WHAT THE PRVINCIAL SYSTEM MAY LEAD TO.

Southland Times, Issue 668, 10 May 1867, Page 2

WHAT THE PRVINCIAL SYSTEM MAY LEAD TO.

; ••••- «-■-'■ ■ . f i/t * . , v - Jtfu&g eontingere cu/ieta lepore. ;t -' f A's j soon as the intelligence became Jknown in°dtag6 l ' that*' her troops "'were "in"- the" engagement at r the^ Mataura, a frenzy *of excitement appeared to animate the inhabitants Tof that. Pro-,, vince.! Trppps were lpiie^< en masse fthe\ banks] were ■- compelled to contribute •. an: enormous' amount as a qu&ato the war" expense, .rand $s ■ showing; the r: want of principle of the" Otago politicians," "the" following laconic but significant was Bent to the principal" engravers, Messrs j "Ferguson -&' Mitchell, :6£ Duneain':— ' - ' .;<"-. l''V-r- ' "The Government . mpst .have .money.:' They have :no &jids to carry on T the,war with Southland. -They -must follow the~ example of America, arid issue paper. Let in greenbacks be struck off within 2# hours, or youf heads will answe|f;fblrlt;' i:i -' : ' : ' r i- ' r ;;: -- !v: ' v ':; ■■■-•■ 5; "^ : "(Signed) —Yogel, " Financial- Minister:-" ; ' T '. Numerous meetings -were held at the Provincial ; TBuildings, and nothing but defiance was" breatbed'iagainst Soathlan37 A priiicipal feature, in the organization of the Otago army was the equipment of the Highland Brigade. This contingent wasa crack one ; bankers, solicitors, and the leading citizens of DmieoUn eagerly enrolled; themselves .in -it. The most gorgeous description of garment was pro-r vided, land each appeareji in fijll Highh^nid costunie. The whole force, consisting of all arms, was despatched in hot haste to the Moleyneuz. -At? a 'meeting 6f r th T c Executive at Dunedia it was finally der cided, after the last despatch was read from Southland/that the efforts of macy ijrere unavailing, and that "it would not be | dignified for His £ Honor to indite any mbre despatches personally, but that;: the Mmister of Finance, Yogel, should send -aj circular despatch" to the Otago diplomatic agents residing at- the different jProvincial Courts. tKroughoutNew Zealanjl, Tfee following i»ak, copy i~ : :

" Proving Biindings^*- -C^p^"^ ■■■-.■ : i=> « Princes-strgißt, / -ff - -- "^Sib,— lt is necessary^that you shoullt^ be made lAcquainted: wath certain vim*^-?-. portant occurrences that have inspired -^ since I last had the honor; of ac^rßssing^.-, s "The Government opOtago addressed^ a friendly communication (note dvgldmaf ? tique) to His Honor the Superintendent^ .. of Southland. The important interests _ involved in the dispute, b^ween the/ : Otago and General Governments" were ; '" set- forth without reserve. ,-..,-. .■.-.-. " Tne Government of Pringes-streiet had eveiy-xeason to-believfr that a cordial — reciprocity of; sentiment ■ i, would animajted the Cabinet o£. l)ee r street. „ 4* Unfortunately the feelings of jealousy "e^yrtained':by;. iSouthland to Otagoi be-; -.n jjpme manifest in the despatch received in answer to the .f^^^iftipf l^ 0 !?;!;?^,^ Honor. „.."„ Most serious events, "have ,..f olio wed r*\ since then* in quick succession: v' '- •■ : '~ L " !. " Not only has thp .province, nf. South-f ;^; "land- committed an act Jaf_ war -upon, a--^ fnendly State, . but the ..complications . arising from her .hostility has intensified r the difficulty that ' this Groternment had reason tb'belreve would be soon adjusted -between itself and th^uprem© "G-overa.---mentJ t A . TT^I A. K A I 1 „ "Tl^e Grovernment of, Southland has, in addition to ■ violating .thg eitfenfe cordiqfe between the^two Prov^c^s^ maoifested an. . . aggressiVes^'iriii." "She" claims;* fro 1 " 4 1 her boundaries in virtue 6Fah old understanding of .many iyears,"yßift ; lately looked upon as altogether pbsolete. The -ostensible reason set forth,, by Southland in breaking the peace of Me federated states j of New 1 Zealand' is purely ! a personal one. ~ , •.. "She claims that her ; General;; wasv-in-sulted: by the commander of our forces, but. it has since . been ascertained that the cause of quarrel was simply^' "the jeiercise by l l our • troops -of a little Irisli"- : playfulness.: 1 ; . .;• 'y/'-i .;»■: V .:'l ! . \ : iZ "The despatches reeeiyed from .Generalrj a high authority on-^ sub-.