TROOPER DAVITT'S EXPLANATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 519, 16 September 1902, Page 3

TROOPER DAVITT'S EXPLANATION.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir, —A few nights ago I read in a local paper a paragraph from the Wairnate Witness, stating that there was a connection between tho Newcastlo affray and tho transport scandal, It was Haid by too Wairnate Witness that the New Zealand troopers (Bth, 9th and 10th) were rushed away homo on account of their misbehaviour in Newcastle. This was not the case. There certainly was a drunken brawl in which about 80 out of 8000 New Zealanders were involved, but no damage was done, and the matter passed over

quietly. Tho real cause of tho colonials being put across the river at Durban was on account of a fracas caused by the Australians and Canadians combined. One of the Canadians first insulted a girl in tho street in Durban, and the sergeant of pulioe ordered two black constables to arrest the man. They had him down when one of the Canadians fired at the black policeman. Eventually the first man was taken prisoner and taken to the lockup. The Canadians and Australians followed on behind, went into the gaol,

broke the windows, fired on the constables, and threatened to wreck the establishment if the man was not released at once. Tho Superintendent of Police promised lie would let the man go if the troopers went out in the street and fell in four deep. They did so, and when they were all there about sixty of the police drew out the fire hose and turned the water on tho lot of them. They ran away, and tho man was then rolcnsed in charge of a Jioutermnt and sent to his camp, and no churgo was made against him. After tho Canadians and Australians had decamped from tho gaol, a little further on they assaulted another constable and pitched him bodily from the footpath into tho street, and wrecked and robbed an old curiosity shop kept by an Englishman. For all of this tho whole regiment was fined £IOOO.

The Now Zoaland troopers were put across tho river, not on account of tho Nowcastlc affair, but on account of tho troublo caused in Durban by tho Canadians. Thoy woro sent homo, not for bad behaviour, but on account of tho expense they were to tho Government, as there was no uso for them over there, and far from being hurried and bundled into tho troopship, tho men wore sont away quietly and all was in ordor, and I challenge the Waimato Witness to say otherwise. For proof I havo tho Imperial Commandant at Durban, tho Embarkation Officer, and Mujor Eckford. I write this lottor for tho sako of the memory of the lads who havo diod, about twenty in all, and for tboir parents who aro living in Now Zealand. Tho boys woro amongst us then, and for their memory and the feolings of the relatives I think it only justice that the papers of New Zealand should right this matter. In regard to tho troopship troublo, wo who camo over in tho Montroso woro well treatod, and could not havo had a better set of officers, aud I believe tho cause of tho sickness on tho Montroso and other boats to bo mostly tho fault of tho men themselves, a number of whom slopt on dock with a blankot over them instoad of goiog below, thus catching bad colds, plourisy and pneumonia.—I am, &c., Alfiikd Davitt, 8942 N.R.M. Rifles.