 
Eunice Chambers collection
Manawatu Evening Standard 31 Jul 1914 Death of War Veteran
Captain Charles William Ferris, who until a few years ago was a very well-known resident of Gisborne, died suddenly at Yowie Bay, New South Wales, on July 25th. Captain Ferris was 72 years of age. He was born in New South Wales in 1842, and was educated in England and France.
In 1863, after spending several years in business, he came to New Zealand. Having joined the Hawke's Bay Defence Force, he served on the East Coast for a number of years, and was slightly wounded at the fight with the Maoris at Waeranga-a-hika. When Te Kooti landed in Poverty Bay, Captain (then Mr) Ferris was one of the party sent to intercept him, and was wounded a second time. He was in Gisborne during the terrible period of the Poverty Bay massacre, and on the morning of the fatal day he, as sergeant-major, had the duty of collecting the people into the Kaiti redoubt.
In 1869 he was commissioned as a sub-inspector in the Armed Constabulary, and took a force of 200 natives to Patea, Taranaki, where they made the Pakakohe tribe prisoners. These natives were taken to Wellington by Mr Ferris, who guarded them in a hulk in the harbour until they were deported to Wellington, having been sentenced for treason. For a time he had charge of the Armed Constabulary depot at Wellington.
He was afterwards placed in charge of the Armed Constabulary stationed at Waikaremoana, and with two men and four native guides was entrusted with the expedition to follow Te Kooti into the bush. Mr Ferris was six months engaged on this hazardous expedition, and the rebel ultimately escaped to the King Country.
Mr Ferris was thanked by Sir Donald McLean, the Defence Minister, and received the New Zealand war medal. Subsequently he went to live in Gisborne, and for many years carried on business as an auctioneer and a stock and station agent. He served on local councils and road boards, and as a Freemason he was attached to Lodge Turanganui, N.Z.C. On June 10th, 1911, Captain, Mrs and Miss Ferris left for Sydney to take up their residence in Australia.
Archives New Zealand - Wellington (some of his correspondence)
27 Mar 1869: Letter from Honourable Defence Minister, Wellington
Appointment of C W Ferris to be acting Sub-Inspector Armed Constabulary (R24141973)
23 Jun 1869: Letter from Peneamine Tuhaka
Wishes to be appointed Captain of 2nd detachment of Ngatiporou; is opposed by Mr Ferris (R24143497)
31 Jul 1869: Letter from Acting Sub Inspector Ferris, Wellington
No.9 Division (Ngatiporou) estimate of pay June 1869 (R24143647)
Sep 1869: Patea - Nominal Roll of Guards on board prison ship "City of Newcastle", Charles Ferris (R24403440)
09 Sep 1869: Letter from Charles Ferris, Acting Sub Inspector, "City of Newcastle", Wellington
Report in reference to Constable Hayward's pay etc (R24403432)
11 Sep 1869: Letter from Charles Ferris, Acting Sub Inspector, "City of Newcastle", Wellington
Forwarding acquittance roll for September - Ngati Porou Guards (R24403433)
24 Sep 1869: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, "City of Newcastle", Wellington
Prisoners sent on shore (R24403438)
22 Nov 1869: Letter from Sub Inspector Charles Ferris, Armed Constabulary, Wellington
Re Pay for Maori prisoners Guard (R24403453)
02 Feb 1870: Letter from M. Noake, Major Commanding Wanganui and Patea District, Patea
Time of Ngatiporou expires in March - Sub-Inspector Ferris can obtain good men from East Coast to replace those who return (R24174962)
24 Feb 1870: Letter from Honourable Defence Minister, Auckland
Mr Ferris not to go to East Coast to enrol Natives for Waihi; matter arranged with Ropata (R24174960)
24 Feb 1870: Letter from M. Noake, Major Commanding Wanganui and Patea Militia District, Patea
Nominal Roll of Ngatiporou Native Contingent who will stop in Patea; Sub-Inspector Ferris is ready to go to East Coast to recruit; recommends that Arepeta be promoted to Captain and accompany him (R24174961)
24 Mar 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Patea
Enquires if he can make application for his grant of land of any person in the Patea District; Will arrange for a substitute for his brother at Poverty Bay (R24173565)
26 Mar 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Patea
Applies for land in Patea, in lieu of land at Ormond as a member of Hawkes Bay Colonial Defence Force (R24173601)
06 Apr 1870: Letter from Major Noake, Wanganui
Has by mistake stopped £2 15s 5d twice from pay of Ngatiporou for Quarter Master's charges; requests refund to Acting Sub Inspector Ferris (R24173685)
14 Apr 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Patea
A man named Connell, about to leave Armed Constabulary at Patea, wants to know if land was drawn for him at Ormond, as an old Colonial Defence Force man; Also, if land was drawn in Colonial Defence Force block for a brother of Sub Inspector Ferris (R24173824)
22 Apr 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Applies for eight men as a Guard over Hau Hau prisoners (R24405775)
