EMERSON, JOHN (1825-99) was born in Ireland, joined the Royal Irish Constabulary (1847), and was one of a special draft from that force for service in the Crimea. As a subaltern in the commissariat he distinguished himself at Sebastopol, where he was wounded. Returning to Ireland, he emigrated in 1857 to Australia, his discharge from the force certifying to his good conduct and personal bravery, to six awards for meritorious service and a badge for lifesaving. Joining the Victorian police, Emerson was for some years engaged in escort duty from the goldfields and in 1864 he came to New Zealand as a mounted constable. In 1865 he was a first-class sergeant in charge at Picton and he received the Humane Society's medal for saving life. In 1868 he was a first-class inspector, and he was afterwards successively in charge of various districts. In 1880 he stopped a serious Maori dispute at Rotorua; in 1891, with 24 men, he disarmed 400 Maori land disputants at Waipiro; in 1892 he assisted at the arrest of Mahuki and his followers at Te Kuiti; and in the dispute in the Urewera he commanded an armed force at Te Whaiti. He retired while in charge of Napier and East Coast. Emerson died on 3 Apr 1899.

Hawkes Bay Herald, 4 Apr 1899.

Reference: Volume 1, page 132

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