-j jebt," distinctly asserts that the^pression'" 1 " hjpo'i thread on the tate^l^DOie coat," is i mode :oE;giyingxr; : vent tb the exuberance of animal spiritSjj >' and should only be understood as mean"m.g the liigh !: estimation : iKat r '-'ifitesiai3L' :^ : ' geiitiemen t;i h'6ld^ the* pfowes^'df^'eWcli^-; other.l " General Weldon has* "not correctly £l^.ted| the cause which led i;o' the engage^ ment.; oj "'.itjais. ■, "On the expfessi&n'^ hbo^l thread, &c,* ibexng I used, he rat .understood its N significance, and in a very short time appeared without anyycbati '^and .of course the natural, ; sequence,;ef!-;]By_ents was :too }apparentin the broken, shillelaghs ; -that ff "were |strewed about the^fieldiyrMCTiS I .^ l^ 1^ i " Tjtie Government of Otago 'Will allow mo interference ~with~iler quarrel with~~ SoutMand, uiitiL'i sheTh|tsOappre ( asledjlhei«; outraged honor. - "Tpu are authorised, Sir7"to communi r ; cate the contents.; L of , this } despatch to the ' minister of the court wiiere you are reside ■ Ms- \ . ....-_.. r . „ . " % - : : ;'jl jhave the'hon6ritoLbe,ySir, *-• jd ■:'■ :■■ I "Your most obedient, serxant, : ' '"T'\ i . "- Tp®^ .■ i ' 1 --" | <' L " Knaricial :i lsi3Emister." J It mighti'iiatiiraEyiberrtexpeeted' that-' <- : South^ndchadheii: version ito icommuni&^ cate tajhe^reprjesentatives.at^e^ States., and consequently aas,p,on as reliable,: :/ reached the Government ? thafrotago addressed' a-cirbular to her agents, .■she-, likewise adopted a slmilar=course- after-the- mosir -approved ;--^= method of diplomacy. ■ PW. following is a copy :=. "- — ■ " ProvincM: Buildings,? J;: r j'J- II ; "Dee-street, May ; 6th, 1867. "v The J existingsituation of' pot- v " Affairs, renders it ngcessary that I should enter into an explanation of the causes that ha.veljed r ,to(:ho3tilities3)etw:eeDL the Otago and Southland troops. " The primary difference bfi^nally lay between the Qtago and, General Govern- - ment.j — '.'The "GoveTSamenT. of ,P¥e^^reet, rEbw-~ ever, subsequently^Teceived a"communication fromrHis^ -Honor of .©jiago,'! Rearing yy upon the question at issue. ,' "":3T6u arecaware that<the pplicyupf this^T Government is. not, opposed, to ; the pro-.- t grlßssive^endericy to alter tne powers of the 'ProviDces as. long as thSscheme is a - general one. ««-T^ e desirabili^r pf consolidation, is iadmitije'di-" This c6urse,2 achieved, either '" by Separation or Centralism, will- effect' 01 economical -changes in-the-administratioir~~ of? public affairs, of so ;impprtaßt'a:pature:T;' that tike ihierests of the colony generallT •with i-b-e materially benefitted' '- i • - : • -' I 0 . " But- there ria ; ar wide- difference; be-f " tw.eenj a comprehensive scKeme for" the advantage of the inHabitanft of the Middl^ Island, an^jbbe -sentiments that animate the Cabinet of Princes-street. Otago I assumed 1 to dictate to the colony, but Southland, as identified ;with[ most important interests, could not _perjnik this course- to^-b'e .adopted. She^eoii-'' iJ; sidered it would lower her dignity as a first-el'aaa State, and affect the balance off power, 5 . ,j : - r o .; i o r;& tk i

" She was compelled to increase her army in self-defence. She could not tolerate- a hostile armed "force on" hjer boundaries, especially when the explanation accompanying the intimation was of so unsatisfactory a nature. "The commander of the Southland troops has distinctly stated that no soldier could composedly submit to the insults offered by Geneial Brannigan. " The allegation that it was simply a playful custom amongst Irishmen to challenge each other to hostilities, whilst revelling in the exuberance of animal spirits by trailing a coat on the ground, is not borne out by the testimony of General "Weldoh. He assumes that it was a mortal offence, and his experience on such a subject has great weight with this Government. " The action of Otago during the r session of the Assembly in Auckland,. in the year 1863, is fresh in the recollection of Southland. During