DEATH OF A VETERAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1917, Page 7

DEATH OF A VETERAN.

CAPTAIN R. N. HAJVF-Sc PROMINENT FIGURE IN MAORI AVAR. one of the surviving veterans oE the wars with the Maoris, of fifty years ago passed away at Epsom last week, in the person of Captain Robert Norgate Hawes, who had lived to his S3rd year (reports the Auckland Herald). Captain Bawes was a younger son of an old English family, and left England for Australia in the early "fifties" of last century. After staying on the golddiggings there for a time, he came on to Gtago, at the period of the Gabriel's Gully rush. -From there he went to Taranaki, and joined No. 10 Company of the taranaki Military Settlers in September, 18(14. In the first half of 18(15 he was sent with his company to Pipiriki, on. the Wanganui River, to erect three redoubts and garrison them, in order to prevent the King Country natives from travelling down the river and attacking Wanganui. With No. 10 Company went al*o .Xo. S Company, under Captain Wilson, and the Patca Rangers, under Captain N'ewlanil.

SOME SHARP ENGAGEMENTS. This force was attacked in July, 18(15, by Topia Turea, and COO or 700 King Country natives, and was under fire for twelve clays, being very sort both of ammunition and food. Relieved by a force under the late Colonel R|pke, the garrison was sent to Opotiki, reinforced io 000 men, still under Major Brassey, who had commanded at Pipiriki. After conquering Opotiki, where there was much fighting, and many prisoners were taken, Nos. 8 and 10 Companies were ordered to Waivoa, Hawke's Bay, under the command of Mnjor Frazer Many miles up the Wairoa River the troops came into action with the Ilrewcra Hauhaus, on Christmas Day, 1803. There Captain Hussey, of No. 10 Company, was killed, together with four othersfriendly natives under Major Ropata. Captain Hawes' and four others were wounded, but not. before Captain Hunts had shot the man who killed Captain Hussey, Mid also another. Next the force was removed from -©potiid and Wairoa to Tavanaki, where it was engaged in desultory fighting for more than a year, when the war seemed to die out, and the men were discharged. THE ATTACK AT MOTUROA. In 1808, however, Titokowaru raised the torch of rebellion. All the settlers, from Wanganui to New Plymouth, were organised into companies, and redoubts were built. Captain Hawes was at Waverley'—then called Wairoa—on his land, and was given the command of the company raised there. Early in November, 18118, Colonel Whitmore, then in 'ommand of'the coast, arrived at the Wairoa Redoubt, bringing two or three companies of Armed Constabulary, under Captains Roberts and Goring, both afterwards colonels. Then came the disastrous attack by the whole force on the fortified pa at Moturoa, three miles east of Waverley, a position so strong that it could not be taken by assault without the aid of artillery. The Armstrong big guns that were available had been left at the redoubt against the advice of Captain Hawes! who knew the ground. In this action the Government forces had '2O killed and 26 wounded and missing, the killed including Major Hunter Captain Hawes and bis company had the. post of honor in the retreat, fighting a stiff rearguard action. After this there was no more very serious fighting, though the redoubts were occupied till late in 1860. Mrs. Hawes survives her husband.