on board tho Alligator. Captain Lambert certainly deserved the greatest credit, and the narrative of his operations is interesting reading.