THE PASSING OF A VETERAN.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 23 August 1920, Page 3

THE PASSING OF A VETERAN.

~ —<?• - THE LATE ME HENRY WALTON. Tlie late Mr Henry Walton, who died at AVaikanae early on Friday morning, was born at Brighton (Glas gow) iu the year IS3S (April loth), and was the son of worthy parents His ambition in his early boyhood days was to join Iho Navy, and at sixteen years of age he went to sea, and from that year till he came to New Zoalain in ISGO his life was spent on the ocean, seeing various naval engagements of a stirring nature. He never flinched duty, and at the end of his caret"* emerged with many honours. He first took part iu the Kussian bombardment tit Narva, was present in the Helsingfors Svcaborg (China) engagement in 1855, afterwards took part when tin' Rogue Forts were taken in 185(5, engaged iu the Canton trouble in December, 1857, and saw engagement, who i the Fatschniu fleet of ItiO frigates were taken and destroyed by open boats, commanded by Commodore Kcppell, iu the same year. In (lie Taka fort engagement the late Mr Walton was one " of those who ran the gauntlet in tie* Cormorant. (Captain Summary) 'on I June Ist, 1858, and had the honour of : being captain of the bow guns when going in. In this engagement ho wa - temporarily disabled. The fort was taken in less than 2J hours. His boat . was iu action for one hour . twenty i minutes before the next vessel arrived. He and eleven others landed, did yeoman service, and returned to their vessel. Mr Walton served at Hong Kong on H.M.S. Calcutta, and holds as a memento a block of wood which was obtained later at the breaking up of the vessel, and sent by Vice-Admiral Collyham. He was .also with ViceAdmiral’s brother on the Exmout!\ which figured prominently in tic Baltic, at Calcutta, and in the China war. For his long and meritorious service in the Navy the late Mr Walton held several medals, bars, and a star, also a bronze medallion made of the ; copper of the famous old flagship Vic lory, which was forwarded to him bv the Home Navy League. He also held several oilier honours, among tlu: number being a star from the Royal N. 71. j Association of Veterans, and various j finely executed certificates, together; with a medal presented to him by the t Emperor of Japan. i The Gold Rush. The late Air Walton arrived at Auck . land from Home on March 2-l-th, 18(10, in the immigrant, ship Frenchman i (Captain Renan), and for a short period worked cm limber scows. ii** , went south to Gabriel’s Gully gob! j rush in 18(1.1, and with a mate named Dunstuu, who first located gold there, ( opened up a storekeeping business * They also had a boat, at Queenstown, and took stores to the diggers. After j some years of arduous toil the late Mr j Walton sailed for Wellington, where h-* went into partnership with Mr T. K. : Sidey as a wine and spirit merchant. | He was for some years in this line of i business, and then started a fellmon- J gery at Ngalianranga, which he cm:- ■ I inued control of till 1884. At Waikanae. It was in 188*1 that he went to Wui- j kanae —3(5 years ago—amt uiitil the j time of his death led a very active and j useful life. Immediately on arrival in j this township he started wool scouring | opposite the gate of his late residence, j and carried on for some years, after which he indulged in sheep and dairy farming till the time of his death. He was at Waikanae when the Maori trouble became manifest, and tall ol the old sporting blood, he olTpred his services, but owing to a disagreement 1 with the authorities did not join up. . For many years he was an energetic j member of the AYaikaiuto and Johnson- j v.ille School Committees, a member of the Veterans’ Association and Navy League, and among tlu* Natives wa.*? *, looked upon as a doctor. Many times ho administered medicine and advice. , ami both seemed to have wonderful in- j Alienee over the Natives. The late Mr Walton had during his day taken part in many jubilees, including that at Gabriel’s Gully in IDII. ! Hokitika. Wailahuna. and Coroman- , del. and for some of these he held very line mementos. Deceased was also a ; prominent TfThlete, and only six years i ago in Wellington won a handsome i trophy given by Air W. T. Quinton for the veterans’ race. j Deceased is survived by two broth- i ors in America. Mrs Broadbent, a sister, j who resided in Whangarei, died about three years ago. Funeral. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at Waikanae, when the cor- ■ tege wns a lengthy and representative ' ime. among the number being members j of the Veterans’ Association. A sum- - her of floral tributes were placed on i the coffin, while the Rev. G. A - KentlricK conduct eel un impressive service.