PROTECTIVE MILITARY FORCE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 65, 31 October 1844, Page 4

PROTECTIVE MILITARY FORCE FOR NEW ZEALAND.

To the Editor of the United Service Gazette, Sir, —Since the recent and untoward event which occurred at Cloudy Bay, near Nelson, in New Zealand, the attention both of the government and of the New Zealand Company has been turned towards the state of affairs lately in that new and important colony. It was only the other evening that Lord Ripoo, in answer to a question form Lord Malmesbury in the house of lords, stated that instructions had been forwarded to the governor of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land* desiring them to send military aid and protection to New Zealand. This, no doubt, is nothing more than is requisite, and what the exigencies of the limes require. But if we inquire what military force these functionaries have a their command, we shall find it so small and detached already, that a command of 100 men at furthest, is as much as they can spare*. In looking at the distribution of the British army at the present time, we only find two regiments (the 80th and 89ih) quartered in New South Wales, and the alst and 96th in Van Diemen's Land. When we take into account the vast extent of our Australian colonies, that they comprise New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, Southern Australia, Western Australia, Norfolk Island, and New Zealand, ft is hardly possible to imagine any - regiments more broken up or subdivided than those just enumerated must be, provided each of these colonies is protected by the military disposable force in the way it ought. Judging from the present state of affairs in our Australian colonies, I would fain entertain the hope that the 58th regiment now on its way out to New ■South Wales in small detachments, is not intended as a relief to any regiment already out there, but as an augmentation to the military force still far to small, when the importance of these extensive colonies is taken into serious consideration. Looking at their present state, and the claims theyl have for military protection from the mother coutry, it would seem highly advantageous for them that the New South Wales Veteran Companies should be re-established as a military force. They were highly useful and efficient, and would be particularly so in New Zealand, where the number of natives so overpowers the number of European colonists. Were fair and impartial justice done to New Zealand, a great augmentation should be made to the military already -there. It will not be sufficient to send Major Richmond and a company of the 99th regiment to Port Nicholson, as an available force whenever they may be required. In every settlement a proportion of military ought to be placed to ensure perfect confidence, and defence against the numerous native tribes. I am, Sir, your obedient servant. An Old Military Captain. [The view which our correspondent takes of this important case agrees per** fectly with our own. New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land are too weakly garrisoned, and the scanty force employed there is i«io widely and numerously scat* tered to admit of even the smallest reduction in either of these vast islands. Two' regiments, at the very least, ought to be added to the military establishments of our Australian colonies. The reorganization of the New South Wales Veteran Companies would, we are inclined to believe, be a politic, a prudent, and an ad-' vantageous measure.—Ed. U. S.G.]^