Monument to the Men who fell in World War One (Unveiled ANZAC Day 1920)

The Obelisk stands on a rise in the Congregational Church Cemetery on Gorge Road over looking Maungaturoto Township. Of the names listed on its sides, only four came home. The rest died at Gallipoli, Belgium and France. This monument was erected by the families of these fallen men in their memory prior to World War 2.  ANZAC Day Commemorations are held at the RSA cemetery near the Maungaturoto Centennial hall. 

After some research the date of unveiling was on Anzac Day (April) 1920. The Northern Advocate had reported the unveiling of the monument:

A united Anzac memorial service was held at 10.30 a.m. on Anzac Day, in the old church grounds, in the bright sunshine. It was attended by a fine gathering of people from far and near, including the returned soldiers of the district who marched and formed a guard of honour at the foot of a memorial stone erected to the fallen men of the district which was unveiled by .Sergt. B. C. Cox. Immediately after the unveiling Kipling's Recessional, "Lest We Forget, Lest We Forget," was sung. Impressive addresses were delivered by Revs Mr Pratt (Presbyterian), J. C. Hawkesworth (Anglican), and Mr H. Cullen (Congregational). Miss Stewart presided at the organ. The hymns comprised: "Oh God, Our Help," "Nearer My God to Thee, and "Peace, Perfect Peace." The Last Post was sounded by Bugler Hyland and the National Anthem concluded the service.

Northern Advocate 29 April 1920

I've gone though the list of names and where possible I have included links to their burial places and war records. Lest we forget the memory of these brave men who fought and died far from home.

MAUNGATUROTO WAR MEMORIAL CONGEGRATIONAL CHURCH CEMETERY NAMES GORGE RD MAUNGATUROTO

HENRY HAYWARD HARRISON SERVICE NO 13/548 12.07.1915 AGED 27

HARRISON, HENRY HAYWARD Initials: H H Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Trooper Regiment/Service: Auckland Mounted Rifles, N.Z.E.F. Age: 27 Date of Death: 12/07/1915 Service No: 13/548 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 22. Cemetery: ARI BURNU CEMETERY, ANZAC

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database Record

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/6469.detail?Ordinal=2790&c_all=1

A SAD LOSS

It was with regret we learned that one of our local boys had been killed in action at the front, in the person of Trooper Howard Harrison, 11th Regiment. This is the first death amongst our own boys, although quite a number have been wounded. While deeply sympathising with the bereaved family, we all feel proud of our fallen comrade.

- Kaipara & Waitemata Echo 5 August 1915

AUCKLAND MOUNTED RIFLES.

12th July. Harrison, Henry Hayward, 13/548, Tpr. (A. G. Harrison, Maungaturoto, Auckland)

- Evening Post 2 August 1915

CHARLES BENJAMAN HARRISON 8.07.1915 AGED 24

HARRISON, CHARLES BENJAMIN

Initials: C B Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Trooper Regiment/Service: Auckland Mounted Rifles, N.Z.E.F. Date of Death: 08/08/1915 Service No: 13/66 Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Harrison, of 22, Ariki St., Grey Lynn, Auckland. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. Memorial: CHUNUK BAIR (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL

Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph Database Record

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/6460.detail?Ordinal=2738&c_all=1

MALCOM INNES FINLAYSON service no 13/2433 NZ Army 15.09.1916 AGED 22

FINLAYSON, MALCOLM INNES Initials: M I Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F. Unit Text: 2nd Bn. Age: 32 Date of Death: 15/09/1916 Service No: 13/2433 Additional information: Son of Margaret Finlayson, of 15A, Norana Avenue, Remuera, Auckland, and the late Alexander Finlayson. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Memorial: CATERPILLAR VALLEY (NEW ZEALAND) MEMORIAL

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database Record

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/4829.detail?Ordinal=1352&c_all=1

