TE-NGUTU-O-TE-MANU.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 214, 31 August 1908, Page 4

TE-NGUTU-O-TE-MANU.

Mr. J. T. Ward, of Gisborne, writes to the ilawera Star as follows: '1 note it is Die intention to hold a memorial service lit To-Xgutu-o-te-Mann on September lith, to Uu: memory of those who fell in that disastrous kittle, where my gallant leader (Von Xenipsky), together with poor Muck, Palmer, Hunter, Hastings, and tile rest went uider. This though long coming is quite as it should lie, hut, us one of the actoi's myself in the several disastrous battles Unit took [ilaee on your coast in the middle and late sixties, might f make bold to ask, Why doesn't the memorial sendee also embrace those of our 'brave comrades who fell at I'e I'ungarehu and ] Te Timituru-Mokai (fought before the battle of "file Heat of the Bird'), and that of J'apatiakiaki (wrongly termed Okotuku, or sometimes Moturoa, and fought alter 'The Beak of the Bird')'; All these were brave soldiers of the Queen, and gallant members of the Empire's deathless army, every one of these comrades of mine, who went under at the above engagements. " 1 am unable to be present in person at this memorial service, much as I would have wished to be, but all the same 1 will be present in spirit, and ;n spirit will greet the Messrs. Flynn, Livingston Hughes, senr., Johnston, and the handful of the old comrades who will gather together to honour the dead brave, wdio, on that dark September morning of 'OB did their ' bit' for the

old flag. :' Ali Al'aurihmd is just now drawing a sigh of satisfaction at the truly grand welcome tendered the armada, of the I great republic, and in this connection let us look at the treatment accorded by this great republic to the survivors of the War of Secession, and their living representatives, to that accorded to us mere few, the survivors of the late Maori wars, In the one case we have handsome pensions paid down to the second—aye, and third—generations of the dead war veterans of the United States of America, whilst those of them who survived that great struggle were, on disbandmcut, provided with billets in the public service of the country, or private, employ, before all other applicants. Whilst llaoriland, what has she done, or what does she intend doing, for her old war veterans? Nothing. Kvmi the promises of our dead officers —that we who joined Von Tempsky's Hangers in Whiuiganui and New Plymouth in 1865 would get our grant of land equally with those of the old corps —has in my case been ignored; whilst if seeking for public or private employment the very worst recommendation a man can have is to admit that ■»? was engaged in the old Maori wars—that he was in the field fighting the battles of the fair Dominion, against as brave and capable a foe as ever faced British lead or steel."

The Opunako Times says: "Mr. Shanaghan, who was shot on the wrist while trying to pick up Von Tempsky's lmdv. is at .present an inspector of facSorias in Auckland. Mr. T. Hickman and bis uruiher and Mr. Fentnn (Opunake) were aNe present on the memorable occasion."