FAMOUS SCOUT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1945, 31 December 1913, Page 8

FAMOUS SCOUT.

LATE THOMAS ADAMSON, N.Z.C,

(By 'Teloeraph— Special Correspondent.) • Wanganul, December 30. Thomas Adamson, N.Z.C.,, a famous guido and soout of early war days, has just joined the great majority. Born in Wanganui 67 years ago, and brought up amid scenes of danger, he displayed, When still a lad, those qualities of indomitablo courage, endurance, and cool daring which mado him ono of the greatest guerilla, fighters of tho Now Zealand wars. During his war service he fought in twenty-five general actions, innumerable skirmishes, and hand-to-hand conflicts, and was as much tho terror of the enemy, as tho admiration of his comrades. Ho joined tho Wanganui Militia at tlio ago of seventeen, and shortly after transferred to the Land Transport Company, which was then engaged hi most difficult, and dangerous work. After six months' arduous campaigning in the impenetrable forests between Wanganui and. Taranaki, ho transferred to tho famous Forest Rangers, and went to Bay of Plenty.

Twelvo months later ho returned to Wanganui, and was at onto engaged in operations against Titofoowaru. Ho was next seen as a scout in tlio Bay of Plenty district. During this campaign at Ruatahuna, in tho Urewera Country, he was desperately wounded, but, notwithstanding grievous hurts from four bullets, lie dragged his scouting mate, I-Icma Te Waka (also badly sounded), out of the river under heavy fire. For this and other gallant actions he was awarded the New Zealand Cross.

Ilis temporary disablement brought out his-indomitable pluck in a striking manner. There was no surgeon with tlio column, so lie walked seventy miles to got medical attenion. _ After his recovery, he returned again to Wanganui, and shortly after performed one cf his most notable exploits. He was sent to arrest Te Ona Kura, the chief who instigated the murder of an interpreter (Mr! Broughton). Accompanied l-y onn mate, he plunged into tlio bush, and after a fortnight's hazardous enterprise and hair-breadth escapes, Adanson and his mate secured their quarry, caiT.ving.liim right out of his own camp and "handing him over to the police. After the war ho'.settled down as a sheep farmer at Moaw;hango, but finalretired to spend his Inst jears in wanganui.