The Dickie Family of Ayrshire

Walter engaged in politico-military activities from the 1860s through to 1909. He joined the Wanganui Militia in the 1860s. He was an Ensign in 1865. He rose through the ranks of the Armed Constabulary. He held the posts of Resident
Magistrate, Commissioner of Police, Judge of Native Lands Court, Britsh Resident then Resident Commissioner in the Cook Islands (1898-1909).

New Zealand Army Lists 1866
Gudgeon W.E. Ensign Wanganui Militia 02 Sep 1865

His 1882 marriage certificate says he was a Captain in the Armed Constabulary.

In 1882 Walter was "Inspector in the Armed Constabulary Force" at Manaia.
In 1882 he had two country properties:

1. Cook, 128 acres, valued at 1590 pounds
2. Hawera 705 acres, 6306 pounds

Was a "Sub Inspector" in the Armed Constabulary
and recieved the New Zealand War Medal

Commissioner of Police, Judge Maori Land court Sec of Roratonga (aka Native Lands Court)

The British were reluctant administrators [of the Cook Islands] and continued pressure was applied to them from New Zealand and from European residents of the islands to pass the Cooks over to New Zealand. In 1898 a New Zealander, Major W.E.
Gudgeon, was made British Resident with the aim of paving the way for New Zealand to take over from Britain as part of the expansionist ambitions of New Zealand's Prime Minister, William Seddon. ... AFTER much manoeuvring and politicKing, the Coo

Walter Edward Gudgeon was born in London, England, on 4 September 1841, the first child of Thomas Wayth Gudgeon, an upholsterer, and his first wife, Mary Johnston. The family emigrated to New Zealand in 1850 and settled in New Plymouth. Walter
left school to work on the family farm at the age of 11. Conscious all his life of his Lack of formal education, he made up for it by reading voraciously. After leaving home at 16 he became an accomplished shepherd and drover.

Gudgeon was managing a farm near Wanganui when fighting broke out in the area. In March 1865 he joined the Wanganui Bushrangers, and three months later became second-in-command of the Wanganui Native Contingent under Thomas McDonnell. By
September, having demonstrated both personal courage and skills in inter-racial diplomacy, he had received a commission. After serving on a punitive expedition to Opotiki and on General Trevor Chute's 1865--66 campaign in southern Taranaki,
Gudgeon accidentally shot himself in the thigh and returned to his farm on confiscated land near the Waingongoro River. Forced off the land on the outbreak of war with Ngati Ruanui leader Titokowaru in June 1868, he served honourably with the
Native Contingent in the disastrous defeat of the colonial forces at the battle of Moturoa in November and was made a sub-inspector in the New Zealand Armed Constabulary. He fought against Te Kooti at Ngatapa and took part in the pursuit of
Titokowaru in autumn 1869.

Gudgeon was next given command of the Runanga redoubt, one of a string of forts built between Tapuaeharuru (Taupo) and Napier to restrict Te Kooti's movements. With the guerilla leader on the run, the duties of the Armed Constabulary focused on
drilling and road maKing. In February 1874 Gudgeon's tedium was relieved when he was put in charge of the sensitive Poverty Bay district. Based at Ormond, he made typically astute land purchases and also met Edith Maria Best (sister of Elsdon
Best), whom he married in Wellington on 16 January 1875. She was to die of tuberculosis on 21 March 1879 after bearing three children, Hilda, Constance and Westwood.

After being stationed for some time at Opunake, Gudgeon returned to Poverty Bay as resident magistrate for the Wairoa and Waiapu districts, on the fringes of which the writ of European law did not yet always run. Here he became embroiled in bitte