ON THE EVE OF BATTLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 87, 8 May 1909, Page 6

ON THE EVE OF BATTLE

A COINCIDENCE. Mr. William 11. Free, one of the veterans present at the unveiling yesterday afternoon, told a News reporter tnal the day was most fitting for the ceremony, for the next morning, May Bth, would break on the 04th anniversary of the light at Okaihau, Bay of Islands, in 1545, when the first shot was fired in the troubles between the colonists and the previous lords of Xew Zealand's soil. 'Mr. Free was a member of thc 58lh regiment, who took part in the engagement. Chatting away, he remarked that he was at the battle of Waireka, serving with the volunteers, lie was one of the advance guard ill Captain Atkinson's (afterwards Sir Harry .Ukinson's) party. He claimed to have fired the first shot in the engagement that day, Mr. C. Wilson Hursthouse firing the second. He remembered well the events of the day, but said that was a long story. He remembered the bluejackets from the Niger arriving on the scene. A gentleman standing by overheard Hie remark, and chimed in: "They came along ju-t in time to prevent the Maoris eating von. didn't they?" The effect was electrical. The old soldier straighleiied himself. He stood creel, and a brightness as of (ire ki'ldlcd in his eyes. He indignantly repudiated the suggestion. "Xo'w. don't ynn taik llial kind of stuff to me. 1 can't stand it. They never had a chance of eating us, I can tell vou. Hadn't we got the bayonet left*"' lie drew himself still more proudly up. "We were all right so lorn, as we had the bayonet. \\ hy. what did Governor Browne say to us before we went out. ' Depend on the steel, men," he said, and we'd 'have given them the steel right enough. All the men were in splendid spirits. We'd have fought our way through all right. Anil we belonged to'a partv who never left dead or wounded behind." Aind then the game old soldier went oil' to take his place ill the ranks of his fellowveterans.