DEFENDERS OF THE PAST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 324, 15 January 1909, Page 3

DEFENDERS OF THE PAST.

REMOVAL OF SOLDIERS' REMAIX.S. / A PATHETIU CEREMONY. . ' Yesterday afternoon the remains of soldiers and others that have lain so long in tile Couruiiay or Kliot street Cemetery were transferred to the Te Ileum' cemetery. There was a large attendance of veterans, besides others. 1 The work of exhuming the bodies occupied several days. The remains of twenty-one persons were recovered. Much eure was exercised liy the squad of workmen engaged. In several of the graves the coltiu-platcs, with the inscriptions, more or less intact, were discovered. A feature of the remains was the excellent preservation of the teeth. ' The identity tif several of the soldiers who fell in the war or those who were inassaered by the native.? was made >known by the disfigurement of the skulls. Several remains were exhumed the identity of which could not be traced. Old residents who were present at the funerals are divided in opinion as to the places in which the remains of particular persons were interred. The coflius had long since fallen inio decay, so that the remains consisted principally of skulls and major bones, with a few metal buttons and belt buckles. These were all gathered together ami placed in four coffins. THE REMAINS.

The remains were those of the following:— ' 1 Coffin No. 1. —K. Casey and three others, unknown. Collin No. 2.—Arthur Hassctt, died •May 22nd, 1859, aged 31 years; Patrick Scully, died March 22nd, 1802, aged 20 years. Three others—no records. Coffin, No. 3. —Surgeon McAndrew, 57th Regiment, died September 21st, 1861, aged 38; Sergeant Peter Fahey, . late (Kith Kegiment and Taranaki Militia, first man to fall in action (shot through forehead) at battle of Waircka, March 28th, 1880; Private John Flynn, 57th Kegiment, aged 45, killed at Wairau "(Taranaki) massacre, May 4th, 1883i_J2/ivate Patrick McCarthy, 57th --TGJjment, aged 27, killed at Wairau massacre, May 4th, 1863; Private Ed"ward Kelly, 57th Regiment, killed at 'Wairau massacre, May 4th, 1863. Collin No. 4.—Private Connell, 57th Regiment, died March 6th, 1802, aged 25, death from natural causes; Private '.John MeQuire, died July 17th, 1801, aged 21 years; Private McLaughlan, 65th Regiment, died May sth, 1802, aged -9 years; W. Taylor, no records, and three others unknown. AT TE HENUI CEMETERY. The coffins were placed on the hearse and the cortege proceeded to Te Henul Cemetery. The veterans, under the command of Captain A. Staadish, fell in behind the hearse in twos. Vehicles, horsemen, and pedestrians followed. Arrived at the cemetery, the veterans acted as bearers. They appeared to be deeply effected as they bowed their hoary heads over the remains of their fallen comrades. Some of the veterans present had-participated in the fights •which, had laid low the comrades the remains of whom they were placing in their last resting-place. There were those present who had seen active service in other Taranaki and New Zealand .fights, while some of them had seen active service in the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, and other historymaking campaigns. Dean McKenna officiated at the graveWide, the service being of an impressive •nature.

, TRIBUTE TO THE DEPARTED, i After the service the Dean paid ; tribute to the memory of the departei soldiers, who had, in the execution o: their duties, given their lives in th< fcause of liberty for the land in whicl to much freedom was now enjoyed. H( itso referred in terms of eulogy to the Bplendid character of that self-sacri Being, noble priest associated with thf Taranaiki war,, the Rev. Father Rollands He had often met the Rev. Father, who, lie said, was loud in .praise of the spleni\&, fighting qualities and endurance of the soldiers and early pioncera who had fought for their homes and existence in the troublous times. The Dean outlined the manner in which funds had secured for the removal of the remains to Te Henui Cemetery. He then invited any of the veterans to make any remarks appropriate to the occasion. . A COMRADES TKSTIIIOKY. ' Bugler J. H. Walker, of .Waitarn, stated that he'' had known the Rev. lather Rollands intimately, and regretted that that greatt-hearted man 'could not have been present to take •part in the day's ceremony. No matter •what the creed of a fallen soldier, lather Rollands was always ready to minister to his spiritual wants. There •was nothing the speaker regretted more, than the- loss of a prayer-book given to him by Father Rollands in 1808, after the fight at Te Xgutu-o-te-Manii. Walker and the rev. gentleman were present at this memorable and disastrous fitflit where von Tempsky and many other brave officers and men bit the dust, and Walker still bears a deep mark across the back of bis head that was the result of a blow dealt by a native with the, stock of a rifle. In fact, Walker Would have lost his life but for the fact that Corporal Lumsden shot the native "when the latter was in the act of giving (Walker the coup de grace.

