OVER 30 YEARS’ SERVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 418, 17 May 1902, Page 3

OVER 30 YEARS’ SERVICE.

Mr J. McCabe, to whom a presentation "was made on behalf of Mayor and citizens, has had a long and varied experience of colonial life. He arrived in New Zealand in 1803. He paid his passage out in a merchant vessel from Glasgow, hoping, as many others had hoped, to make his fortune in the land of the Maori, but he soon found that he had to fight in defence of his adopted home. He landed first in Dunedin, going from there to Christchurch, and thence to Auckland, where within a week of his arrival he was called out for active service. That started a military career, which did not end until the Maori troubles were praet.ca'iy done with. . He was all through the Waikato war. He was given the usual grant of 50 acres of land, and started farming. They were supposed to remain on the land for three yearsbefore they got the title deeds. Then the armed Constabulary was started

under Colonel Mould. The massacre at Whitecliffs, Taranaki, happened. Von Tempsky was killed, and a disaster happened to the force. Fifty more Constabulary were sent to take their places, Mr McCabe being one of the reinforcements. They landed au old Wanganui at daylight. They marched to the Whitecliffs, through

the bush, after Titikowaru, having numerous smart skirmishes. Ret'.li n-

ing to Taranaki, they were taken by Government steamer to Onehunga. where they were landed at daylight, and marched into Auckland. ’-’hen another steamer was waiting to take

them to Tauranga, but instead of doing that it landed them on the beach outside of the Heads, and.from there they marched into the Uretvera country after Te Kooti. After a lot more active work, and the chase being ended, Mr McCabe returned to his farm, but Colonel Mould induced him to rejoin the A.C. force, before doing which Mi McCabe sold his cattle, and of course gave up farming. The Police and Armed Constabulary were in charge of Commissioner Brannigau. That was thirty-two years ago. The Armed Constabulary were absorbed in the Police Force, in which Mr McCab; served continuously until his retirement on pension a few weeks ago. His record is -one that any man might weii be proud of. Nearly all bis old com. rades have gone to that bourne whence none returneth. In the days of Maori warfare our soldiers had to face vigi lant warriors. Nowadays we hear reports «of officers carrying pianos with them to the field of battle, but thenwas no time for luxuries of any kind when fighting the Maoris. The force with which Mr McCabe was connected, set oil with blankets and a change of clothing, but it was soon found necessary to cast aside blankets and extra wearing apparel, and many a long day the men had to march with no other food than a few musty biscuit crumbs, Truly the men of those days -xperie

iced the rough vicissitudes of warfare with a brave and wary foe, whom now we happily claim as our abiding friends. May such as our old frien i Mr McCabe now have many happy days of well-earned leisure, and ever retain the goodwill and esteem of those among whom his lot in life has been cast.... It was a happy thought oi those who made the presentation to Mr McCabe that it should • be done on the silver jubilee anniversary of the borough of Gisborne^