SPIKING THE GUNS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2236, 2 June 1881, Page 3

SPIKING THE GUNS.

Official correspondence is usually too dry to reward one for reading it, but even in the formal applications from various public departments to the Treasury for the " covering sanction " of their Lordships to unexpected expenditure—which are just published in the appropriation account for 1879-80—some matters occur that are of general interest. In all the speoial correspondence in the newspapers at the time of Sir Garnet Wolseley's operations against the Zulus, no mention was made of a singular incident which is told in a letter from the gallant general himself. He was marohing baok from Seooooeni's town to Pretoria with a small escort, in charge of the chief and his family as prisoners, when he met in a wild part of the country three waggons loaded with gin and other spirits, intended for sale among the troops in front. Peeling that this liquor would completely demoralise the men, whose high rates of pay as volunteers would enable them to indulge freely in drink at whatever price, and as he could neither spare men to conduct the waggons back to Pretoria, nor take them with him, he ordered the liquor to be destroyed. On returning to Pretoria, Sir Garnet oonsnlted with the AttorneyGeneral, who informed him that he had made himself liable for the value of the liquor, destroyed. The owner olaimed £1074 9s, and the prices in his bill are curious. He valued his gin, French brandy, and whisky at 15s per bottle, rum at 14s, old torn at 12s, and Cape brandy at 45s per gallon. Sir Garnet Wolseley compromised the matter for £4OO, and reported what he had done to the Secretary for War. Colonel Stanley accepted the liability, and entered the item among the miscellaneous charges arising out ot the Seoocoeni war. Thus the contents of 1083 bottles and 120 gallons of spirits were poured out on the ground, and probably a great disaster and disgrace, suoh as might have befallen a body of intoxicated soldiers, was obviated.—'" Eoho."