OBITUARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10154, 28 December 1910, Page 5

OBITUARY.

MR HERBERT T. MARSH. Another old identity or Masterton passed away oti Saturday evening last, in the person of Mr Herbert T. Marsh. The deceased, wlio liad been ailing for a considerable time, was .sixty-seven years of age. Born in Cork, Ireland, he [eft when a boy for Australia, landing in Melbourne ! in 1856. After working on the Vio torian diflings for a time, he, with others, was attracted to New Zealand by the news of tho Dunstan rush. He liad only been engaged in ; the .search for .go.d for a few months, ; when he enlistr-d in the Defence Force for servi -e in the. Maori War ' in the Waikato. With others, amongst whom -were Colonel Porter., Captain Ferris, Private Hastic (afi terwards <jf Hotel, Feilding), and Private ...ulbcrt (afterwards four times .Mayor of t)hristchurch), he joined a Cavalry Corps, and was enrolled hy Inspector Scully. The Corps proceeded to the north to join the Imperial troops, and thereafter they took an active part in the . Waikato campaign. Having received his discharge, the late Mr Marsh went to Napier, where he entered the employ of Mr Tift'en, surveyor. In 1865 the H-au-hnu trouble broke out., and the Government were glad to secure the services of those who had previously done campaign work. The late Mr Marsh enrolled in the H.iwke's Bay Volunteers, and Captain Biggs proceeded to Waiapu to the assistance of the friendly chief Morgan, who had been attached and severely pressed by the Hau-haus. Some strenuous fighting took place, one of the pahs being taken by a storming party at the point of the bayonet. The rebels suffered very severe losses. The last pah captured was Hangu-liangu-te-roa, where eight hundred prisoners were taken. This concluded the figuring at Waiapu. The corps afterwards proceeded to Poverty Bay, where most of the Natives, with the exception of a tribe under "Sydney, ' and another headed by Paul Parau, who stuck loyally and faithfully, were in arms against the Government. The first rebel pah attacked was "AVairenga-a-hika," a very strong fortification said to have been originally planned by Bishop Williams. After four days' desperate fighting, the pah was captured, and about seven hundred prisoners were I; •taken, the killed and wounded num- I bering one hundred. The British loss was ten killed and twenty-six wounded, Captain Ross being among J those who lost their lives. After the fight, .another pah surrendered, and the conquest of Poverty Bay was complete. Ino troops were afterwards sent to Wairoa, in Hawke's ' Bay, where they fought the rebels under Te Wara. A stubborn engagement took place at Te Muru Muru ; on Christmas Day, 1865. In this en- i counter Captain Hussey, of the Tara- | naki Military Settlers, lost his life. I The natives were driven out of Wairoa, towards Waikaremoana and the Urewera country. The rebellion on the Coast was now ' stamped out', and most of the companies, including that in which tho late Sir Marsh served, were disbanded. Mr Marsh then settled down in Wairoa, where he married, and was given the ap- | pointment of Sergeant-Major of the j district. During t-lie Te Kooti re- J bellion, theJate Mr Marsh again saw active service, under Captains Rich- j ardson and Spiller. He was trans- I ' ferred to No. 1 Division of the Arm- J ed Constabulary, in which he served j until finally discharged in 1871. In I the meantime he had charge of a

covering party taKing tne teiegrapn line through to Auckland", under the direction of Mr Edwin Bould. He also served under Colonel Herrick in the Waikaremoana campaign. His total services embraced a period of nearly ten years, for which he was awarded the New Zealand War Medal and the Veterans' Cross. He was twice mentioned in despatches—once by Captain James Eraser, at Waiapu, and once by Captain Spiller, at Wairoa, for gallantry in scouting. He was for twelve months Sergeant of the Scouts, in which one of his companions was Mr, John Carroll, a brother of the Hon. James Carroll. The deceased, who was well-known throughout Hawke's Bay, came to Masterton thirty-four years ago, and resided here until the time of his death. He was one of th~e~'founders of the Municipal - ire Brigade, in which lie did useful service. He was also a prominent member of the Knights of Labour, which was formed in Masterton some twenty odd years ago. He took an active part in the election in which Mr A. W. Hogg first contested a seat in the House of Representatives, being secretary of that gentleman's committee." The deceased was a member of the Veterans' Association, and of the Veterans Fire Brigade Association. He leaves a widow and a family of five sons and four daughters, besides thirteen grandchildren. The deceased was accorded a military funeral 011 Tuesday morning, the Battalion Band heading a lengthy cortege of Veterans, Fire Brigadesmen, Masterton Rifles, and civilians. The ceremony at the graveside was impressively performed by the Rev. W. Raine. The pall-bearers wero Messrs E. McEwen, G. Phillips, W. Cole, and E. Pragnell.

MR CHARLES HIGGINS

Residents of the Forty-Mile Bush will regret to hear of the death of Mr Charles Higgins, which occurred at Cambridge Terrace, .Wellington, on Friday evening last. Many years ago Mr Higgins was a contributor to tho sporting columns of various journals. Ho was a versatile writer and a capable authority oil turf matters. He was employed on tho staff of the Grey town Standard for some time. From Grey town. he proceeded to the Forty-Mile Bush, and took up a, .section near Newman, which lie converted into a dairy farm. Whilst hero ho acted as correspondent to

the AVairarapa Star (now the Age). For years he took an active part on the various local bodies—County Council, School Comnmtee, Licensing Bench, and also, having organised the Eketahuna Mounted Rifles, he became their first captain. A few years ago he sold out his farm, made a trip to the Old Country, and oa his return took up his residence in Wellington. Ho leaves a widow and family, one of whom i" Mr Vivian Higgins, assistant master of the Carterton District High School. The funeral, which foolc place on Monday, was attended by a considerable number of friends, the Rev. J. Kennedy Elliott conducting the service at the grave.