OPOTIKI.

Tauranga Argus and Opotiki Reporter, Volume 1, Issue 4, 15 December 1866, Page 2

OPOTIKI.

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November 20. 8iK,-^-Permit me th rough your columns to make a few remarks on what 1 can only term n piece of gross injustice about t ■'» ^>e perpetrated on l ie men of the 1st Waikato Regiment. As is pretty generally kn >wti the Vietoriaii Oontingent was raised by Colonel Pitt. He came tb Melbourne, at tbe time wlien it appeared not at all uulikely that tho colatiists of New Moaland vvonld have to succomb to the Maoris. At sueh a crisis the Colonial Government fioding itself sadly in want oi men to resist the ehcroachtnerit oi the rebels, offered very liberal terms to such as wero williug to come over from Victoria and assist the setders in their struggle with the native race. The terms of eulistment where br'iefly these The men were to serve, if necessary, for a period of three years. They were to be supplied with rations and clothing. If, on their dismissal' from the service th(|y received a certificate of. good character they tvould be entitled to a crown grant of fifty-one acres of land. Terms, such as ti^ese, naturally iuduced a great number of Victoriaus to flock to Colonel Pitt's office and " sign the hook.'' I firmly believe its agent would not have experienced anyMifficulty whatever in raising a regiment, for it must 5e xnentioned, Colonel Pitt as a most engaging manner, and a tongue capable of uttering words sosoft and pleasant, that, Iam coofident, he could charm (to use a slang phrase, and slang phrases are o'ten very effeetive) the heart of a wheelbarrow. One of the clauses of the contract between the Victorians and the Government of New Zealand was to the effect that " Priority of choice (in the matter of land was to be determined by lot.'' Weli, the men came over to this colony. They, as has been admitted by the publie press oFthe eountry, have dome l,heir duty and done it weli. The nati ves have been subdued ; peace has been proelaimed, and, those colonists who have iig trees on their estates can sit under. them if they please, none daring to make them afraid. But, how fares it with those who confronted the enemy, who, along with the Imperial troops gave back to the Northern Island the inestimable ble'ssings of peace and security 1 Tlie 1st Waikatos are, it is true on the eve of being placed upon their land, but, it is not to be given to them in accordance with the terms of their contract. Officers and non commissiohed officers are to select their allotmen'ts ! The blocks for companies having been drawn for, the Colonel can pick out the piece of gronnd which he thinks will suit him best ; the Major follows suit, and, the other officers of the regiment, down to the junior subaltern, select- their

broad acren. The comfriissionei offitjiers having " fixed upon their ground" the uoncoinnnssioned office rs next have theu' innings, and, after all the celor-sergeants, sergeanis, and corporals have made their selection, then the privates are to be allowed to put their hands into the " lucky bag," ; and draw their sections Although the bag will contain " no bianl^s," I raust leave it to a better arithmetieian than myself to calculate liow many prizes-— how many tiqkets ehtitling the iiolders thereof to really good land will be left in it afrer those holding eommissions and those weariu.g | stripes have my.de their selections. When \fc became known throughout the regimeut that, the officers were to select their land,' the men determined t.o use means to prevent them dotng so. The houorable the Uefence Mirdster was expected to visit Tauranga, adlepifiittioa would wait upon him on his arrival. He came, he beard, be spoke. The' deputation showed him & •copy «f the " Conditions of eiiHstment.'' Aceording to these conditions the officers had not the right of selection. Now, oh patient reader, roqd, mark and inwardly digest (if you can) the reply given by Colonei Hitukain to the question (put to hina by one • of the deputation) as to whether rmmber seven clause of the eontract did not read thus : — •' Priority oi chpice will be determined by lot.'' That such was the sevent'h clause on the printed slips dist rihuted in Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, Ba'lavat, and other tovvns in Victoria he •could, not deny, but, "the printer had made a .mis'ake/' it should have been so and so ! The gallant - Colonei, the Honorable Miiust/jr ? by tke ;way, are all honorable/ •uriti! we are found out) must eertainiy be eonviaced that Providenee lias not endowed the men of the lst .Regimeut witli reason, otherwise he'never would have ventured to cnake such ih excuse for a direct breach of eontraqt. ti tbe men accept this eseuse, if the) rest satiidied with this explanatioa a * vast uumber of persous will coineide with the Bcfence . Minister in his estimate oi the montal p.iyers of the 1st VV aikatos. 1 will, by- your pefmissidn, return to this •eufiject in a future issue.