THE NAVAL BRIGADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 214, 8 September 1881, Page 2

THE NAVAL BRIGADE.

To the Editor of -AS "EvßnthuJ Mail." Sib—ln last night's issue of your paper there appeared a letter signed 'Citizen," thd writer- of! which frotn the tenor of the letter appears tb Be ah ally of the "gallant" but unpopular captain of the above corps. He refers to the proceedings on Tuesday night as being disgraceful* Well, I differ from bim ih that resjbect. If alii hear is true the members of the Brigade were, in my opinion,' perfectly justified in what they did. Tbey bad strong reasons for asking Captain Drake to resign, which I bave no doubt some member of the Corps will make public in due time. "Citizen" iinpiies that the Naval Brigade is composed in the greater part of larrikins. I can only s_y in answer to this that if such is the case this element preponderates throughout the Volunteer force. I- have closely watched the movements of fhe Blue Jackets ever since the difference arose between them and their captain, and in deference to them I must state that throughout they have conducted themselves with gentlemanly demeanor, wbich is more than I can say for Captain Drake. Occa siohally, perhaps, some few of them may have forgotten themselves in the excitement of the moment and gone a little too far, but there are always a few black sheep to be found in a crowd. " Citizen " says tbat tbe Naval Brigade was once the " crack " corps in the colony in its own particular branch. He is perfectly right. But whose fault is it tbat such is not the case now? None otber but Captain Drake's. I observe from a paragraph in your paper that Major Pitt reported to the Government that he had no reason to doubt that Captain Drake was ac well qualified to fill the position as the captains of Naval Brigades in other parts of the colony. If such is the case I can only remark tbat they must be a sorry lot. With you, Mr "Editor, I perfectly agree that there, should bs a Court of Enquiry held, and the whole matter sifted to the bottom.—l am, &c, AN OLD VOLUNTEER.