Accidents and Fatalities.
PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.
Auckland, November 22 — George McPherson, a blacksmith at Waiuku, accidentally shot himself with a repeating rifle this morning. Dr. Clouston found that the bullet passed through one lung; and lodged behind the back rib. McPherson was conveyed to the hospital.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIGUS18991123.2.19
Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 517, 23 November 1899, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18991123.2.15
Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11682, 23 November 1899, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SCANT18991123.2.12
South Canterbury Times, Issue 2646, 23 November 1899, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MEX18991123.2.10
Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 275, 23 November 1899, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18991123.2.32
New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3905, 23 November 1899, Page 5
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC18991123.2.26
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 23 November 1899, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DTN18991123.2.38
Daily Telegraph, Issue 9723, 23 November 1899, Page 4
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HNS18991123.2.14.1
Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5016, 23 November 1899, Page 2
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD18991123.2.22
Timaru Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 3116, 23 November 1899, Page 3
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA18991124.2.5
Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10386, 24 November 1899, Page 3
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TEML18991128.2.17.4
Temuka Leader, Issue 3515, 28 November 1899, Page 3
If you would like this with other newspaper articles in a PDF format just e-mail us at waiukumuseum@gmail.com
BATTLE OF THE DUNES.
THE MOUNTEDS AT WAIUKU.
REALISTIC FIELD DAY.
MOTH AEROPLANE CO-OPERATES
SUCCESSFUL FLANK ATTACKS.
Miles of open,.sand dune and tussock and scrub above the sea. Squadrons of horse, exactly the same type of New Zealand mounted riflemen, although younger, who made history from the sands of Sinai to the Hills of Moab. A nimble Moth aeroplane observing for the defenders. The rattle of blank ammunition from rifle and machine-gun. Stirring gallops behind the cover of rides, the hasty dismounting, and the scramble of keen youths to the crests to bring a disconcerting flank fire to bear. Green-lined pugarees, and here and there the glint of a ribbon on tho tunic of an officer who served in the same regiment on its active service. The same good-humoured exasperation among the Number Threes when led horses objected to be led. The same flurried remounting of excited horses when it came to retire, or advance. Such was the scene and atmosphere yesterday, when the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment had a passage-at-arms among the sandhills of Waiuku. A mythical Northland was at war with a mythical Southland, their dividing-line being the Waikato River, and the whole of the regiment, less one troop, was assumed to have forded the Waikato River near the Heads — a perfectly feasible movement that would involve some swimming and a good deal of wading — and had bivouacked for the night at Maioro. Their objective was to seize valuable military stores at Waiuku. Naturally, they were deemed to have infantry behind them, due to appear in front of Waiuku in 48 hours
Air Reconnaissance.
The defending force was represented by the troop detached from the regiment, some infantry and a body of cadets who were promoted to the rank of troopers for the occasion. The Moth aeroplane, piloted by Captain J. Seabrook, by arrangement with the Auckland Aero Club, was, doubtless, deemed to be a formidable plane. It had been intended that the attacking force should move out to the Maioro position on Monday night and sleep on the sand, but rain caused this plan to be abandoned. Instead, they moved off from camp at Waiuku early in the morning, and were on their way to the attack when the plane came over to locate them. It was a sunless day, and, therefore, there were no shadows, which prove so valuable to an air observer in locating troops, and, furthermore, the dark sand was blacker than usual, owing to the wet. Captain Seabrook had difficulty in finding the deployed troops of the advance guard. What really gave them away was the tracks loft by the horses on the sand. These, from 2000 ft., looked like so many lines, and the rest was easy, although the pilot is assured by some of the officers that if they did him with the Hotchkiss they could have at a low altitude with rifle-fire. The umpire was not required to decide this point, which would have had particular interest to the relatives of the airman involved.
Dropping Messages.
The airman had to get back to the headquarters of the defenders and drop his information. There a large black sheet with white markings was spread out on the top of a hill to guide him, and Captain Seabrook made excellent practice on it. His messages, in tubes with streamers, were all dropped within a few feet of the sheet. An interesting fact is that the khaki-clad figures lying still round the sheet could not be detected from the air. It was only when a man rose and ran for the message that he could -be seen.
In extended order, the advance guard of the attacking force, commanded by Colonel Aldred, officer commanding the regiment, moved forward through the dunes and got in touch with the mounted troops of the defenders, whose first main position was a ridge running at right angles to the shore. On the defenders left was a commanding eminence, and Colonel Aldred sent forward his right flank guard to seize it. This they did, a machine-gun section of two guns doing their usual duty, and signallers performing excellent work with flags and field telephones.
Retirement Well Executed.
