OBITUARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 285, 25 April 1913, Page 7

OBITUARY.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN BOWKS. A CRIMEAN VETERAN. News comes from Napier of the death of Captain Maurice Norman Bower, late town clerk, in his eighty-seventh year. With his passing, a notable and interesting personality is removed from that community. Ho was perhaps better known to the, "old school," by whom lie was held in the very highest regard, not only as an efficient town clerk, but as an exceedingly courteous gentleman, who always added dignity to the position which he so honorably filled for very many years. Captain Bower was a student at St. Paul's School, London, when Sir James Prendergast, late Chief Justice of New Zealand, was the senior monitor. He was a son of the late Mr. George Edmund Bower, of the old Ordnance Department at the Tower of London, and was born at Caen, Normandy. After leaving St. Paul's School, young Bower went to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where he remained for two years. Subsequently he joined the 13th Light Dragoons, and served with tlieni and the 10th Hussars in the Crimea. On the declaration of peace, Captain Bower returned to England. Purchasing liis discharge, he sailed for New Zealand, arriving at Auckland in 1537. Then he received a commission as subpartiuent, in which he remained until the Waikatu war broke out in ISG3. Then he received a commission as subinspector in the Colonial Defence Force under the command of the late Colonel Nixon. The latter died from wounds received in action at Raiigiohia, and on his death promotion to the'rank of inspector was given to Captain Bower, who served in all the operations against the natives in tlie Waikat.o until thf corps were disbanded. He then joined the lirst Waikato regiment as captain, and served with it at Tauranga, Opotiki and the East Coast.

The deceased went to Xapier on the dislmndment of his regiment. From 18(18 to 1873 lie was district adjutant and quartermaster at Wairoa, Gisborne and Taupo. In 1874 Captain Bower was appointed town clerk of Napier, a position he relinquished a few years ago, owing to failing health. He married, in 1857, a daughter of the late Mr. John Mason, of Auckland. One of his' sons is Captain Bower, of the! Now Zealand Shipping Company's-service.

There were few; hotter known men in Ilawke's Bay than Captain Bower. lie had a luippy of making friends. In his reminiscent inpod lie would relate' to intimate acquaintances the moat interesting incidents of his early military career. for he had heen a during cavalry man, and had faced shot and shell on many occasions. lie once mentioned that he had given the late Mrs. Keeley, the noted actress, then only on the first run» of the ladder of fame, the cavalry boots worn by her in the iirst production of ".lack Kheppard" at Urury Lane. A stirring life closes with Captain Bower's death.