THE LATE LIEUT.-COLONEL JAMES FRASER.

Southland Times, Issue 1236, 12 April 1870, Page 3

THE LATE LIEUT.-COLONEL JAMES FRASER.

The Southern Gross of a recent date contains, the following notice of the above distinguished officer : — James Fraser was of Scottish origin, being descended from the Lovat /ainily. His parents settled in Canada, and in course of time he entered her Majesty's service as an ensign in the 73rd Regimeut ; with it he served in India during the Mutiny — for some time as adjutant of a wing of the regiment. On his return home, being anxious for active service, he sold out with a view of joining the Federal army, but eventually he came to New Zealand.

In August, 1864, he was appointed captain of military settlers in Napier. In October of that year Mr Volkner was murdered at Opotiki, and a general rising took place along the East Coast. At that

time the whole military forceof the country "was employed on the West Coast under General Cameron, and With the exception of the force at Tauranga there were no Imperial troops on the East Coast. These were not moved, and all the work had to be done by the colonial forces. Mr M'Lean sent Capt Biggß off with thirty mj n to Waiapu, and Fraser volunteered to join him. He accordingly embarked with sixty men and began his career of success. A series of skirmishes occurred before he was enabled, with the help of Morgan and his tribe, to attack the Pakairomiromi. He led the.^attack in pers.m, being the first man in tjie pa and getting his cap shot off. The rebels here suffered very heavily. Shbrtly afterwards he invested Pukemarie, a pa believed to be impregnable, but after hard fighting in the trenches, finding themselves in imminent danger, the Hauhaus evacuated the place, and retired to an interior fortress in j ' Hick'sßay, Biggs, his companion in arms, ) followed up with vigour, supported by I | Fraser, and the result was the surrender J of five hundred rebels. Immediately after this he was ordered to Poverty Bay, and here his soldier-like talents shone forth. He led not only the enemy but his own people to believe that he intended to attack Pukeameonga. On this hill the Hauhaus entrenched themselves Btrongly, and Fraser, by a night march, left them on hi 9 left and attacked Wairangahika (a pa built close by the Biahop's house). The fighting here for two days was very severe, and many lives were lost ; but the upshot was that the enemy were defeated again with heavy loss. Wairoa was the next scene of operations, and, in concert with Eopata, Eraser invaded the Uriwera country and chased the enemy right up to the Waikaremoana lake and fought him at Onepoto; Subsequently on the occasion of an Hauhau attack on Napier in 1866, he intercepted one column of the I enemy at Petane, and defeated it with slaughter. The results of this campaign on the East Coast may be briefly summed up : one thousand eighthundred natives submitted as prisoners j six hundred stand of arms taken, besides those destroyed; several strongholds captured ; upwards of two hundred of the actually buried by us, with loss and casualties on our side only thirty- one." For these services he was promoted to a Majority and appointed R.M. ■:■>-■■■ .■■ •-■ _ v Oil the formation of the Armed Constabulary, Major,. Fraser 1 received the command of No. 1, the mounted division, which was quartered in Hawke's Bay. In 1868, he started with his division for Opotiki, andfor the nßxt eighteen months was constantly in the field. After taking his share in several expeditions into the Uriwera country, including the skirmishes up the Waimane, and capture of Otara arid Te Ponga, was placed in garrison 4 at Whakatane, until the news of Te Kooti's landing again put him on the move. Prevented by stress of weather from reaching Colonel Whitmore in time for his advance, he yet caught him up, and was hotly engaged at the fight at Ruaheturi, where he gallantly covered the retreat. It was shortly after this that his division was removed to the West Coast— a removal which occasioned so much dispute in.the House. He assumed command at Patea, when things were in a fearful state, and his v presenee and decision quelled a mutiny, which might have had more serious consequences. From this he was again brought round to the East Coast, and assisted in the operations previous to and at the fall ot Ngatapa. The position he held there was the most difficult of all, and the indomitable pluck of himself and his men drove back, under great disadvantages, every sortie of the enemy. He was mentioned in despatches, and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. From Poverty Bay round to Wanganui was the next move. His was the nearest division .to the enemy at TaurangaiH; He was engaged in the marches and skirmishes consequent. He was prevented hy sickness from taking part in the action at Otauto, but joined his division in time to start on a march round Mount Egmont. While on this march he was seized with an epileptic fit, which necessitated his being sent back to Patea. Joined again at Waitara, and came round to East Coast once more. His division formed part of the centre column under Colonel- St. John in the march up TJrivrera country, and he specially distinguished himself by the coolness with which he led his men at the taking of Tatatoata "pah. He remained with his division on the Eangitikei till the force was broken up, when No. 1 went to Tauranga. On the re-modelling of the Constabulary he was appointed to this district, and in its command he died. Colonel Fraser was emphatically an officer and a gentleman. He had a good eye for ground, and knew how to handle ! his men. - A cool brave man, he was enabled during the hottest fire to take advantage of every opening which was left him ; where dash was required be led j the way himself, and had many narrow escapes. Wherever the report of his death reaches in New Zealand, there will be found some old fellow soldier of his to reverence his memory. To say that his brother officers and men deeply regret his loss is using merely a common- place phrase, They lament his untimely death, and feel true grief. The country can follow their example, as, in the fist of gallant and public spirited officers who have lost their lives while loyally doing their duty, none deserve more than James Fraser.