27 Apr 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Acknowledges receipt of Warrant and other papers (R24405778)
27 Apr 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Wellington
Rations etc., for Maori prisoners at Mount Cook Barracks (R24405852)
16 May 1870: Letter from Militia Office, Wellington
Return of charges against Sub Inspector Ferris £1 1s 7½d (R24405855)
19 May 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Commissioners Office, Wellington
13 cases of gunpowder hidden in Waioeka Gorge (R24403707)
30 May 1870: Letter from Acting Under Secretary, Colonial Defence Office
Recommends that expenses incurred by Sub Inspector Ferris while enrolling Ngatiporou be approved £49 (R24174035)
05 Aug 1870: Telegram from Sub Inspector Ferris, Napier Spit
"Luna" starts for Poverty Bay in one hours time - did not interfere in recruiting (R24404080)
05 Aug 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, on board ps "Luna"
Reporting arrival of Ngati Porou at their settlement; and attack by Te Kooti at Tolaga Bay (R24404136)
08 Aug 1870: Telegram from Sub Inspector Ferris, Napier
"Luna" arrived here last evening; no news of consequence; Te Kooti supposed to be ten miles inland at Ngatipa (R24404083)
08 Aug 1870: Telegram from Sub Inspector Ferris, Napier
Party started from Poverty Bay to intercept Te Kooti: Ropata started from Tolaga Bay (R24404082)
15 Aug 1870: Letter from Inspector Noake, Wanganui
£4 17s 6d paid to Captain Hampton remitted to Sub Inspector Ferris (R24404800)
23 Aug 1870: Letter from Inspector Ferris, Wellington
Return of prisoners in Mount Cook Barracks (R24283562)
12 Dec 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris
Report regarding outrages committed on Mrs Maxwell's children at Wadestown (R24405815)
18 Dec 1870: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Reports his arrival at Taranaki with Detachment (R24405818)
19 Dec 1870: Letter from Commissioner Armed Constabulary, Wellington
With letter from Sub Inspector Ferris reporting arrival of detachment Armed Constabulary in Auckland, expects to be in Waikato on 21st (
R24175354)
23 Dec 1870: Letter from Inspector Lyon, Waikato
Reports arrival of Sub Inspector Ferris, two Sergeants and 25 Constables at Hamilton (R24404316)
06 Jan 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Auckland
Arrived from Waikato at Auckland en route for Wellington but delayed by Doctor Pollen in consequence of unsatisfactory news from Waikato (R24406088)
09 Jan 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Waikato
Requests instructions relative to his return from Waikato (R24407013)
23 Jan 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Auckland
Mr Lusk has communicated with Colonel Lyon relative to Census; names Mr Todd's murderers (R24406109)
06 Feb 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Requests permission to remove Barrack furniture to his private quarters (R24407399)
22 Feb 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Applies for leave of absence from 9am until 12 midnight 23rd instant (R24407400)
11 Mar 1871: Telegram from Sergeant Major Baker, Napier
All Commissioner's things forwarded by Recruit with Sub Inspector Ferris per ss "Lord Ashley" on 26 January (R24406959)
17 Apr 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Recommends the issue of one pair of trousers and one pair of boots to each of the Native Prisoners at Mount Cook (R24407413)
04 May 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Wellington
Forwarding letters from Native prisoners at Mount Cook Barracks for transmission to their friends (R24175778)
28 Jun 1871: Letters from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Recommends the erection of a Guard Room at the Depot (R24407525)
Recommends the erection of a Gymnasium at the Depot (R24407526)
29 Jun 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Reporting on work performed by the Maori prisoners (R24407527)
14 Jul 1871: Letter from Charles W. Ferris, Depot, Wellington
Return of Non Commissioned Officers of the Armed Constabulary Force stationed at the Depot (R24407532)
14 Jul 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Depot
Requisition approved for road making; tools for Maori (R24407533)
20 Jul 1871: Letter from Captain Stack, Depot
Sub Inspector Rowan to take charge of Maori prisoners during Sub Inspector's Ferris absence (R24407535)
07 Aug 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Te Kapu
Suggesting the strength of district be increased (R24415376)
28 Oct 1871: Letter from Sub Inspector Ferris, Wellington
Applying for promotion (R24407534)
20 Nov 1871: Telegram from Sub Inspector Ferris, Napier
Arrived at 2.30pm yesterday; Leave today for Te Wairoa; Armstrong goes with us (R24407000)
23 Nov 1871: Letter from Inspector Cumming, Wairoa
Sub Inspector Ferris and Ensign Maclean transferred from Depot (RR24406062)
15 Dec 1871: Letter from Inspector Cumming, Te Wairoa
Forwards vouchers in favor of Sub Inspector Ferris and Ensign Maclean for Travelling allowance between Wellington and Te Wairoa (R24406078)
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