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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 714, 2 September 1869, Page 3

Typhus Fever among tub Waikato Natives. —The llarapipi correspondent ol the New Zealand Herald says that there i> a report about that the king natives have some very malignant disease amongst ihem, and that they are dying off vei\ f>:st. 1 have not heard what it is, but most likely it is typhus fever, and from the that they live and their dirty habits it isurprising that they are ever free from it

Death or a Fi<:ma.i,e Veteran. —Singtt la.r CvREEit. —There died in May last, in Fontenoy-street, Liverpool, a remarkable woman, whose history deserves more thai an ordinary obituary notice. Her name was Kllen Duggan, widow of the late VVilliatn Duggan, who, a few years ago, wa proprietor of an omnibus running between the Exchange and Old Swan, and he frequently drove his own vehicle. Hundreds must rememember the fine athletic figure of Mr Duggan on the box of his 'bus, generally with a large bouquet of flowers in his breast, and his handsome and valuable mounted whip. The deceased widow was seventy-four years of aye, end saw many of the ups and downs of the world. She was a native of a southern county of Ireland, and in early life married Thames Shannon, a color-sergeant in the 95th Regiment, and with her husband and that regiment she was present at the memorable actions ol Badajoz, Salamanca, Ciudad Hoderigo, and several other smaller affairs on the Continent of Europe, finally finishing her military life at Waterloo, after which she returned with her husband, who got a miserable pension. She resided for some time in Dublin, and finally came to reside in Liverpool, when she married Mr Duggan, and since his death she resided with her widowed daughter, Mrs Fox, in Foil-tenoy-street, where she closed her eventful life. She was a fine intelligent person, and used to give graphic accounts of the adventures she had gone through by flood and field. She was never wounded, bu was once taken prisoner along with another soldier's wife, but they were not detained long, when they were restored to their own regiment. A Waterloo companion of hers, a Mrs Underwood, who died at the north end of the town within the last twelve months, and who expressed a wish to be buried with military honors was a steady and fast friend of hers, aim both frequently entertained their acquaintance with narratives of what they had seen and gone through. Mrs Duggan was a mild, steady, inoffensive woman, of good address and manners, and whilst Mrs Underwood lived, both kept the 18th ot June a strict festival in honor of Waterloo, and generally entertained some friends—for she maintained that whilst the great Duke and others held their annual banquets on that day, she was equally entitled to hold holiday and meet her friends, making merry with them. Very lew of the men who were engaged at VVaterloo now remiin to tell the tale, and it is certain that Mrs Duggan was among the last oi her sex who witnessed that terrible and sanguinary struggle on the deadly plains q£ Waterloo,

THE ESTIMATES FOR DEFENCE. In the of Representatives on Tuesday, 24th August, the following discussion took place in Committee of Supply on the Defence Estimates of the Colony:— I

