Dent family connections
In March 1864 Captain Steele wrote requesting that he should receive his commission as a captain of Company 4 and in the same letter he requested that William Johnstone, his ensign in the Wairoa Rifle Volunteers, be promoted to lieutenant. William Johnstone received his commission 29 Mar 1864. He became school-master at "The Hut" in Sydney Square (now Steele Park), Hamilton East.
His selected his farm land near Lake Tunawhakapeka (now drained and in farm) but found access difficult in the early stages of development. When he brought his stock from Wairoa, he found that he could not get to his land until a satisfactory road and bridge were built and John Crawford, who had a farm en route, suggested that he run the stock on his land in the interim. William did so and he also built a one-roomed building on Crawford's property. The men had been close friends from their days in the Wairoa Volunteer Rifles.
A daughter Margaret/Maggie married Jim Thomas, a son of another militiaman Frederick Thomas.