To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 39, 5 July 1845, Page 3

To the Editor of the New Zealand Spectator.

Sir, — The Militia company on the Hutt has seeu,with great surprise and indignation, a letter in your paper of Saturday last, signed " A Hutt Settler," casting reflections on the officers on duty with it. We beg leave to trespass on your columns, in order to contradict, in the most unqualified terms, the assertion, that the men have " no confidence" in their officers. This we do not only in our own names, but in those of our comrades, who are unanimous in requesting us to make the contradiction as public as the mis-state-ment. We will not add further than that it is our opinion no person would have been guilty of publishing such an erroneous statement, to call it by the mildest term, unless he were actuated by disappointment at not filling some of the present commissions ; aud we fetel assured that, with very few exceptions, among the inha- , bitants of this district, the command of the Militia would not have been placed by general suffrage in other hands; so far does public opinion in this quarter coincide with the Superintendent's appointments. In addition to which, he casts upon the men composing the company, a reflection, by insinuating that the district of the Hutt is now only protected by Captain Rush's man. Although we do not pretend to compete with them as regards discipline, or wish in the slightest degree to depreciate their merits, we do flatter ourselves, that should the time arrive when our services may be required, we should not disgrace the name of soldiers or Englishmen. The officers, whose permission we have" not asked, and without whose knowledge. we have-acted, will, we trust, excuse our bringing them before the publfe a second time ; and, in conclusion, we would advise " A Hutt Settler" to be better informed in future before he commits his name to print. We are, Sir, your obedient servants, (In name of all the Company) Hugh Grainger, Alex. Adam. Richmond Barracks, July 18451