x Obituary. 



Seventh New Zealand Contingent of Mounted Rifles in the Transvaal, 

 Orange Free State, Zululand, and later the Ninth Contingent. For his 

 services on the veldt (1900-2) he was awarded the Queen's Medal (four 

 clasps) and created Commander of the Bath. For some time before retiring 

 from the service of the State, in 1908, Colonel Porter was Acting Under- 

 Secretary for Defence. 



He was the author of The Life and Times of Major Ropata Wahawaha, 

 and had also completed a history of the war with Te Kooti (published in 

 several forms) and a book of East Coast Maori legends. 



Colonel Porter was actively interested in the Historical Section of the 

 Wellington Philosophical Society, formed in September, 1918. He held 

 the office of vice-chairman from the beginning, and his picturesque figure, 

 his manly and military bearing, and his conversation, based on a long, 

 varied, and active experience, were always of interest. 



His contributions on Maori subjects were highly valuable, and had his 

 life been prolonged he would no doubt have added considerably to the 

 store of New Zealand historical data. He died on the 12th November. 

 1920, at the age of seventy-six years. 



James Cowan. 