KINGSLEY SATCHWELL 15.09.1916 AGED 23

SATCHWELL, KINGSLEY Initials: K Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F. Unit Text: 2nd Bn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 15/09/1916 Service No: 12/2463 Additional information: Son of Isabella Satchwell, of "Muritai," Clifton Rd., Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand, and the late Frederick James Satchwell. Also served in Egypt and at Gallipoli. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: VI. B. 5. Cemetery: QUARRY CEMETERY, MONTAUBAN

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database Record

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/14001.detail?Ordinal=545&c_all=1

JAMES TAYLOR 22.05.1917 AGED 27

TAYLOR, JAMES Initials: J Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Private Regiment/Service: New Zealand Medical Corps Age: 30 Date of Death: 22/05/1917 Service No: 13/239 Additional information: Son of William Taylor, of Maungaturoto. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I1. 87. Cemetery: OXFORD (BOTLEY) CEMETERY

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/15532.detail?Ordinal=1145&c_all=1

HAROLD RALPH FLOWER 7.06.1917 AGED 21

FLOWER, HAROLD RALPH Initials: H R Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Rifleman Regiment/Service: New Zealand Rifle Brigade Unit Text: 2nd Bn. 3rd Age: 20 Date of Death: 07/06/1917 Service No: 21503 Additional information: Son of Harold Edwin and Edith Lillian Flower, of Maungaturoto, Kaipara, North Auckland. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Memorial: MESSINES RIDGE (N.Z.) MEMORIAL

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/4956.detail?Ordinal=2224&c_all=1

RICHARD MYERS 20.06.1917 AGED 32

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/11296.detail?Ordinal=15407&c_all=1

WALTER CAUSER 21.06.1917 AGED 39

CAUSER, WALTER Initials: W Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Rifleman Regiment/Service: New Zealand Rifle Brigade Unit Text: 2nd Bn. 3rd Age: 39 Date of Death: 21/06/1917 Service No: 21492 Additional information: Son of John and Mary Causer, of Maungaturoto Kaipara, Auckland, New Zealand. Native of England. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: V. D. 2. Cemetery: STRAND MILITARY CEMETERY

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/2443.detail?Ordinal=2489&c_all=1

GEORGE FORRESTER LEWIS 2.10.1917 AGED 23

LEWIS, GEORGE FORRESTER Initials: G F Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Private Regiment/Service: New Zealand Machine Gun Corps Unit Text: No. 2 Coy. Date of Death: 02/10/1917 Service No: 24026 Additional information: Husband of Kate Marion Lewis, of 111, Green Lane Rd., Remuera, Auckland. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: N.Z. Apse, Panel 9. Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

In Memory of
Private GEORGE FORRESTER LEWIS

24026, No. 2 Coy., New Zealand Machine Gun Corps
who died on 02 October 1917
Husband of Kate Marion Lewis, of 111, Green Lane Rd., Remuera, Auckland.
Remembered with honour
TYNE COT MEMORIAL

http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=847804

WILLIAM RALSTON INGRAM 4.10.1917 AGED 37

INGRAM, WILLIAM RALSTON Initials: W R Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F. Unit Text: 3rd Coy. 1st Bn. Date of Death: 04/10/1917 Service No: 40328 Additional information: Son of William and Annie Ingram, of Marohemo, Auckland. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: N.Z. Apse, Panel 1. Memorial: TYNE COT MEMORIAL

GORDON GLADSTONE ROGERS 12.10.1917 AGED 23

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/13254.detail?Ordinal=4385&c_all=1

THOMAS SMAILL GRANT 8.11.1917 AGED 25

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/5811.detail?Ordinal=4014&c_all=1

ROYDEN CLIFFORD HUBAND 20.02.1918 AGED 23

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/76403.detail?Ordinal=9042&c_all=1

Digitised Record from Archives New Zealand

http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=18050572

DONALD ALEXANDER MCRAE 19.09.1918 AGED 25

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/10148.detail?Ordinal=9678&c_all=1

