DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3841, 7 November 1883, Page 4

DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN.

A man died in Mount Eden Gaol a few days ago, whoso life may indeed be deBcribod as a strange story. His name was John Walker, formerly a seaman on board one of Her Majesty's ships. The only authentic information that can be obtained respecting him is that ho was the son of a Holdier who served in tho famous wars in tho Poonah, under Sir Arthur Wellcsley (afterwards the Duke of Wellington). The subject of this notice was born at Bangalore, in what is now known as the Madras Presidency, in 1791. In the early part of that year Bangaloro was stormed under Lord Cornwallis. Walker might bo regarded as one of the first English born subjects of the English Crown in India. According to this date ho was a cotemporary of the famous Tippoo Sahib. When Bangalore was given back to Tippoo, in 1792, Walker must have been carried back with his father's regiment to Madras. Nothing appears to be known of his father's subsequent services, but a reference to dates would indicate that he served under General Harris in the Mysore Country, and was present at the storming of Seringapatam, where Tippoo was killed in 1799. How Walker spent his early life is not known, but there seems no doubt of tho fact that ho served in the British forces at Waterloo, whore he receivod several wounds. He came to New Zealand in 1840, as a seaman on board Her Majesty's ship Reliance. He must, therefore, have been present at tho Bay of Islands about tho time of tho signing of tho Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, but as that event took place in January, tho Reliance may have arrived in thejeolony a little lator. Walker must havo boon intimately acquainted with the stirring events of the next five or six years. It is stated that during Hoke's war he deserted his ship. What became of him is not known, but he was proclaimed in tho ordinary form as a " deserter," and tho military authorities on shore was requisitioned to seek his hiding pliicu and bring him back. He probably found employment in some of the " out districts," for it was difficult in those days for a " deserter " to remain in the towns undiscovered. Russell and Auckland were full of military and naval people, and there could scarcely bo said to bu any other towns in the North Island of Now Zealand at that time. When tho war was over, he came to Auckland. He was a man of very .small stature, not exceeding five foot six indies in height, looking younger then he really was. He was usually in a deplorable condition when received into the prison, but yood food, regular living, and moderate work produced in him a wondci-ful change in a short time. When lie became infirm be was offered an asylum in tho Old Men's Refuge, which, he accepted. But he could not rest oven there. He was in course of serving a nix months' sentence for vagrancy when death overtook him. It is said that his body bore many scars received in the service of his country. Such was the end of a nonogenariaii (ninety-two years of ago), who had fought and bled for bis country—in a gaol without a friend, and all—to repeat tho old story, "through drink."—N.Z. Herald.