A STURDY SETTLER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1498, 22 July 1912, Page 6

A STURDY SETTLER.

THROUGH THE TROUBLOUS TIMES OF AVAR, The hardy pioneers of this fair Dominion are. passing away one by one, after bearing the stress and burden of. tho day and clearing tho way, by sword and axe, in tho turmoil of the light and in the sr.litudo of the bush. The late Mr. Kllinglinni, who died at Ashley Clinton on the 2nd instant, at tho ripe.old ago of 87, lived his life to the full, and gathered into his years a long succession of both interesting and exciting experiences, lie was born at 'Whittloseo, Cambridge, in 1835, and, as a young man, joined the British Army, being drafted to New Zealand, where he served with the 58th Regiment in the Maori wars. The regiment first touched at the Bay of Islands, but, acting on the information that the French, intended hoisting their standard on tho Akaroa Peninsula, and proclaiming the country a dependency of France, tho f>oldiery made south with all speed, arriving just in time to unfurl tho British ensign to tho breeze and secure another gem for tho Imperial diadem. Young Kllrugham took part in the historic ceremony, and often spoke with prido of the fact. He carried,his musket through the Native disturbances, and ke- was with the party surprised and massacred at Bulket Farm, being fortunate enough to escape amongst the very few who got clear ot" the awful carnage with their lives. Subsequently lie helped to build tho first forts at Wanganui. Then, tiring of the sword, ho sought tho more peaceful occupation of copper mining in Nelson. Scratching for copper was, however, too tame a distraction for his adventurous spirit in those stiring times, when men dreamt daz-

zling dreams of sudden wealth, ami smitten with the gold fever he crossed the Tasman Sea to seek his fortunes in Ballarat, where, he took a hand in the Kirreka Stockade. Ho then went to Batlnirst, and after a sojourn of six years in Australia, he yearned for Maoriland, h's first love, and ho roc.rosscd to NewZealand, where, in ISGO, ho linked his fate with Miss M'C'tirthy, and passed tlie rest of his years in the comparative retirement of country life in Hawke's Bay. Yes, comparative is the word, for the province m those days was in a state of heaving Tiniest, nnd the warlike activities of our Nativo foes kept the settlers in a condition of tense watchfulness, so that the authorities found Mr. Ellirigham's military exp?rience extremely useful, and his services were availed of to drill the volunteers at Te Ante during the more recent Maori scares. Finally, Mr. Ellingham took up land at Ashley Clinton, adding to it from time to time, and ho died tho proprietor of 1000 fertile acres. His hody was laid to rest on a knoll some 200 feet ohove the plains, overlooking Hie homestead and estate he had worked so hard to establish. Ho left four sonsMr. H. J. Ellingham (member of the Wellington Land Board), Mr. E. C. Effingham, Pahiatua.. farmer, Messrs. J. W. Ellingham and T; W. Ellingham, Ormondvillo, farmers. He also left six daughters and numerous grandchildren.—So pier "Daily Telegraph."