THE OLD SETTLERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4472, 20 July 1875, Page 2

THE OLD SETTLERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Silt, —Much has been said about the letter that I wrote explaining why the old settlers made their claim tor compensation. Mr. George Kohertson tries to make out that I was not In the fight at the Hutt. I must tell Mr. Eobertaon that I was not only in the Hutt, hut X was in Wellington, which many of the old settlers that ’are there will know. When a man was sent out one night to ring a bell about 12 o'clock, calling out every one. and telling them that the Maoris were coming in the morning, I got out of bed and wont to the Thistle Inn. where I had my musket served out to me, and we were employed getting ready for the morning, some cleaning their muskets, some making balls. But this turned out to be nothing after all. But that was the time when the Maori was found dead on To Aro Flat, just under Mount Cook Barracks. The Maoris said that the white men had killed him. They took old Mr. Morrison prisoner, for they said he had killed the Maori Then the Government took Mr. Morrison and put him in prison for safety, until the Maoris were satisfied by the doctor telling them that he had died from natural causes. Shortly after this I went to the Hutt to lire again, when I rented a piece of land from Henry Jackson, which he rented from Mr. St. Hill, at the Waiwetu. and there I lived for seven years without a road to take my things to market., But when the Maoris got so troublesome, wo thought it time to see about some place of safety tor the women and children. X was the first to speak about it, when Mr. Compton said he had been in America and had seen stockades bnilt, so ho drew a plan for it. and we at once volunteered to build it. By this time the Maoris had got very troublesome, and I removed ray family to the Hutt bridge, where we lived with Mrs. Tucker. There the old house stands now, at the western end of the Hutt bridge.

Sir. X am obliged to mention these items to convince Mr Kobertson that I was there at the fight. At ell X recollect the morning that old Mr. Kush was killed. The same night all the women and children were ordered into the stockade. My wife had been confined about a fortnight: she had to go with the rest. Old Mr. Kush was killed within two hundred yards from where I lived. I think that was near enough, " here was Mr. Kobertson when Sir George Grev arrived. 1 was at the Hutt when J. Cole and IV. Corbett n ere driven from their ground; and the Maoris took their guns and clothes, and they had to cross the rivers without any of their clothes, when sir c.eorge Urej cheered them up and said he would get their guns and clothes for them. Does Mr. rcco kct when Mr, T. Burt was driving the old bull Mulberry, for Mr. James Watt? He had tonto thimp with rations for the soldiers, and he was coming back with three wounded men. As they were coming down the back line they looked behind them and saw some natives coming, nakedflomislungthcir tomahawks. The wounded soldiers crept out of the cart unknown to Mr. Burt, and got into the bush-hut they turned out to be the friendly natn e». I beliei e the poor soldiers died after all. All this ‘s very painful for me to recollect. lam not like Mr. W akcheld. He can go to the Government library and get what he wants. But all this I am obbged to gather from memory. But when a man puts me down for not sneaking the truth, I will let him see that I am not a falsehood teller: and this is the reason that I have taken so much trouble to let Mr. Kobertson know tliat l was in the fight, which I think he will sec. But it Mr. E. was at the meeting of old settlers on the 1* th of June and heard me speak, and knew that I was not speaking the truth, that was the place lor him to have spoken, when the settlers were all there, to know who was right or who was wrong—not to be writing in the newspaper. If Mr. R. has not had lus compensation for the Maori fight, I can tell him that I got some. I think Mr. R. must have been away at the time we had our compensation, his name seems familiar, but I have lost sight of him. Ido not think for a moment that Mr. R. is speaking an untruth, but he must have forgotten. Mr. R. must see that X was there. I was not one of the militia that received daily pay. I was one of the volunteers. I did not go over-the lulls to Porirua; but I was one of those that looked after the home. Perhaps Mr. R. has forgotten that we had to go in companies to put our crops in that year, taking our muskets with us, some keeping sentry while the others worked ; and as Mr. E. wishes the Government to be just before they are generous, I say it too. The compensation was given to us, and before they gave any land away they should have given us ours. It was given to ns before any volunteer scrip was riven to them, and I believe the Government ''nil see it, and will not run from their word, although many try to shut us out. The law was passed that we should be compensated, and I do not think the law has been repealed.—l am, &c., C. Cuxdy, Peatherston, July 4.