that time the question of the desirability of increasing ,the area of this Province was discussed. It was favorably entertained by the General Government, and it was proposed to extend the boundary of Southland to the Molyneux, and embrace a considerable portion of the West Coast, but the hos-^ tility of the present Otago Finance Minister, Yogel, together with the assistance of other members, effectually precluded^the scheme obtaining the force of law. "The Government of Dee-street therefore cannot conscientiously undertake to relinquish the material advantages, that the fortune of war have placed within herreach. ButSouthlandiswillmgtb arrive at an equitable understanding, and with that view would propose that her claims should be taken into consideration by the General Assembly, and if the provincial system is continued, that she should be confirmed in the territory that the valor of her arms has obtained. ','"' „:'" "You are charged, Sir, to explain these sentiments to the principal minister pf . the state to which you are accredited, and to leave a copy of the same at your earliest convenience.— l ■■•■have, the honor to remain, Sir, your obedient servant; " (Signed), Blaxjexocb:, " Minister of Knance/' All hope of peace for the present being ; at an end, and the rumors of the warlike preparations made in Otago" " reaching Invercargill, the people became ■ ac-J tuatedby the most patriotic sentiments. It was generally understood that Southland would extend her last man and treasure in defence of her rights. The monied interest came forward most nobly, and all appeared resolved to conquer or die ; a vote of thanks of the Council, was tendered to I4eut-General Weldon. : Indeed it was a most stirring sight to see the gallant General, begrimmed with powder and smoke, and still bearing opainfah evidence of the fearful ravages that the destructive shillelagh had caused to his person. However, he looked every inch a veteran, and a tried old soldier.; As soon as the troops were ready, he ordered Sergeant O'Keefe to skirmish in advance; for provender, and a smile of satisfaction "became conspicuous on the faces of the assembled troops, because they all knew his bravery in this respect. A noticeable feature was the formation of a Southland Highland Brigade. As soon as the intelligence of the breaking out of the war. became positively known, Colonel Duncan Macarthur undertook to raise a regiment of Highlanders, and in. a very short space of time, a fine body of men ranged themselves under his command. They wore no fine kilts, but serviceable ones, and expressed a fervent hope that they might be called upon to engage with the Otago highlanders, as the latter, wore a different tartan. Everything being in, readiness, the troops left to-reinforce-the-army at the Molyneux. General Harvey was requested to resign, consequently General "Weldon had all the glory to himself. After many day's travelling, the troops sighted the white tents of the Southland army, and soon afterwards took up their position. The moment the two bodies of Highlanders came in sight, a volley was fired by each, but Colonel Macarthur sternly ordered his men never to fire again without his orders. During the whole of the following day, several little episodes took place upon the field. (3-en. "Weldon approached General Brannigan, and said, brandishing a blackthorn, "Arrah, ye dirty skut, how did ye like the welting ye got, eh !" But General Brannigan was too speechless with rage to answer. He fiercly smashed what Gen. "Weldon called a " dudeen," as expressive of a determination to put his (General "Weldon's) pipe out at the first opportunity. As soon as it was ascertained that the Otago force was in great numbers, rather a despondency for a time was observed. However, the enlivening strains from Lloyd's band soon set matters all right. A council of war was called, and after a long discussion everyone came out with a smile oh his face, but of course strict secrecy was the order of the day. It was surmised, however, that a night attack would be the result. The subsequent operations, perils, wilVbe better described by an eye-

