A GALLANT LIEUTENANT.

Evening Star, Issue 3193, 15 May 1873, Page 3

A GALLANT LIEUTENANT.

We do not happen to know “William Lechner, Liout. N.Z. Militia ” He may be a second Hannibal, or “as great as Alexander” —a fierce lire eating salamander-kind-of man, fo>* anything wo know or care ; but his letter to the Thames Star, which appears below, forces us to inquire whether such a combiunication is at all con istent with the retention of his commission by Mr Lechner. We can conceive of no more mischievous or imprudent letter than that to which he apErnds his name. Although every European nows it is all fustian, the Maoris will not so regard it, and we may hear before long, as their justification for some overt act, that the Government announced their intention of sending out a large armed force to “bring in the Maori King and the murderers of Todd and Sullivan, dead or alive.” Why speak of the Maori King in the same breath as the murderers of Todd and Sullivan t Wo cannot imagine, except it be for mere sensation sake, and to cause Mr Lechner to be tallied about. But we shall let him speak for himself: — Thk Waikato Murders—To the editor of the Thames Star.— Sir,— It is about time that the farce of governing New Zealand in Her Majesty’s name was played out. I, for one, acknowledge no Maori King, and if the New Zealand Government do fo,_ they are simply committing high treason against Her Majesty the Queen. Holding a commission in the New Zealand Militia, I hereby offer my luunblc services to the Colonial Government, as one of Her Majesty’s subjects, to be allowed to pick l-lOff good men, ami to bring in the Mnoii King and the murderers of poor Todd and Sullivan, either dead or alive. I hold my commission under her Majesty Queen Victoria, and not under a Maori King ; and I am willing to forfeit that commission if I do not fulfil my duty. I am, kc., William Lech er, Lieut. N.Z. Militia.-April 28, 1872. If “ William Lcchncr, Lieut. N.Z. Militia,” is not fairly demented, he must perceive, on reflection, that the penning and publication of such a letter is so glaring a breach of discipline, as to cause him to forfeit his commission; unless, indeed, the “ farce of governing New Zealand in Her Majesty’s name ” be followed by the sublime tragedy of governing it in William 1 echner’s name. WhenScanderberg KH, the Turks made amulets of his bones, in the hope that they would inherit a spark of bis courage; is it fated that William Lcchncv’s bones arc to be turned into whistles to be piped on by Maori braves ? Seriously, the Government should mark its disapproval of such conduct on the part of anyone holding a commission in the militia of the Col my.— N. Z. Herald.