DEATH OF COLONEL BALNEAVIS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 689, 4 September 1876, Page 3

DEATH OF COLONEL BALNEAVIS.

Referring to the death of Colonel Balneavis, which took place at Auckland a few days ago, the New Zealand Herald of the 28th ult says—The deceased g2ntleman was, from the prominent official positions which he held, perhaps the best known of the citizens of Auckland. He held the civil officer of Sheriff and Returning Officer of the Auckland district for many years. Colonel Balneavis was the son of the late Lieut-General Balneavis, and was born at Ghent, in Belgium, in the year 1818. His father had been Colonel of the 65th Begiment, but ultimately he became Commandant and Governor of Malta, having served during the whole of the Peninsular war. The father's official position led his eon to the acquirement of several European languages. It is not generally known that the late Colonel Balneavis was one *of the most accomplished linguists in the whole of the Australian colonies. He spoke Arabic, Maltese, French, Italian, Maori, and understood and spoke, though less perfectly, Greek, German, and Spanish. He received his first commission in the 58th Begiment in the year 1838, as Ensign, without purchase, in consideration of his father's services daring the Peninsular war. He joined his regiment the same year, being then eighteen years of age. He rose in due course through the upper grades, and became adjutant of his regiment. He oame to New Zealand April, 1845, in H.M.S. JSTorth Star, being in command of the " Light lOompanv," andjthe remainder of his military services was in defence of this colony. He was present at several of the minor actions during Heke's war, and at the more important operations at Buapekapeka and Ohaeawai, which have for the New Zealand colonist an historic interest. The 58th Begiment, known as the " Old Black Cuffs," left the colony in 1858, and Captain Balneavis having fulfilled twenty years of service, retired. He received the Military Good Service Medal, and the New Zealand War Medal. Captain Balneavis wae, as a military officer having served in the colony, entitled to a grant of land, and we believed he received a grant of land at Maraeati, and for some time became an active settler. But there were |still troublous times ahead, and military energy and enterprise were still needful to the colony. Captain Balneavis took an active part in organising the Waikato Militia, and its ultimate efficiency as an auxiliary force was greatly due to his diligence and experience. He was a man of singular exactness of habit. During the second war from 1862 to 1864 he was actively employed, and in this service he obtained the rank of lieut-colonel. Besides other intellectual attainments the late Colonel Balneavis had acquired much skill in fortification. He wm a diligent student of this branch of military science. The extraordinary resistance which ,the Maori pa was found to offer to the assault of troops had become a subject of attention in the English military schools and to writers upon military strategy and tacticy. The late deceased gentleman constructed a model of a Maori pa upon a small scale, with measurements and calculations in detail, which he had sent to one of the military colleges in England. This was a subject of much curiosity at the time. Theannouncbraent of Colonel Balneavis's death yesterday morning was received throughout the city and suburbs with general sorrow."