CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 128, 29 May 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

*** 'We are desirous of affording every reasonable lacility tor the discussion of public subjects; but it must be understood that we are in no way responsible for the opinions expressed by correspondents. To THE EdITOK OF THB NELSON EVENING MAIL. Sib, — " Fairplay," in his remarks on "An Elector's " letter in Monday's issue of the Mail, is not quite happy in his allusion to mercantile firms. Such firms do at times reduce the salaries of their clerks oo a percentage system. No honest mercantile firm will attempt to carry on a failing business without a curtailment of expenses. And «« Fairplay "is still more abroad in his allusion to " some poor clerk " on the West Coast with his £250 a year, while the flaming advertisement of the furniture sale of one of these "poor clerks " is staring him in the face. I am, &c, An Electob. For remainder of news see four th page.

The W__iKAm— The news from Cam-: bridge is significant. Mr Mackay has : had ati interview with the Ngatiraukawa at Te Whetu, and that tribe has promised to, remain neutral in the event 'of war. As they hold a commanding position on both sides of the Waikato, north of Lake Taupo, this is an important point gained. One section of the tribe openly joined the Government about three years ago. They live on the eastern, bank of the river. Their relatives on tbeir western bank were avowed Kingites, but they j have lately begun to Blacken in their loyalty to the King, and have shown a disposition to lease their lands. This has given great uneasiness to Tawhiao, and is supposed to be a main reason for his attempting to precipitate a struggle, and so unite his adherents round the Maori flag. Mr Mackay's mission will have 'knocked away this prop from the throne of his Maori majesty. Cambridge is rapidly' assuming the appearance of a garrison town. The Armed Constabulary and friendly natives are - being : massed there; and the settlers are either moving in from their farms, or concentrating in a few houees for defence purposes. Numbers of settlers are joining the cavalry corps, in anticipation of the militia and volunteers being called out. In short, the ordinary pursuits of the settlers are in great part abandoned, and the district is suffering very nearly as much as if actual hostilities were proceeding Such a state of things cannot long continue, neither should the cause which led to it be again rendered possible. — Post Colonel Hakbington has been giving; the Auckland Rifle Brigade and Cadets a piece of his mind. When inspecting, them the other day he is reported by the Herald to have said :— ■" He noticed a , great falling off in the attendance of the Brigade. He > could tell at once those men who hardly ever came up to parade. ,- They would never do themselves or the Brigade credit. It was quite evident they did not attend to their drill. In Major .Gordon they had one of the best drill officers of the colony, and therefore had an adyautage oyer all the other Brigades. They ought to try to make themselves efficient, and ought to do their utmost to make the Brigade the very best, for they had the material to do it with. They were, very unsteady in their movements. It looked very absurd to see men in the ranks hitching up their belts, and others scratching their faces. It was entirely in their own hands to make themselves steady and efficient. They ought to , . attend their weekly drills regularly. He did not want to see the Brigade made into a shooting club, but wanted to see it •well up in drill. He thought prizes should be given for the best drilled company and the best drilled man. He then impressed upon the Cadets the necessity for them to attend drill, and when they were in the ranks to stand steady, keep silence, and obey orders. The Colonel continued, by saying tjiat the boys went through their drill better than the men. The Grammar School Cadets were undoubtedly better than the Brigade, who ought to be ashamed of themselves." The Herald is very indignant at these remarks, and protests against them as "unnecessarily severe and exceedingly impolitic."