THE LATE MAJOR WITHERR.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1315, 12 June 1883, Page 3

THE LATE MAJOR WITHERR.

We elip the following letter from the Auckland “ Star." It gives interesting particulars of the services rendered oy a grand old soldier and gentleman who had many warm and personal friends in the Bay :—Sir, —Apart from the late respected gentleman’s Imper ial services, which were worthily in your journal, J beg most respectfully tn forward you the following items which I have noted in connection with his arduous and valuable services whilst serving in the Colonial Forces. As there are many of the old fighting 40th and 60th Regiments still living, both in these colonies and at Home, 1 am sure, sir, that they would peruse with great pleasure the services of an old warrior both in Taranaki and Waikato.

After retiring from the 65th Regiment, some 20 years ago, Major Withers accepted the post of Adjutant of Militia Volunteers at Napier, and during the native war on the East CJpast was very often compelled to risk his life in his capacity of Paymaster of the Colonial Forces (which po»t was allotted to him on the outbreak of the war on the East Coast), more particularly on the occassion of the Mobaka Massacre. Un the morning of the massacre, be left Mohaka just before daylight lor the Wairoa (whither he was going to pay the Armed Constabulary and Native Contingent). Very shortly after his leaving the sad massacre, which is still fresh in the minds of old New Zealand settlers, took place. Heonly learned of the sau tidings upon reaching Wairoa, and immediately organised a party of friendly natives, accompanied by Mr. Worgan, interpreter, and proceeded to Mohaka with a View to rendering assistance to those few brave natives, mostly women, who were there holding out in a native pah against the full force of Te Kooti’s followers, some four hundred in number. On reaching Mohaka the Hauhaus advanced to meet him, and j upon their getting near the position \ taken up for the defence, the friendly | natives gave way and fled, leaving the Major to get out of his trouble as best • he could. He then found that his i hone had got away. After some little I time he succeeded in catching his I horse, and was then followed by a ' party of Hauhaus upon horseback at | some few yards behind him for a dis- i tance of several miles ; at every turn > in the track he received a volley, but l be escaped unhurt, and returned to Wairoa. Many times during the Native difficulty in the Taupo country, the Major perilled his life by travelling from Napier, very often alone, to Taupo, to pay the Constabulary stationed there. At this time the whole of the country between Napier and ’1 aupo was in a troubled state, and he had often to take circuitous routes to avoid meeting with Hanhau bands. He took a very active part in the engagement between the Militia and Volunteers under Colonel Whitmore at < amaranui, Hawke’s Bay, and was also with Colonel Herrick during his operations at Waiharemoa tSkie few years ago, the Major was | transferred to Napier to the command of the Auckland district, during which time he performed his duties in all weathers, often having to ride a number of miles in wet and storm ; latterly his duties had been increased by adding the Thames and Poverty Bay districts to his charge. I his additional work proved too much for the gallant old man, and whilst doing his duty he contracted a severe cold, which terminated his long and faithful career on the 20th of May, 18S3. Major Withers married three times ; by his first wife he had two children, one of whom still survives; by his second wife he had nine children, six of whom survives ; and by his present wife he had three children, all living. The above, sir, are true facts as carefully recorded and kept, and as for his services in Taranaki and \V aikato, under Generals Pratt, Cameron, and Ghute, old eoldiers of 40th and 56th Regiments, well known that, as they were alwavs to the front. X.L.,

| the recipients would invariably shrug I their shoulders, and quickly consign the warnings of Ezekiel to keep com pany with all those hand bills, scraps of waste paper, and rubbish which so plentifully strew the roads and footpaths. The General, finding that he could not take Paris by assault, had to resort to strategy. He supplemented his forces by some scores of blued eyed, flaxen haired, Anglo Saxon maidens, sporting a coquettish and tasteful uniform, half military, and half monastic, which most fully displayed their natural beauties. Honi soit qui mat y penne Judith went even further to save her country from Holophernes. Though we may shut our ears to the truth, yet we cannot resist a sweet smile. The impressionable Parisians soon responded to the pious glances of the pretty amazon troup of the Salvationists, but steadily refused to read the tracts. It is found necessary to keep a vigilant eye upon and to enforce striek discipline in the amazonian ranks of the Salvationists lest . Babylon may pervert Sion.