WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 237, 10 March 1865, Page 2

WANGANUI.

HAEDSHIPS OF THE MILITIA, Maxwell’s Camp, March 1,1865. See, —With your kind permission we would seek to make known through the columns of your newspaper the particulars of an affair which happened here a few days ago—on Saturday last. We, in company with some others belonging to the first-class militia then stationed at Stewart’s redoubt, were ordered to proceed to Maxwell’s farm, in order, we suppose, to act in concert with the cavalry volunteers at that place, and only taking with us sufficient food to supply us our dinners, thinking very naturally that ample provision had been made for us at that place beforehand. But, to our astonishment, we found, on reaching our destination, after a most fatiguing march, that no provision had been made for us whatever; however, wishing to be patient and obedient, we were contented, rather than grumble, to retire to bed on Saturday evening minus our supper, but of course indulging the hope that a plentiful supply would be forwarded to us the day following ; but, sir, again the careful agents of Government disappointed us. Sunday passed, and nothing came to our relief, and some of us were so affected with the hunger that we had to throw ourselves upon the sympathy of the cavalry volunteers, who, to their credit be it spoken, were very liberal in their assistance. While some of us, choosing to act independently, suffered the extreme pangs of hunger. Monday came and still no relief, and as the day wore on we found it impossible to hold out longer, and quitted our station en route for town. Our steps were, of course, bent homewards, where we meant to satisfy the cravings of hunger, and then report ourselves at the august militia office. Meantime, Major Eookes was informed of our arrival in town, and, with a liberality for which we had to pay, offered two pounds reward for our apprehension. Mr Coakley, policeman and militia office scudgey, was the happy man to gain the reward. He came to our home while we were at dinner (but luckily we were about finished), and informed us that Major Durie wanted us, upon which, without resistance or grumbling, we repaired to the court-house, expecting to see the Major, but upon our arrival there we were handed over to the tender mercies of Corporal Atkinson, who, instead of taking us before the Major, ordered us off to the guardroom, where we remained all night. Next day, however, we were taken before Major Hookes, and had a fair bearing of our case. The Major, however, took a very liberal view of the matter, he being clearly of opinion that the destitute character of our position was a full justification of our desertion, and wound up our trial by telling us that the only punishment he would inflict would be to require us to pay our policeman friend, Mr Coakley, the sum of twenty shillings as a reward for his promptitude in catching us. Now, sir, we wish to ask you and an intelligent public whether it is the duty of militia men—men who have been accustomed to all the sweet amenities and comforts of social life—to remain at a military outpost and be starved to death ; we doubt not but that you will answer in the negative. We can understand the duty of maintaining our post in front of an enemy, and the condign punishment which any one deserting his post then would merit, but we could never see it our duty to remain where no immediate danger is expected, and be unsupplied with the common necessaries of life, and, sir, while the .authoritieshere are so rigorous in exacting military service, should they not be equally attentive in supplying the wants of those men who are forced to make so many sacrifices for the defence of the country ? In conclusion, we would thank you for your indulgence, and remain yours, with thanks, Militiamen. The Cavalet Yoltjkteees.—A party (41) off this valuable corps escorted the detachment of the 63th regiment on Sunday from Camp Alexander to the Waitotara, where the cavalry remained all night and returned on Monday. We hear of complaints as to the position in which the Government places men belonging to this corps when they are off duty from sickness. In this case their pay and allowances are stopped. Many of them have given up their regular employment in order to attend to their cavalry duties, so that when they are sick they have nothing to look to and nothing to support them. Surely it would be but fair that their pay and forage should be continued during sickness which has been brought on—as in all cases it is—by the arduous nature of,their duties.

The Wanganui Peisonees.—The prisoners recently taken and brought in by the friendly natives, it seems, are at large—in fact they did not give themselves up as such, but,'-as we have reported, retained the privilege of going to any other part of the island to fight; and it seems that their surrender was accepted by the friendlies on those conditions!! There is some confusion in the reports we have of this affair, and also of the resignation of Mr White. We take the following from the Independent of March 4“ Two gentlemen—Mr Charles Cameron and Mr Alexander Simpson, of Turakina—arrived from the West Coast on Thursday night, having left Wanganui on Tuesday evening, ©n that day a report had been received from up the river to the effect that the native prisoners captured in the recent engagement had all either escaped or been set free. Our informants were unable to furnish any details, but from their statement it appears that an embroglio had arisen, caused it is supposed by the interference of Mr Churton with Mr White, the native magistrate, as the result of which the prisoners are at large. The affair had caused a great sensation in Wanganui. We are of course unaware who was to blame, and simply repeat the statements which have been made to us, but we shall doubtless be in possession of full particulars by next mail. The Gundagai arrived at Wanganui from the Patea on Tuesday evening. There was then no further war news, in fact no news at all except that Sir George Grey had called there.” We know that it was rumored that Mr White had already resigned previous to the late skirmish,

and that fas a J.P.) we presume he had taken umbrage at the action of the Wanganui bench in supplying the natives with ammunition (if this was not, as we suspect, the cause of his resignation). It is much to be lamented that our own people cannot avoid these unseemly disagreements. —Ed. H.B.T. A party of natives arrived late last evening from the up river, and one of the old men who had come direct from the fight told me that Topine te Mamaku, Ropata te Korohiti, and one or two other important chiefs, sent a message to Hori Kingi and the Government natives, suing for terms of peace. They are now, since last Friday, anxious to houhou te rongo (make peace). Hori Kingi and the Government natives have gone up to Pipiriki to hear what they have to say. Gold at the Patea.—We have just received a letter from our correspondent at the Front. Among other things he mentions that a quartz nugget had been found on the beach near the mouth of the river, very full of gold. This he vouches for, and is a fact of some importance.