JOHN LAMONT 1.10.1918 AGED 36

LAMONT, JOHN Initials: J Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F. Unit Text: 1st Bn. Date of Death: 01/10/1918 Service No: 56621 Additional information: Husband of Ellen Lamont, of Rowsells, North Auckland, New Zealand. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: III. C. 17. Cemetery: ANNEUX BRITISH CEMETERY

JOHN CAIRNS 7.06.1917 AGED 28

CAIRNS, JACK Initials: J Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F. Unit Text: 2nd Bn. Date of Death: 06/07/1917 Service No: 14071 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: B. 1. Cemetery: MOTOR CAR CORNER CEMETERY

WILLIAM JACOBSON 12.10.1917 AGED 21

JACOBSON, WILLIAM VICTOR Initials: W V Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Lance Corporal Regiment/Service: New Zealand Rifle Brigade Unit Text: 4th Bn. 3rd Age: 21 Date of Death: 12/10/1917 Service No: 26/817 Additional information: Son of Mrs. Margaret Pitethley (formerly Jacobson), of Ongarue, New Zealand. Native of Auckland, New Zealand. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: XXIX. D. 18. Cemetery: TYNE COT CEMETERY

JOHN STEVENS – NO DATE

John James Stevens (this may not be his record)

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/14985.detail?Ordinal=7930&c_all=1

HARRY CAMERON – NO DATE

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/2155.detail?Ordinal=568&c_all=1

Digitised Record from Archives New Zealand

http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21891406

WILLIAM MILES TAYLOR 18.11.1918

DIED IN CAMP FEATHERSTON

AGED 21

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/33365.detail?Ordinal=1376&c_all=1

ANDREW MEANEY 29.08.1918

MEANEY, ANDREW Initials: A Nationality: New Zealand Rank: Rifleman Regiment/Service: New Zealand Rifle Brigade Unit Text: 2nd Bn. 3rd Date of Death: 26/08/1918 Service No: 21521 Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: I. C. 1. Cemetery: VAULX HILL CEMETERY

HAROLD FREDERICK CULLEN 27.04.1924 AGED 30

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/41461.detail?Ordinal=9540&c_all=1

http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=21005367

W.H. JEFFS 5.06.1930

C.H. ALLEN 10.11.1934

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/115726.detail?Ordinal=1&c_surname_search=allen&c_firstname_search=c+h&c_warconflict_search=world+war+i,+1914-1918

JOHN HILL 12.08.1936

MAUNGATUROTO

(Own Correspondent)

LOCAL HEROES IN FRANCE.

Again it is our sad duty to record the deaths of two more of our brave lade who left this district to do their duty to their King and Empire, and who have laid down their lives on the fields of France.

On the whole, the Maungaturoto lads appear to have been fortunate. During the Gallipoli campaign the two brothers Harrison were killed; but since then, though several were wounded, none was killed till the recent advance in France, when Trooper Innes Finlayson, A.M.K., and Private Kingsley Satchwell, A Batallion, were killed in action. The former is the second son of the late Alex. Finlayson, and is one of four brothers who enlisted. His elder brother left with the main body, and was wounded at Gallipoli and invalided home. Another brother is still in France and one in Egypt.

Kingsley Satchwell was the nephew of the Rev. T. W. Potts, and had resided here f'or only a comparatively short time when the call came, and he, too, joined the colours.

A memorial service was held in the Congregational Church on Sunday last. There was a very large congregation iv attendance, and the Rev. Potts delivered a very tine sermon on the supreme sacrifice made by these two men.

In order to provide additional funds for patriotic purposes, it is proposed to hold a Fair on a large scale in December. Provisional committees have been set up, and the initial steps taken.

- Rodney and Otamatea Times,Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette 25 October 1916

A Tale of Blight and Bunkum with a good dose of Snake oil thrown in

“Bouncing Bowers was very modest about the stuff; he only named £4 a gallon as the price, but Hardie was badly bitten with Bowers’ bounce and anted up like a brick.”

Whakapirau settler Henry Bowers in 1906, had tried his luck at playing the role of a snake oil merchant to unsuspecting fruit growers, with his so called ‘cure’ for blight and codlin moth. The ruse didn’t last long it seems for one of his customers soon found out Mr Bower’s so called cure didn’t do a thing for his fruit trees and thus the police were soon called.


