In Memoriam.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 772, 24 March 1870, Page 3

In Memoriam.

. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JAMES ERASER. [NEW ZEALAND HERALD.] Anotheb gaJlant heart has ceased to beat, another hero—for such, notwithstanding the small account to which our brethren at home put clown indomitable perseverance and thorough pluck, as exhibited in our struggle for supz-emacy with the aboriginals of these islands, we contend was Lieut.-Colonel Fraser—has gone to lus long, last home. Not in the battlefield—not in the shock of contending hosts—but consequent upon sickness, as far as we are able to judge, resulting from over anxiety and want of mental and bodily rest, has this brave and favorite officer fallon. Who shall sing his requiem?—he, the young stranger visiting our shores in the hope of military preferment! Who will care for his lowly grave ?—the dead, far ' from home and friends; —he who joined a force whose services have, no matter how important, never been properly ac- ' knowledged; who, for a modicum q| pay, ' without hope of glory or distinction, for . such there was none, did his duty. Well , for us if we could all say the same! . Deeds such as his, ia a wider field and in a more civilised and less demo* < cratic country than this, would have , earned for him a niche in the temple of , fame; here, success belonged to the Defence Minister—failure to the indi- ' vidual. Better, almost, a death such as 1 poor Fraser's, than the constant bickering j of a Defence Office, or the jealousy and consequent unwarrantable interference of \ others —officers of the colonial forces, who, adepts in the shawl enveloped war dance, 1 were otherwise eminently unadapted to < deal either with Te Kcoti and his gang of savages, or with one who had served, and served with credit, in the Imperial forces. Enough! Fraser is dead ! To us there J remains the performance of a melancholy duty to notice his family descent, and to chronicle as briefly as possible the services which almost since boyhood, the deceased rendered to the Crown, both here aud elsewhere.

Deceased claimed descent from Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, a Highland chieftain, who made some stir during the two civil rebellions of the last century, and whose name and end familiar to all readers of English history. Some few years 3irsce the branch of the family from which the late Lieut-Colonel sprang laid claim to the title, were unsuccessful, and emigrated. Colonel Fraser was born in Nova Scotia, and on attaining tho proper age, received from the colonial authorities a nomination to the Imperial service. Joining th.j arrry, he served with distinction in India as Lieutenant and Adjutant of tho 73rd Regiment. Desirous of seeing active service, he sold out with the intention of joining the armies of the North in tho momentous struggle at that time pending between the dis-United states of North America j but instead of so doing, in consequence of the abrupt termination of the war, on the fall of Richmond, he emigrated to New Zealand, where he quickly found employment congenial to his military tastes. He soon afterwards received a commission as Captain Of the Military Settlers raised in Napier, in the province of Hawke's Bay. On taking command he found himself face to face with the greatest difficulties, the force being in a stato approaching ntter disorganisation ; but in a very short time he had so far succeeded in disciplining his men, that before long he was ordered to Waiapu with a 3inall force of Europeans, drilled by himself. This was one of the first fruits of the Weld self-reliant policy. His first engagement took place at Pa Kairoiniromi, where he led and commanded iu the attack on the Hauhau pa, the enemy losing some 25 men. For this affair he received his brevet as Major, and then fought two other engagements with tho rebels, one of them at Kauwakauwa. Brevet-Major Eraser was then ordered to Poverty Bay, where a determined stand was intended, and whore a desultory fight of five days and nights was maintained, the Hauhaus finally evacnating their position with a loss of several kii'ed and wounded, and a large number of prisoners. He was then ordered to Wairoa, Hawko's Bay, to hold in check the Uriweras, who were hovering about the vicinity, watching for opportunities of making a raid on the settlement; proceeding to the Waikarimoana Lake, he successfully engaged tho rebels and was made Major. He then performed what has always been considered a most dashing ex ploit—marching, with about fifty men, by the inland route from Wairoa to Poverty Bay, and but shortly afterwards, making the same journey again with but five men in his company. In October, 1866, Major Fraser was ordered to Napier, and fought at Petane, six miles from Napier, where for the first time in the annals of Now Zealand war, tho astute Maori fell a victim to a cleverly laid ambush. First reports represented twelve out of twenty-five as tho number which bit the dust, but six more bodiee subsequently found brought the total up to eighteen. The wholo affair was over in six minutes. For his valuable services at Ngatapa, Poverty Bay, where ho held the post of honor, and when poor Duncan Michie Brown met his death, tho rank of Lieutenant Colonel was conferred on him, since which timo he had been variously engaged in the local forces until very lately, when he was ordered to co-operate with M'Donnell in tho attempt to capture To Kooti and his band. Lieutenant-Colonel Fraser's service was all on the East Co*et; for a short time he

and a mounted force were round on the Wanganui side, but in consequence of a strong protest lodged by the Napier people against the action of the Government in denuding their district of protectioni they needed equally with other disturbed portions of the island, he soon returned to the East Coast. As regards the rumors lately in circulation as to misconduct on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Eraser, we have been informed that the result of the impending enquiry must hare been his thorough exculpation. Deceased was a universal favorite alike with his brother officers and his men. Colonel Whitmore, !with whom he frequently co-operated, has more than once been known to speak of Frasor as his right hand. His death must bo regarded as a national loss, felt by all —regretted by all he has passed away.