witness. The following Tetter was sent by Lieutenant Matheson (of Dee-street) attached to the HighDand"Brigade," €o his particular friend and partner, Mr Cameron: — "v. .^ , " Highland Brigade Quarters; " Army of the Molyneur, "4th May, 1867. "Dear Cameron — Knowingyouranxiety to learn tb.e result., of the engagement, I hasten to send you a few lines by the aide-de-camp carrying the despatches, Sergeant O'Keefe. • " Precisely at half-past seven o'clock on the evening of the 3rd inst, Colonel M'Arthur sent forme to attend him at his tent. "As soon as I entered I found him laughing . to that extent that he was scarcely able to stand. The very tears, ran dowja his cheeks with : -joy. I~ asked him what. was -the matter, when he unfolded his plan ljofl attack, .suggested by him ...at,, the council ,:of war,; and " generally approved of. It was this ; —it appeared that some of our scouts had brought intelligence tb.at the* enemy's liighlahders, in consequence of the oppressive heat, had agreed to abandon their kilts, and _to Jie all night in the open air, of course intending in the morning to wear them.; But our colonel was too sharp for this. He advised that we should seize the kilts and that the fortune of the day would, without the slightest possible doubt, "Tie ours; he then ordered me to select a number of trustworthy "men, led by himself, .who, would volunteer for this purpose! It was almost considered a folorn hope, but there was no other resource. Accordingly, the men met by" appointment at 20, to twelve o'clock, and in the" midst of darkness, .we all crawled through the long grass, to where the Otago highlanders lay in ambush. It v was agreed that we should seize the bundle of kilts, plainly descernible, and burn them, and that this should be the signal for the army -to make an attack. "We also agreed to adopt the cry of the " Exuka," in order to lull the enemy into security. Consequently when we approached, we all commenced to cry out " Ka-ka," to such an extent .that the enemy's sentry was heard to. tell his comrade that he never yet heard so many birds about of a night. Arrived at the enemy's lines, I felt a kind of sensatioaJihatrl. never before ex- ! iperienced. Before ; us were huge; piles of ; kilts, and_-around-4ay- the- highlandersInterspersed ampng '^these "jfrere latge; Armstrong guns, loaded with grape shot ; the slightest movement on" our part therefore would: have lei to 6ur ; destruction as well as that of the whole- army. . Picture ! to ,' • yourself, my dear Cameron, sitting by your own fireside, enjoying ;the traditional glass of whisky' hot, what pur_sensatiori3 must have been; 'But bur .Colonel was equal:, to , the*, .emergency. ; Silently did lie crawl towards ,an immense number of just before^ him, and silently "did he pour the ignitabie substance we were all provided with on those attractive articles of , apparel. The cries_ of r the "" Ka-Ka " now resounded pnalT sides. The enemy's- again wondered what all the. ..pl4 obirds were doing out at night, but little did they imagine the destruction that* awaited them. By this time L we all ; had our particular bundle of kilts — had poured our particular bottle of,-, ignitabie substance over them— chad our matches prepared — when ay sonorous ,cry> of " Ka-ka-ka-ka'," from our Colonel greeted us. We then, 1 quick "as lightning .applied pur burning match, and in less than five minutes the whole Otago Highland Brigade*—/. / . : ; Webe depbived of theib Kilts. ;'* Cries of horror aros.e:_ scenes such as could not.be delineated, on paper, ensued; but — ■'" - ! I VfILL DBA.W A. VEIL. -Decency forbids that I should continue.; ,Sirffice 7 it to say, that as soon as it; was discovered that the kilts were burned^" all Resistance terminated. The only one who, was allowed to retain his creature comforts, was General Bathgate, who" 'is,. personally acquainted with our Colonel. We thus gained a most glorious victory, and we are, now in full pursuit of the enemy, and advancing on Dimodin. [The length of this article compels us to hold over, a considerable portion. J