The defenders retired and executed the action very well indeed. They fought a delaying fight, one troop covering the retirement of another. A mile further back they occupied a second main position. The advance guard of the attackers was held up half-way and was reinforced. Again the flank attack took effect and back the defenders .bad to go, but with fine morale and in approved order to the third position 800 yds away. The action had now passed from the dunes, through tussock toward grass land. On either flank of the position were two dominating points, with a basin between. Colonel Aldred made a feint on the defenders’ left, and then threw m his strength on their right, where the hill was seized and the outlook for the stores of Waiuku became a trifle gloomy unless the Auckland base devised means of holding this charming district. It should be explained that the reason why the attackers swam the river was that Northland held all the Waikato bridges.
Ideal Training Ground.
The action covered four strenuous miles of ideal country for mounted manoeuvres. Experts consider this wide range of dune the best area of its kind for the purpose, in the vicinity of Auckland. It was often hard going for the horses on the sand, but they were in good condition and stood up to their work very well. Some of them are a little on the small side for remount purposes, but the standard is good. It was good to see these young horsemen ride. In spite of the car they know how to sit and handle their horses. A pleasing sight of the day was a troop of cadets who came mounted to take their place with the defenders. They will make splendid troopers next year. Their lance-corporal rode one of the showiest beasts of the lot, an animal called Vanity, that is not the most disciplined, and one of the junior bare-kneed troopers came on a black pony which, probably carried him to school. He had a rope bridle and rope reins and a sack for a saddle, but he “stayed the course” and the pony appeared to be proud of himself.
To indicate the keenness of the men of the Auckland Mounted Rifles to-day it might be mentioned that probably 80 per cent, of them are volunteers in the true sense of the word, seeing that, on account of distance, they cannot be compelled to serve.
Officers of the Camp.
The camp will break up to-morrow. In command is Colonel Aldred, second in command is Major Stevens., and the adjutant is Lieutenant Moncrieff, M.C., N.Z.S.C. In yesterday’s operations Lieutenants Birdsall and Morrison commanded the advance guard of the attackers, with Captain F. Dill in support, Lieutenant Aldred the left flank guard, and Sergeant Wright the right. Lieutenant Tingey, N.Z.S.C., commanded the machine-guns, and with Major Stevens in reserve were Major Potter and Lieutenant Shanks, Lieutenant Waddington was orderly officer. The defenders were commanded by Lieutenant Buttimore, Staff-Sergeant-Majors Milne, Brant and Dunlevy. Captain Foster, adjutant of the North Auckland Mounted Rifles, was umpire, and Major Glendining observed operations for Command Headquarter
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19290417.2.112
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20232, 17 April 1929, Page 13
If you would like this with other newspaper articles in a PDF format just e-mail us at waiukumuseum@gmail.com
HEAVY FLOODS.
[By TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENTS.]
WAIUKU.
Waiuku, Monday.
On Friday it commenced raining, and on Saturday it came down in torrents, and continued unabated until midday on Sunday, when the level part of the country was completely flooded. A great amount of was done. Several bridges have been swept away, namely — Newdick’s, Brown’s creeks, and others — stopping all traffic between Mauku and Pukekohe. The mailman started this morning with the mails, but had to return. The mail will have to go by the steamer. The Waitangi mill has guttered severely. The water-wheel, twenty feet in diameter, has been carried away, as well as the dam. Every precaution wan taken for: its safety, and at five a.m. on Sunday all was safe, but so rapidly did the water rise that by eight o’clock everything was gone save the mill-house. The water reached a greater height than is known by the oldest settler. It was several feet over the Waitangi Bridge, which fortunately has stood the, the heaviest of floods. No word has reached here from the south and north-west of the district, where it is possible damage may also have occurred.
MAUKU.
After the long drought the rain has been falling for twenty-four hours, and the Mauku river has risen to a height not known for over 20 years, and I regret to say it has been the means of doing a good deal of destruction. The bridge on the road from Pukekohe to Waiuku over the Mauku is swept away entirely, as also another one on the road from the church to Lower Mauku. The water rose fully 10 feet over them, which of course was more than they could stand. Fortunately for the District Board the Government had called for tenders for a new bridge on the Waiuku road. All the flat land near the river was flooded for acres, and it looked more like the Waikato than the Mauku. The fails were a grand sight — in fact a miniature Niagara. I am sorry tosay Mr. G. Johnson is at a great loss by the fresh, his mill dam being carried away, not a vestige being left; then the bridge over the river between his house and flax-mill went after the other two, and his loss must be over £100. He had also the store-room full of dried flax, and the water was nearly up to the wall plates. Potato crops must suffer by the quantity of water about, and from being for want of rain. I fear they will now be made lighter from having too much. Those are lucky who had them up before the rain came on. — [Own Correspondent.]
