GARIBALDI VETERAN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 73, 28 March 1933, Page 4

GARIBALDI VETERAN

AUCKLAND CENTENARIAN

MUSSOLINI'S MESSAGE

(By. Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, March 27.

A cougratulatory^message from Signor Mussolini ;to Captain W. J. Newby, of Grey Lynn, wlio.se.hundredth birthday was celebrated on Sunday, was read at a reception given to Captain Newby by the Auckland Working Men's Club.

Captain Newby is believed to be the lasf survivor of Giuseppe Garibaldi's English. Legion of 1000 picked men which was sent by. the British Government to Italy in 1859.

The message, which was sent through Cavaliere G. Forniiehella, Italian Consul at Wellington,'was as follows:— 1' Kindly convey to Captain Newby my hearty wishes and sincere appreciation of his services under Garibaldi."

Some .three months ago, Mr. N. A. Ching, president of the Working Men's Club, wrote to Signor Mussolini and explained the circumstances of Captain New.by's service in Italy. Mr. Ching also mentioned that a reception to the captain to celebrate his hundredth birthday was intended, and proof that Signor Mussolini. remembered came in the form of the message. The telegram was read .to Captain Newby, and he was delighted to receive such a message of appreciation.

Mr. Ching presented Captain Newby with an engraved pewter pot, and the recipient later celebrated the occasion by drinking a pint of ale with club members.

Captain Newby was born in Cambridge, England, and graduated Bachelor of Arts at the University. He joined the Army, and was a lieutenant when, in 1859, the famous Legion of 1000 strong was formed in England to assist Garibaldi. After a particularly stormy passage out to Naples, the English, ad* venturers immediately went into action, and, acquitting themselves well, they became what are now generally known, as "shock troops.'* Among Captain Newby's greatest treasures today are a photograph s of Garibaldi, the badges of the campaign, and. a letter from the officers and men of the 6th Company of the Legion,

. pn his arrival, in New Zealand in the sailing ship Wintorher' (Captain Goudie), Captain Newby Volunteered for service in the Maori 'War, and fought in the Waikato district. At the cessation of hostilities he joined in the great stream of people who went seeking their fortunes on. the Thames goldfields, but was unsuccessful. He then took up land in the.Tapu district, and farmed there for many years. In 1867 he was married to Miss Janet Caitcheon, of Whangarei. Twenty-five years. ago he retired and took up his residence in Auckland.