A IiIST OF VETERANS. Among the veterans present were the following:— Captain Standish, Taranaki Rifles and "vice-president Veterans, New Plymouth. • Private T. Allen, New Zealand Volunteers, Avenue-road, Sew Plymouth. ' Private VV. Billing, New Zealand Volunteers. New Plymouth. 1 Private T. Furlong, 57th Regiment. full honors Crimean War, New Ply- , (mouth. ' Sergeant Duffin, late 57th Regnneut, (four medals' and three, clasps, Balaclava, Inkenmaii, and Sevastopol, New Plymouth. . ■Private W. King, late 65th Regiment, New Plymouth. T. Inch, New Zealand Militia, New Plymouth. Private C. Honeyfield, Taranaki Volunteers, New Plymouth. •" Bugler J. H. Walker, Wellington Rifles and Kaiwarra Volunteers, Waitara. Lieutenant M. Carriek, Taranaki (Volunteers. New Plymouth. • Color-Sergeant (i. Bertrand, Taranaki •Volunteers, Uremii. •' Sergeant W..H. Free, Taranaki olunteers.°New Plymouth. Captain T. Wilson., Taranaki Militia, New Plymouth. Corporal W. Bell, 21st Hussars, New Plymouth. . ' . „ _ Private Way, 70th Regiment, New Hvmou'th. ■ ~ • Private K. T. Morshead, Taranaki Volunteers, New'.Plymouth. Private. McCillicuddy, 57th Regiment, New Plvniouth. Sergeant W. H. l'eani, Taranaki Volunteers, New Plymouth. ' Private Moon, Taranaki Volunteers, New Plymouth. Private Northeote. Taranaki Yolimtijers. New Plymouth. Prrvate T. Langmaii. Taranaki \ olmi: tecrs, Waitara. _ Private J. Kenyon. Taranaki Volunteers, New Plymouth. Private R. Langman, Taranaki V olunteers, New Plymouth. lieutenant .T. C. Davies, Taranaki Volunteers, New Plymouth. Private C. F. Crawford, Taranaki Militia. Nevv Plvniouth. : Bugler J. Mynott, 43rd Regiment. New Plymouth.' • Captain J. Black, Taranaki Volunteers and secretary Veterans' Association, New Plymouth. Lieutenant R. Wells, Taranaki Volira teers, Waitara. " - John Stapleton, A.C., New Plymouth. • RELATIVES OF THE DEPARTED. '■ Mr. John Elliot, of New Plymouth •who was present, was a direct descend ant of John Flynn, who was one of tin victims of the Wairau massacre on Maj 4th, 1803. Mrs. (ieorge Thomas, of T. Kiri, is a daughter of John Flynn Amongst other descendants of dcpartei eoldiere present were:—Mr. X%. Walsh ■ of New Plymouth, and Mr. Sam. H'l uncle, Sergeant Hill, was alsi massacred at Wairau). Mr. S. HjII w.i: a lad of nine years when the massaor took ptace.'and the funeral ri the vie tims U still fresh in his mind. ... THE WAIRAU MASSACRE. '' The last war had ceased in May, 1801 and peaco established. Early i" 1«« several companies of the 57th Regimen were encamped at Tataraimaka, ther ieing then no indication that hostilitiwere about to lie resumed. Matters n snained peaceful hi the Taranaki di> •trict until news of the massacre of a escort of the 57th Regiment and tvv officers which occurred at the mouth _< ihe Wairau stream on the south siii of Oakura, and close to Captain Mace present) farm. The escort consisted i Color-Ser-rt. Samuel Filers, Sergcai Samuel Hill, Privates John Flvnn, Pa lick (Bartholomew) McCarthy. I'dvvai Kelly, Florence Kv'lv. ,i.nl Palmk 1 i fTJve' ,pnrtv was escortmc n |M Uonnamed William Bank< (private jn iji (Regiment) for court-martial at Nc SiymoutU. On nearinq Wairau strea .tJiLpariy was joined hy Lieut Trage "*■ ijgjA Surgeon. Hope, of the 57th Rej punned aad on hor*

'back. Knowing nothing of ilii l . warnings which had been given ti> tin' (!tivi>riiui<'!il 'that the natives had laid ambuscad"', they marched un regardless of danger. Tlii' officers [lit-iscil tli,. parly and proViedcd at a walking pace aliout two hundred yards in advance, halting it the Wairau stream to allow the parly to come up. As the Marty approached !i shot, was suddenly lircd". It was at '.irst thought that the party had dis'charged the shut |,y accident, hut thee were ijiik-klv undeceived when a second vhot. laid low Color-Sergt. Klleis, ami .'imiiicdiateiy after Kergcanl Hill' fell. 'Simultaneously the whole party, with the exception' of Private T. Alc'carthv, ' Was l„id low. • ' Private Kelly's statement just after the massacre was to the cll'ec't that the ■party fought gamely against overwhelming odd's. Seeing all his companions 'killi'd, and being a good runner, he escaped to tin- camp at Talaraimakn. This caused the restiinption of hostili'ties in Taranaki. The bodies of the Victims were brought into tile New 'Plymouth .Military Hospital (which 'stood on the. -site now occupied liy the feaol). After an inquest the funeral 'took place. The bodies of the victims, ■viz., Lieutenant Tragott, Surgeon Hope. "Sergeant Ellcrs, Sergeant Hill, and Private Ranks, were interred in St. Mary's Churchyard, where a stone now marks the spot of burial. The Yen. Archdeacon Ulnvett performed the burial service. 'The remainder of the bodies wire iu'tirred in the Roman, Catholic Cemetery 1u Coiirtenay-stirect,, the Rev. Fath"'r U'ertrius performing _th«* burial ccreHiiony. The names of the victims in'terred there were Private's .1. Flvnii. (Patrick McCarthy, and Edward Kelly. These bodies (which were removed to Te Henui Cemetery yesterday) were 'the last, .we understand, to be interred in the- Courtenay-street Cemetery,