Bowers Blight and Bunkum

NZ Truth 13 October 1906

If all that is alleged is true anent Mr Henry Alfred Bowers and his blight specific, he seems have been having a rorty time lately. According to Police Court accounts Henry Alfred,
having read somewhere that fruit farmers were having terrible trouble with insects and fungi, waded in to provide a remedy and apparently found a lovely liquid warranted to act as a
double strength insecticide and fungicide and guaranteed to kill blight at a thousand yards.

Forthwith, Henry Alfred toddled forth seeking whom he might devour. He came across one Hardie, who grows apples and other luscious morsels at Wade, and breathed his yarn about his discovery into Hardie’s credulous lug. Hardie took it all in, too, including five gallons of the guaranteed safe cure for codlin moth.

Bouncing Bowers was very modest about the stuff; he only named £4 a gallon as the price, but Hardie was badly bitten with Bowers’ bounce and anted up like a brick. Bowers bounded off and Hardie started to kill codlin moths and other worried attached to his profession but there was some antidote, which he had warranted to work wonders for the next three years, would not work at all.

Then Hardie seems to have woke up, for the next thing that happened he was sooling a bobby on Bower’s track. Another of Bowers’ soft things was Ernest William Barker. This cove said that Bowers the blighter told him and his father such tall tales anent his astonishing discovery that they were induced to try £2 10s worth of the stuff. Their hopes of a simple life ever after likewise blighted.

Government Analyst Pond never winked once when in the witness box, and he swore that the stuff Bowers charged £4 per gallon might be worth twopence for eight Imperial pints. It was certainly not worth more.

It next came out that Bowers is a settler at Whakapirau and didn’t use his beautiful blight bumper on his own trees; but simply painted them with castor oil. His lawyer tried to make out that the strength of the stuff was lost by keeping the cork out of the cans; but that tale will have been be repeated at the Supreme Court, whither Bowers was committed. There are four other similar charges pending but they were held over till next Monday.

Foot note: Bowers was later sentenced to 18 months in prison at the Supreme Court in Auckland on December 5 1906.

Obituary of Mr John Hurndall, Maungaturoto

An old settler, Mr. John Hurndall, connected with the early history of the Albertland settlements, has passed away within the last few days, at his residence, Hamilton Road, Ponsonby, and was buried at the Avondale Cemetery on November 25 by the Rev. Mr. Runciman.

Mr Hurndall arrived in Auckland by the ship Owen Glendower, in 1863, and joined some of the special settlers who came out at the same time by the Tyburnia. They took up land at Maungaturoto, and here for more than twenty years Mr. Hurndall took a leading part in all matters connected with the welfare of the settlement. For fifteen years he was chairman of the Road Board, and was elected to the County Council when that body was formed. He was for many years chariman of the school committee and licensing committee, also in the Commission of Peace, and for many years attended actively to his duties in this department.

Deceased took great interest in all religious matters, and was senior deacon of the Church to which he belonged, and whilst the district was without a minister conducted the services in the Church. The immediate cause of death was a fall whilst walking in the garden, which fractured a thigh bone, and caused a severe shock to the nervous system. At the time of his death he was aged seventy three years of age.
- NZ Herald 3.12.1888/Back Roads

Whakapirau Anglican Church Cemetery

I made a nice leisurely drive out to Whakapirau today and what a lovely sunny day it was! I stopped at the Anglican church cemetery to take photographs of some of the graves. It's nice to see such a well looked after place, I could tell that 3/4 of the graves were nicely restored, the grass had been mowed around them and flowers were used as decoration.

A little bit of history to share:
St Alban's Church (Anglican), Whakapirau was built in 1896 after a period of community fundraising that enabled it to be opened debt free. The site for the church was formerly part of a block of land made tapu by koiwi from the battle of Marohemo in 1825. The tapu was lifted from the land by the gathering of the koiwi into an ossuary. These bones were subsequently used to fertilise vineyards in the vicinity. The churchyard contains the graves of a number of members of local families, Maori and Pakeha, including several of those directly involved in the erection of the church.

