To the Editor of the Colonist.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 410, 27 September 1861, Page 2

To the Editor of the Colonist.

Sir—At the Provincial Hall, on Monday evening, a leotuve (on a serious subject) of a very amusing character wrs delivered by Lieutenant A. King, of the Taraoaki Militia, and late Aide-de-Carap to Generals Gold and Pratt. All his titles are giveu, that this famous worthy may not be so speedily forgotten as .his false emphasis, bad taste, and hyperbole deserve to be, and also to expose the folly of such a parvenu as this discoursing upon the management of a campaign, and to protest against the New Zealand war being played the fool with again, whether in tactics or rhetoric. The leoture was given ostensibly for the Nelson In. stitute, but veritably for the patrons of LieutKing, on whom he bestowed great praise, for va'.uo not received.

His pictures of Taranaki both before and after the war were vividly and truthfully drawn. Ho described the province abounding in happy homes, inhabited fay industrious, healthy, honest, and prosperous families, working hard, but living merrily: he gave us the sad reverse— the burning houses, the cattle stolen or destroyed, orchards wantonly cut down and flurried," the whole body ot settlers cooped up within the narrow limits of their entrenchments, there to remain and look on—calmly if they could, —but at any rate unperinitted to offer any active opposition to an enemy who approached almost within gunshot, to fire their homes, steal or kill cattle, and laugh at the impunity with whioh this could be done.

Yet, after this heartrending picture, the lecturer could venture to eulogise the military authority who kept the British soldier and hardy settler back, 'waiting 'orders,' which never came, and could award such epithets as 1 unequalled miliiary commander,' ' brave and deserving officer,' to the man who, while all this destruction was being enacted under; bis very eyes, was taking a daily lesson on the fiddle. This is a burlesque on Nero himself, and sanctifies the pun, 'An hero playing a fiddle !'

After comparing General Pratt to the gallant Sir Charles Napier,. * slow but sure,' he proceeded to describe the sap, which be extolled, and forgot to praise the Maoris for the close manner in which they inspected the same, closing the subject with the very safe predictiou that when General Pratt's tactics are understood and appreciated, he will be deemed to have earned his title of K.C.B. He then ventured a parting tribute of respect to him in his own (that is, King's) English—-'He will be always remembered by me with the most affectionate affection.' As this was one of the torient pearls at random strung,' I hope some of his kindred spirits will take care to collect them, for there are numberless tropes and figures, too big for the. utterance of ordinary mortals; which the gallant lieutenant displayed as ostentatiously as his buttons. I introduce this simile to assure pur readers that he has got all his buttons on, contrary to the general belief. It is fortunate for him that Byron is dead, as the noble lord was known to say of a similar character —If he was to write my life, I would ceitainly TAKE his! '

The lecturer committed blunders in facts as well as in style. .In speaking of the Waireka ho said c thai the 65th under Colonel Murray scoured the bush three several times.' He described the "taking of the pah, first as ca brilliant little act,' and then proceeded to.state that' it was not a war pab, and that such a

handful Of seamen could not have taken it if it had been occupied,' implying that a large number of the enemy could not have been there. Probably they would have been found at that moment in the gullies and flax-busbes surrounding the militia, for ths ememy knew this body, which they thought wou'd fall into their clutches, were deserted by Colonel Murray. That such a number aB equalled and probably outnumbered the Naval Brigade were in and near the pah, seems certain, and also that-Capt. Cracroft and his gallant Nigers created diversion in favor of the militia by attacking the enemy iv their main position, thus drawing them off from the militia, and enabling them after some little time to withdraw unmolested.

The lecturer also stated that' on the arrival of the military in town immediate assistance was sent out by Colouel Gold to the deserted militia, and that they were brought in by-such assistance;' while on the contrary, it is said by parties who were on the spot, that it was only after repeated applications to Colonel Gold by the civil authorities and by the Governor— the latter in fact begging him to use some effort to save these meu—and then, after four hours 1 delay, or at about 11 o'clock p.m, that 120 men started with ammunition and food. As this relief party left town by the beaoh, the militia came along by the road, and, as they entered the towa by the barracks, commenced singing ' Cheer, boys, cheer,' the sound of which reached the former, when they returned, and both forces entered the square almost together.

He stated that 2000 of the enemy defended the L pah, and how gallantly it was rushed at last; but omitted the anti-cliraax—that it was then found empty. Pie said nothing about musket ammunition being served put to the rifles: I wonder they did not get ooion seed instead of gunpowder.

I have not noticed the interruptions which occurred during the lecture, and cannot be surprised that the lecturer's remarks created a feeling of irritation amoug men, many of whom having been on the spot at the time were quite competent to disprove bis assertions. At the conclusion hissing and interruption arose, which were with great difficulty quelled by the Chairman, who, like an able advocate, did his best for his bad client.

I much regret that there was uo resolution to the effect, ' That the audience having heard the statements of the lecturer on the several actions at Taranaki. wish to express their opinion that, had Colonel Gold possessed either courage or soldierly ability, the outbreak at Taranaki might have been crushed at its commencement.' This would have.fully expressed the opinion of the dissentients, and have prevented the disagreeable termination of the proceedings. Yours, &c..-. WITNESS.