Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 151, 29 December 1866, Page 2

A Liberal Government. — The Taranaki Herald of the 15th instant, has the following account of the treatment of a volunteer by the Government : — V In September last, Sergeant Rushton, who had served in the Bushrangers here, and afterwards in another corps at Patea, volunteered to go on one of Major M'DonueH's expeditions— the offer was accepted, for men were scarce, and he was supplied with a rifle— unfortunately he got too near the enemy, and a bullet smashed the stock of his rifle. When the work had been done, and the force returned to camp, a board of officers proceeded to inquire as to the destruction of the rifle ; and considering all the circumstances, among them, that Sergeant Rushton had risked Ins life without pay, recommended that the Government should bear tne loss. But the Defence Office did not see it in that light — ' the Government did not .recognise volunteers,' and Rushton must pay for the rifle ! This case we should mention, is not a solitary one. Certainly, Colonel Haultain is a thrifty man ; he must save the Government several sjxpenses in xhe course of a year ; but Mr Stafford and his colleagues should consider whether, in (doing so, they may i not possibly lose for/them what a great Lmany sixpences wouftt not buy," \ £