I The Defence Ministee said the military defence of the country had received great attention from the Government. Both sides of the TTouso had affirmed the necessity of having one disciplined regiment in the colony; and in whatever way they might be employed, British troops were absolutely necessary for the present defence of the colony. In looking over the expenditure on British regiments stationed in different parts of the world, ho found that they were not nearly so costly as was supposed. The most expensive station was at Ceylon, where the cost amounted to £77 per man, but the troops there included two batteries of artillery. They might fairly estimate that if a British regiment were sent to the colony, it would not cost more than £IO,OOO a year. A great would deal would depend upon the positions in which the troops might be posted, as if they could be stationed on the frontiers, many men now employed in garrison duty would he made available for other purposes. With reference to the force to be raised by the Commissioners, the Government intended that its cost should come within the current revenue. It was not likely that the force could be raised within tlie present financial year. But the force for which lie hoped the Mouse would make permanent provision was the constabulary, since circumstances might cause the removal of the English regiment. A force organised upon the principle of the Irish Constabulary came nearest the requirements of colony. That principle was that the force was to bo a nreventive ns much as a repressive one. This was what was wanted in the country A few well-trained and efficient men were much more useful than three times the number of men who were not sufficiently intelligent to aid in preventing crime. The force would bo employed in assisting the civil power to enforce the law quite as much as in its military capacity. It would bo a matter of no small importance that the Government by means of this force would be able to obtain authentic infor mation of what was going on in the country, and to repress crime in the bud. The force would be interested in preserving peace and not in prolonging the war. they wanted men who would take an interest in their work, but such an interest could only be excited by paying the men sufficiently well. The Government proposed to retain the services of those men who had proved their efficiency by raising them to a higher class and increasing their nay. The force would, therefore be organised on the principle of the Irish Constabulary, and would receive a higher rate of pay than was now given. Eventually, the circumstances of the country might allow of a reduction of the force to 500 men ; and this should be looked upon as the standard to bo attained. The Go vernment would not act hastily. Eor the p'osent the forces would bo maintained in much the same position as they occupied, hut only the best men would be put on the permanent staff. A training dep n would he established, and the constabulary gradually trained. In fulfilment of their pledge of reducing the military expenditure of the country, tlie Government had reduced the force by one-third and the expenditure by more than that proportion and this without imperilling the safety of country. Promotion would be gained by merit. The country was notable to afford to maintain a mere military force ; and the Government would not allow the force to bo idle, but would set it to constructing roads and other works necessary lor the military defence ot the country. There must bo some equivalent for the high price jai l by the colony for the services of the men. The force now numbered about 2,000, some 1,000 having been struck off pay. Some of the latter had been employed in expeditionary forces; which involved very great expense without aivy probability of their leading to any praetic d result. While effecting these reductions, the Government had also been re-organising the force, and nutting the colony in a proper state of defence. Some natives would be employed to act as guides, &c.; and in case of the assistance of larger bodies of natives being required, they would be engaged under specific agreement. Mr .VP Lean proceeded to explain tiro present distribution of the colonial lorces. He had great faith in the employment of small and well-disciplined forces. A very small body of men , under Majors Fraser and Biggs, had effected great results on the East Coast. The Government had paid much attention to the subject of firearms, and would see that the most efficient weapon was supplied to the f wees. The Militia and Volunteers might be made most effective, but they required delicate handling, t he country settlers were prepared to assist if they were treated properly and good officers were placed over them. They mustbe encouraged to take an interest in their military duties; and above all be taught the use of firearms. The future of the colony depended so much upon the efficiency of the Militia that in ail schools re eeiviug public aid the pupils ought to undergo military training. Cadet corps should be encouraged. The militia could only bo efficiently trained in the large centres of population, and there the train mg should commence. The Government were aiming at the standard which they had set Up with regard to military expenditure ; but he did not wish to mislead the House into supposing that £150,000 would bo sufficient to last until the or-

dinary time of the Assembly meeting; and would therefore suggest that either the Assembly should be called together at an earlier dato than usual, or a contingent vote of £50,000 might he passed. If neither of these courses were thought advisable, the G-overnment would accept the vote of £150,000. [Cheers.] Mr Teavers said every member of the Committee must have heard with great satisfaction the speech which had just been, delivered. If it were possible to limit tha clefenee force to b'oo men, the House and country would have to thank the Governwent for a very great boon, but he feared that boon was very far off. They were not justified in assuming that the colonywould receive the aid of her Majesty's Government at a much less sum than they cost to the Home G-overnment; and might calculate upon having to pay some £BO per man. In his views of the self-reliance policy he had never contemplated that every regiment would be withdrawn from the colony. It was necessary to have a well-organised defence force, not only for the protection of the settlers, but also of our native allies. If the country were free from danger, the course proposed by the Government would be a very wise one; but the country was not in a position to be experimented upon, and the Government, while organising the constabulary, ran the risk of an attack from the highly organised forces at the command of the enemy. The peace of the country was under the control of the King; and if the existing forces were disbanded he might take the opportunity of making an attack. Moreover, Te E.ooti and Titokowaru were still at large ; this was not the season for fighting, and at any moment the colony might be plunged into war. It would therefore be a rash experiment to reduce the force to 600 men, however highly trained they might be, so long as the peace of the country was threatened, and a war with the natives as a race was much more imminent than it had ever been before. The demand of Tawhiao for the surrender of the natives seized with ammunition in their possession was a very significant fact, [t would take several years before the Government could dispense with the larger body of men. During the next lew years the defence of the colon v would cost from £300,000 to £IOO,OOO a "year. The nbam and playing at soldiering now going on in the shape of volunteering was costing some £17,000 a year. If the militia was to be rendered efficient, it must be conducted on, an entirely different system to that which prevailed. The whole of the defence proposals of the Government were likely to be a failure if they were to be based upon economy.

Mr Ludlam pointed out the lack of system which had been exhibited in dealingwith the natives. It was this which had rendered militia service so unpopular. The whole of the North Island militia, should be thoroughly organised. The mi« iitia laws ought to be amended.

The item—General Charges, Pefenco Office, £1215 10s, was then passed. Tho following were also agreed to —Store Department, £2487; Miscellaneous, £6750. Provincial Charges—Auckland, 2,169; Ta« ran-jki, £679 15s; Wellington, £3305 13a 4.1; Nelson, £1833; Canterbury, £1223 Lis; Otago, £2239 5s ; Southland, £lO3 5s 9d; West land, £LO79. Armed Constabulary, £118,000; Contingent Defence, £32,000. The resolutions were then raporfced to die House.