A STRANGE STORY.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 179, 12 June 1869, Page 4

A STRANGE STORY.

The following is extracted from Colonel McDonnell’s recent pamphlet upon the Native Rebellion, wherein he seeks to justify himself for the steps he took prior to leaving the Colonial Service. That such a statement should be made without contradiction, is a singular circumstance even in New Zealand. Perhaps some member will be found in the Assembly bold and patriotic enough to ask for some explanation.

Speaking of the period when Titokowaru was first heard of, and the more terrible disasters commenced, it would seem that Colonel McDonnell felt that he must fight the rebels whether or not. These were becoming more numerous and troublesome. “ I immediately,” he says, “ went down to Wellington to represent this state of affairs to the Government, and to ask for reinforcements, On the day I arrived in Wellington I had an interview with the Hon. Messrs. Stafford, Haultain and Hall. I told them how it had come about, and begged Mr. Stafford to reinforce me to enable me to proceed against the murderers. Mr. Stafford said, in rather an unpleasant manner, ‘I won’t give you a man; you must abandon all your posts in advance of the Patea redoubt, and

concentrate your force there. 1 I was astonished, and pointed out to him that such a step would be virtually to abandon the whole of the Patea district to the enemy; that the settlers would at once be obliged to leave their homes, farms, horses, cattle, and sheep, and in fact that they would be ruined. Further, that all the natives in the district now friendly, would have no alternative but to join the enemy, whose ranks would thus be swelled! that the ruin of the district between Patea and Wanganui would necessarily follow, and the disaffection spread to other districts. Mx\ Stafford said, ‘ The sooner the better: I don’t care, the Assembly would not vote the money.’ I became indignant, and told him that, rather than abandon the outposts, I would throw up my commission and return to the Patea district as a settler, ; that I would then, in conjunction with my fellow settlers, take the law into our own hands, and we could hold our own. It was arranged that I should call the following day. I did so, and saw Colonel JTaultain, who told me I could increase my force to four hundred men, and enlist them for three months. X declined to have anything to do with this arrangement, and said I should require at least four hundred men in addition to the force then in the district, and that it was no use enlisting men for three months as I could not guarantee that the natives would be subdued in three or twelve months. Colonel Haul tain pressed the point, and said that I was ‘ placing the Government in a fix.’ they had no money, and that if I would only try my best for three months, they would increase the force if necessary, and extend the time of enlistment. Finding that I could get no better terms, I agreed to this arrangement, but insisted on having the sole control, and not to be interfered with and kept under the control of Mr. Booth, as I hitherto had been. Colonel Haultaiu promised m ecarteblanche, which promise, as usual, was not carried out.”