A TARANAKI PIONEER

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1922, Page 9

A TARANAKI PIONEER

THE LATE MR. T. J. WILLS. INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS. The very early days of the province were brought to mind by a letter received from Mr. T. Clare, of Now Ply- | mouth, with regard to the late Mr. T. J. Wills, father of Mr. Wyndham Wills of Kakaramea. Mr. Clare savs:— “The late Mr. T. J. Wills cam? to New Zealand with his parents when onlv ten years old, the family settling in Bell Block. Wdien quite a youth Mr. Wills together with his elder brother, visited Mokau and witnessed some of the scenes of Maori savage life. Tn his young manhood he married Miss Bishop, who survives him. and from that marriage sprang a family of eleven, while to-day there are numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 1760 when hostilities broke out with the natives the family had to leave their land in company with others who had settled in the district. The late Mr. T. J. Wills was then appointed a native interpreter and ranked as captain of a military contingent, subsequently receiving a grant of land in the Urenui district for his services. He was one of the few veterans who. having done their share of work in the earlv fighting days, lived on until these still more fateful and troubled times. The late Mr. Wills knew intimately the old missionaries Messrs. Creed and Turton, but with the Rev. John Whitely he was especially friendly and by his knowledge of the native language was able to assist him in some of the troubles which arose among the brown and white races. When the war broke out at Waitara Mr. Wills took an active part and in one engagement was wounded in the head. He was engaged in night patrol duty and often narrowly escaped death. He rendered signal service to the settlers at times by healing up quarrels and misunderstandings which arose with the natives. Mr. Wills received the New Zealand medal for war services, and finally made his home in Hawera, where he passed away at the ripe age of 86 years.