The church is built of kauri, supplied from one of the kauri timber mills formerly nearby. Its lofty belfry and prominent hilltop site make it a landmark visible for some distance along the Kaipara harbour. The interior of the church reveals the warmth of the kauri boards to considerable aesthetic effect, and its timber pews and other furniture add to its charm. Information from historic.org.nz

Please note: the photos belong to A. Forbes - if you wish to use them please email me on iluvretro@yahoo.co.nz

Death by Carbonic Acid Gas Bath?

Story from the Northern Advocate 16th June 1902

According to the news story anyone with lung trouble should not have one of these baths but what was the purpose of Carbonic Acid Gas? Apparently in the 1800s it was considered to be anaesthetic agent whereby painful body parts once immersed became less painful. When inhaled, in the diluted, state, the gas is said to accelerate the circulation but it sounds like this was the type of procedure that warranted the advice of a doctor first before going through with it and what made it worse for Mr Gray was that he'd first jumped in and out of a cold then hot bath which as we know is a shock to the system. (information from here).

So why did Mr Gray ignore the rule and advice of Mr Breedon?

The Kaipara Bushranger

Ned Kelly the Day before his execution
Image Wiki Commons

In the mid 1880's the Kaipara area had its own version of Ned Kelly or at least a young man going by the name of Lyman who styled himself on Ned Kelly. Lyman was a labourer working for a gentleman sheep farmer out at Matakohe. In the spirit of Ned Kelly Lyman changed his name to Sullivan and embarked on a brief career as the infamous Kaipara Bushranger.

Then Auckland Weekly News Correspondent E.P.Barlow who resided in the Matakohe at the time send this to his editor:

A North Kaipara Bushranger.

An individual has for some time past been wandering about the different settlements here, whose doings do not at all meet with the approval of the inhabitants. He has contracted an unpleasant habit of visiting houses at the witching hour of midnight, and extracting from the larders whatever comestibles he finds to his taste. His penchant for sweetmeats of all kinds is remarkable. He would risk his liberty for a bottle of lollies, while the sight of a jam tart would draw him through a plate-glass window. This gentleman rejoices in many names, Sullivan being the one he at present patronises.

Last week he visited Paparoa and Maungaturoto, and regaled himself at several establishments. On Saturday he called at Mr. D.'s. store, Maungaturoto, the owner being engaged elsewhere. Sullivan, unwilling to disturb him, broke open the door, and captured a bottle of prime bulls'- eyes and some other articles. He next made a short stay at the Doctor's, but what he secured there I have not heard.

Some time last week he honoured Mr. B. of Paparoa with a visit, took all the loose cash he could find, a jar full of sweet jelly, and a batch of bread, leaving a stale loaf in its place. Finding that creeping through windows, hiding in holes, and sleeping in the tea-tree scrub had had a very deteriorating effect on his clothes, he applied to Mr. H.'s store, Pahi, during the proprietor's absence, and selecting a suit to his satisfaction, left without a word.

Last Sunday he was reported to have reached Matakohe, and probably his presence will be felt by some of the settlers before long. Naturally, his movements have excited, and still excite, a good deal of notice and criticism, and a few weeks back some settlers, taking an unfavourable view of his peculiar free-and-easy mode of existence, applied to a local constable to come and put a stop to his little game. In due course this functionary arrived, and a sigh of relief went through the several settlements—an arm of the law was with us, and confidence was restored.

The energy displayed by this officer was indeed most reassuring. No sooner did he hear of a settler's house having been entered the previous night, than he was off at once to the place. No sooner did the news reach him of another depredation being committed elsewhere, than away he went again, and at last succeeded in capturing—not the man—but some mementoes of his travels.