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18830227.2.24
New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6639, 27 February 1883, Page 5
If you would like this with other newspaper articles in a PDF format just e-mail us at waiukumuseum@gmail.com
NATIVE ACCOUNT OF THE MAUKU ENGAGEMENT.
We learn, on perfectly reliable authority, that the following is the Native account of this affair: — They state that the natives were present to the number of 400 men from the Ngatimaniapoto and two other tribes, who had come over with the intention of making a grand attack upon Mauku, which place seems to have gained an honorable notoriety amongst them. When they found themselves opposed to but 60 men in the field, they made sure of killing all, and must have been grievously disappointed at the result. They say they killed 14 of our men, besides wounding vast numbers, while they acknowledge to having themselves lost about 12 men and one important chief killed in the action, while many more were wounded. The loss was felt to be very severe, as is evident from the fact that they did not delay longer than was requisite to gather up their killed and wounded, before making again for the river, which they crossed the same night, at eleven o’clock. The party which was observed next day by our men on the field of battle, did not belong to the party who fought at all, but were a small body of thirteen men who met the others as they were re-crossiug the Waikato, and hearing of the battle anxiously inquired whether the volleys had been fired over the field, as ought to be done, in claiming a victory. The answer was that this had not been done; upon which the new comers kindly offered to go and supply the deficiency. They reached the ground about daybreak, and fired the salutes heard by our men. Seeing, however, our Defence Force men coming up the valley on horseback, they fled precipitately to the Waikato, and were in the act of crossing when fired on by the flying column. The natives are firmly persuaded that they were pursued and finally tired upon by the horsemen from whom they originally fled. They say that no one was killed by the fire, but one man was wounded in the neck who fell overboard in his fright. The account is chiefly interesting as showing how much they must have suffered. To account for their own losses they state that they engaged 500 pakehas. As they thought fit to double our loss, it is not improbable they may have proportionately diminished their own. This account is entirely from native sources, and may be relied on as being at all events one version of those published by authority of the native military magnates.
We have the following intelligence also, through a Maori channel: — “At the Mauku fight of last week, the Maoris lost 8 killed, and have taken 40 wounded (of course several so as to be hors de combat) up the Waipa. Tikaokao’s son and nephew are both killed. The tribes engaged were: — Ngatimaniapoto, 150; Urewera, 100 ; Ngatiporou, 50. This fight was these first work in which the Urewera and Ngatiporou were engaged. They had just arrived at the scene of operations, bringing each man a back load of powder from the East Cape. Tikoukou is of Mokau (Ngatimaniapoto county), and was lately appointed generalissimo of the native army. He was not present himself. They took up the river no end of boxes, &c., which they carried overland from Howick, via Mauku
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18631106.2.13
Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIX, Issue 1968, 6 November 1863, Page 2
If you would like this with other newspaper articles in a PDF format just e-mail us at waiukumuseum@gmail.com
NEW SCHOOL OPENED.
CEREMONY AT KARIAOTAHI.
AN UP-TO-DATE BUILDING
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
WAIUKU, Friday
Over 200 people were present at the official opening of the new school at Kariaotahi, some three miles from Waiuku, this afternoon. Among those present were many ex-pupils of the school, some of whom were scholars there as far back as 47 years ago. The school was first opened on August 4, 1879, with 20 pupils. To-day there are 52 on the roll. Reference to the early days was made by the head teacher; Mr. F. M. Shepherd. He said the building which served as the first school was the first structure to be erected in sawn timber in the district. It was in reality . a two-roomed house, and was lent by the owner, Mr. George Bennett, to enable a school to be opened. The timber was cut from a large kauri tree that grew on a near by ridge. In 1883, the Wesleyan Chapel at Waiuku was purchased and re-erected at Kariaotahi, as the permanent school building. The contractor for the removal and re-erection of the structure, Mr. A. Hammond, was still living at the age of 93 years, and even as late as yesterday was engaged in such active work as lopping limbs off a pine tree.
Mr. H. Knight, chairman of the school committee,’ who presided, said the residents were gratified to have an up-to-date and safe school building. Reference was made by Mr. A. Burns, chairman of the Education Board.”to the fact that the new building, with two large classrooms and long entrance corridor, was on the latest lines approved by the board for country schools. The ample window space gave excellent lighting, and the windows were so arranged that splendid ventilation was available in any weather.
Mr. J. Patterson, the district member of the board, said, as the school had to serve also as the social centre of the district, the board had folding doors provided so that the two rooms could be thrown into one when desired. The official opening ceremony was performed by Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P. for Franklin.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19310926.2.107
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20988, 26 September 1931, Page 10
If you would like this with other newspaper articles in a PDF format just e-mail us at waiukumuseum@gmail.com
Waiuku Museum 