ADMIRAL FREMANTLE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5390, 20 February 1929, Page 2

ADMIRAL FREMANTLE.

DEATH LAST AVEDNESDAY. MAORI WAR VETERAN. The death occurred last Wednesday of Admiral Fr,emantle, believed to be the last surviving naval officer who served in the Maori War. He commanded H.M.S. Eclipse, a warship that served on the New Zealand station for about four years, from 1864 to' 1867. Most of his service was spent on thq east coast between Auckland . and Wellington, protecting the friejndly natives and foiling, intended insurrections, for which he received the thanks of the Governor. He rescued the C.M.S. missionary, Mr Grace, at Opotiki, and took him to Auckland. To commemorate this, an ensign made by Mrs and Miss Grace was, presented to the Admiral at Bishop’s Palace. Towards the end of ihe war Sir George Grey accompanied him up the coast on several occasions. They went to Raglan together in 1865, and on to- Hamilton, where it was hoped to meet, the, Maorj King and William Thompson, but these two had no- intention of putting themselves in the Governor’s power. Fremantle therefore went into the King Country with Gilbert Mair. Both were received very badly at Mata-m-ita, and the “King” avoided them, so that the Admiral had to offer to remain with the Maoris until he returned, provided they wQuld let 'him go down to Sir George Grey with Mair. The Maoris would not accept thq offer, of the “Rangitira te Man-o’-wa’,” but would trust their King to Fremantle personally, which pleased him, as he was very glad to let the Governor out of 'his difficulty.