The story goes, that he very nearly captured the man himself, and would have done so, if the man, who is very powerfully built, had not unfortunately captured him instead. It was in this way. Having sighted his proposed captive, our energetic and plucky local official immediately gave chase, and was evidently gaining ground, when the pursued suddenly crouched down in some tea-tree scrub. ‘Now I have him,' thought the exulting rural representative of the law, and in another instant he was on the back, and his hand was on the collar, of the larder-breaking Sullivan, while in a voice of thunder he shouted, ‘I arrest you in the name of the law.' Had the midnight prowler any sense of decency and the fitness of things, now was the time to show it by resigning himself quietly to his fate and the majesty of the law. But no! the bump of reverence must indeed be wanting in the cranium of this sweet-toothed bushranger, for instead of thus comporting himself, he actually (so runs the tale) passed his hand over the constable's shoulder, grasped his coat collar, and raising himself from his stooping posture, marched off with the highly indignant officer kicking and struggling on his back. On arriving at a creek, he shot the representative of the law over his shoulder into the water like a sack of coals, and retired into the bush to suck lollipops.

After this episode our rural official returned to his home (eighteen miles away) to consider what was best to be done, leaving word, however, at Paparoa that should the knight of the jam tarts and bulls'- eyes be seen anywhere, he was to be detained until our rural official could come over to arrest him. Mr. Sullivan has made his presence felt several times since, but there always seems to be a difficulty about inducing him to remain in any one place sufficiently long to call in the services of our rural officer. Another rural officer from the Wairoa has now come forward, and is at present at Maungaturoto, while Sullivan is here. By the time the rural officer arrives here, the wily Sullivan will probably be at Pahi. If he could only be induced to partake of some carefully doctored jam tart, I think the rural officer would be more evenly handicapped. As it is, unless our volatile visitor gets a sunstroke, or accidentally chokes himself with a bull's eye, I fear a good many more larders will be emptied and a good many more jam tarts reported missing before he is safely placed under lock and key in Mount Eden Jail.

This lollipop-sucking bushranger for several weeks completely baffled all efforts to arrest him, and pursued with impunity his meteoric course, leaving behind him a well-defined train composed of jam tins, lolly bottles, pie dishes, infuriated settlers, and rural policemen. He was finally captured near Helensville, about sixty miles from here, and in due course brought before the magistrates at Pahi, who committed him for trial. I rode over to be present at the hearing of the case, and in returning after dark, my horse shied, the saddle, too loosely girthed, slipped round, and I was thrown, the result being concussion of the brain. An acquaintance, a Paparoa settler, got me home somehow or other, and for three days my mind was wandering, during which time my poor wife had to attend to me entirely unaided, as on the very day of my accident she had dismissed our servant girl for dishonesty. The principal storekeeper in Matakohe kindly came at once, offered his services, and telegraphed for the doctor, who unfortunately was engaged attending a serious case at a distance. When he did arrive he said my wife had done everything he could have done, and that I was going on all right. It was months, however, before I could get about again, and neither my wife nor myself are likely to easily forget the North Kaipara bushranger, now safely installed in Mount Eden Jail, and about half way through the term of three years' imprisonment with hard labour to which he was sentenced.

- P. W. Barlow Kaipara, or, Experiences of a Settler in North New Zealand

Originally I couldn't find much on this at all. A further search today in Papers Past revealed further information on Mr Lyman. According to the Waikato Times 26 January 1886 Lyman had previously attended an Industrial School before being employed as a labourer at Matakohe on the sheep farm. It seems Lyman was not much more than a teenager who hero-worshipped Ned Kelly and thus wanted to follow in his footsteps. Over all 4 charges of Burlary were laid against Lyman and he was sent to Mt Eden Prison for his crimes.

Article from The Waikato Times 26 January 1886

Historic abuse in Maungaturoto - 1921

Articles from Ashburton Guardian - 31st January 1921 and 17th January 1921. Gosh, just goes to show society might have been different back then but things like this weren't unheard of back in 1921's small town Maungaturoto. I wonder what young William had done that was so bad that provoked a beating from his father?