DEATH OF AN OLD WARRIOR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 85, 6 May 1909, Page 2

DEATH OF AN OLD WARRIOR

.MAJOR ROOKES,

Ily Tulegrtyh.—Press Association. Auckland, Lust Xiylit. Colonel Rookes, whose adventurous career is told at considerable length in the book "The Defenders of Xew Zealand," died last night. .Soon alter bis arrival in Auckland the .Maori rebellion of IStiO broke mil, and Colonel Rookes was employed by the colonial liorernniout in organising the War liraneli (now the Defence Oll'icc), mid in recognition of tiie able manner in which this duty was jierforiued, the Fox Ministry placed him by their recommendation in command of the Wangunui district, as the deputy of the (ioverninellt. While holding this command he raised, organised, and personally drilled seven separate troops of cavalry in tile Rangilikci, Turakina, and Waiigaehu districts so successfully that these forces were repeatedly thanked on tue lielu and in tlie general orders by Oenerals Cameron and Waddy. Colonel'Rookes in 1805 further received the thanks of the colonial Covernuienl u i .New Zealand for the successful manner in which, under that distinguished governor and statesman, .Sir (leorge Orey, be led tlie colonial forces at the capture of the Wcraroa pa, completely nullifying tlie assertion made in (leneral Cameron's despatches that it would require „ large addition of Imperial troops to reduce that stronghold of the natives.

It was the fall of the Weraroa pa which first gave rise to the policy of . self-reliance soon after inaugurated by ] the Government, and whicn cnableii General Chute so successfully to march , (uitn his rear and Hank free) through the forest at the back of .Mount Kg- : niont lo New I'lyniouin, reducing on ins route the various pas in the neighbourhood. Colonel liookes. w'no was on e of the . bravest and most experienced officers, was superseded before the end of the war, the authorities regarding his outspoken advice on military ma tiers as somewhat dictatorial.