THE LATE MAJOR VON TEMPSKY.

Grey River Argus, Volume VI, Issue 416, 12 September 1868, Page 2

THE LATE MAJOR VON TEMPSKY.

[communicated. ] May I trespass on your kindness by asking you to publish this short memoir of the late Major Von Tempsky. I think it will be interesting to some of your readers, as I know that members of his never-to-be-forgotten band of forest rangers are now on the West Coast, having returned, after their exertions as true and good soldiers, to their occupation as miners, as ifc was to this class of men that Major Von Tempsky always gave the preference as recruits in his corps. The late officer was by birth a Prussian, and descended from a noble family. His brother is a Colonel in the Prussian army, and was wounded iv the late campaign between Prussia and Denmark. Major Von Tempsky was a soldier born, and from his earliest youth was a wanderer over all nations. He was also a man of great literary attainments aud an expert linguist. His book of travels in South America is still read by the literati with intense interest. His youth after service as an officer of Prussian Hussars was spent chiefly in South America, and afterwards on the Californian and Melbourne gold fields, and his adventures in these places, as told by himself, have beguiled many a weary hour with his comrades over the picquet fires during the late campaign in the North Island. After the first advance of H.M. troops beyond Drury, in 1863, the want of a body of bush-scourers was sadly felt, and Major Von Tempsky offered his services to raise a body of men, similar in equipment and tactics to those used by the South American Government against the Indians. His offer was accepted, and a reference to the files of the Auckland papers will show the immense service this corps under his command was to the Government. At Orakau, he was on the storming party, and the ready manner in which he brought his men into action to intercept the escape of the Natives will never be forgotten by those engaged. After the suspension of hostilities in the Waikato District, Major Von Tempsky's services were again in requisition to accompany Major-General Chute in his famous overland campaign to Taranaki. In this he was under fire two or three times. When Colonel Hassell fell, Von Tempsky was there, and our beloved and respected General's order, " 57th, advance ! Forest Ranger's, clear the bush ! " will never be forgotten. ' His health was much impaired by the exposure consequent on this campaign ; and, to his j honor may it be said, his sickness — acute rheumatism — was brought on by lying out at night in the wet. and cold, when he had a comfortable, warm tent to go to ; but he

elected to share the same hardships as his men, declining a tent where they had none. He, after the campaign was over, returned to Auckland to recruit, and passed a short time with his family ; but as soon as he was well, his restless spirit and love of adventure took him to the Auckland Goldfields, where he had been some years before, and which he always predicted would sooner or later turn up trumps : how his prophecy has been fulfilled, the present events in Auckland show. Having resided some little time in Coromandel, he returned to Auckland, and devoted his time to literature and painting. His pictures of some- of the most exciting scenes in the Maori war have elicited the highest commendation. When the Armed Constabulary was formed he accepted an Inspectorship : how well he performed his duty, has been lately before us, and so fresh in our memory, that it is needless for me to comment on it. He is now gone, and I will say no more. I see that the account of his death says, "Von Tempsky is dead, but he nobly fell in battle." I know all his old comrades will feel certain of this. His death is a national loss ; although an alien, he zealously fought for the British flag, and, whether as a soldier or citizen, was universally beloved and respected. He haa left a widow and three infant children as a legacy to his adopted country. As a husband and father, no man could have been more anxious and solicitous for the welfare of his wife and children, or more domestic in his habits ; and to have seen him playing with his little ones at home, or attending to his flower garden, or painting, no one would have guessed him to be the terrible Von Tempsky, the terror off the Maori warriors of the Waikato, East Coast, and Taranaki. | A friend and comrade of the late Gustav Vox Tempsky. SALTWATER AND NEW RIVER DISTRICT. i (JFROSI OTTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Rutherglen, September 10. The news from the Eight Mile Terrace is very cheering this, week. The Cornish party bottomed last Saturday- at 93 feet deep on 3^ feet of wash, and have driven some eight feet, the. wash deepening to five feet, The prospects obtained are ■ from 3 grains to a to the dish. The claim is to be christened tomorrow, and is. to be called the " Four Jacks' " claim, in honor of the. Christiannames of four of the party. They purpose working the ground through the meana of a. tunnel, and have already taken out notices to that effect. The length of the tunnel will be nearly 500 feet. The; bottoming of this claim at once decides, the question of its being- a. lead, and all the ground between Couch's, the prospectors', and Cranston's, will now Bfe worked, and which has long been marked out. Nothing further than Cranston's has been got, the country there becomingvery much broken; but to the south of the Eight Mile, towards. Cocka Bulla,, considerable- prospecting is being pro»ceeded with, and I should not be surprised to. hear- of the lead being recovered there. Candlelight Terrace, at the Eight Mile-, is turning out very well for some five; claims. The ground, however,, is veryshallow, and will consequently be soon worked out. Altogether it is satisfactory to learn that the men are perfectly satisfied with this part of the country, their greatest complaints being the dearness off tucker, and the want of a passable track. This no doubt will be at once attended to as sooa. as the new members for the* Road Board are elected. Mining in this neighborhood is confined, to a limited population, who may be said to be doing very well. They are chiefly engaged either in the crushing machines; or in sluicing. Very few parties are now to be found usiug the cradle. The majority of those who used to do so having wended their way to the Eight Mile. Cameron's Terrace still continues to bet improving, and no doubt in time the« population will be sensibly increased. On the Deep Lead, or the Victoria Lead, there is only one party of miners, so that it may virtually be said to be deserted. On thes Stoney Lead, about half a mile from. Paroa, some five parties are doing very well and have several months' work before: them. On the Black Sand Lead, nearRutherglen, the men are also doing "well* but in a future letter I purpose entering; more fully into the minutia of what i& doing on this lead, as the work that is. done and the capital that is invested require more than a few passing remarks to describe its permanency and its importance to this district.