LIEUT-COLONEL MESSENGER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 7, 9 January 1903, Page 2

LIEUT-COLONEL MESSENGER.

Lieutenant-Colonel William Bazisb MtsssNQiK, ono of thi offijers win is retiring from the active li« h , is a oativd of Essex. He came to the colony in 1863, h a pa'ei's taking up Und. Iq 1860 he joined a Volunteer corps with the rank of serg an*, and passing on to the militia list he was promoted lieuti enant in Decembor, 1860. Six months , lattr he became captaiu, and in 1885 m jor. In 1864 Captain Messenger was placed in command of a cemptny of military se: tiers from Melbourne, wh > were stationed at Pukearuhe, on the bjrder of the King Country. The company was disbanded in 1867, and for the nex' two years Cap'ain Messenger remained in the district as a military fett'er. In 1869 the Rev Mr Whiteley was murdered at White Cliffs, and Captain Messenger was pi iced in ■ command at Urenui and Te Arai, ' where a blockhouse was ereoted. He afterwards commanded successively the • Taranaki Fo esc Ringers and a detach--1 ment of Armed Constabulary. He: served in the latt r force until 1885,1 and reached the rank of sub-inspector. 1 1 He was then promoted major, and ; transferred to the Permanent Artillery. During his loag service in the coloaial fores he saw a great de >1 of service. In 1860 he WdS pri-sent at Wairvka, where his brother was killed ahd his fa'her was wounded. He served at Allen's ilill, Maho«tah : , Stony Riv«r, and Ball i Block, and was in command at Kaitake, Poutok", Bull Block, and Pukeatuhe.j Colonel Messenger commanded one of | the Ntiw Zetland Regiments on the v«yage to Durban. He hold* the New Zealand war medeal and the longservice medal. L<eutenant Messenger, the popular officer of the Faranaki Guards, is a son of Colonel Messenger.