MAORI WAR ECHO.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1920, Page 3

MAORI WAR ECHO.

COMMISSARIAT TROUBBLES. AN. INTERESTING RECORD. Some of the difficulties of the commissariat contractors in the period of the Maori war in Taranaki were brought to light the other day in New Plymouth. It will be remembered that an appeal was made on behalf of the widow and family of the late Mr. Elliott, and with the sum of money raised a house was purchased for the family. A portion of the building was at one time the officers quarters of one of the regiments engaged in the operations, and during some alterations to the premises a letter was found lodged in one of the partition walls, and on reading its contents the finders handed it to Mr. Walter Ambury, who had been instrumental in securing the house for the family. The letter relates to the troubles of the butcher in getting a supply of meat, and reads as follows: Camp, Warea, 20th Sept., ISIM. Mr. W. H. Long (?), Commissariat Contractor, New Plymouth. Sir, —In reply to your note of yesterday, I regret that I am unable to let the men of this detachment go out in pursuit of cattle, as they are all employed on guard patrol and other duties to-day. You should obtain a memo. from the officer if the men are to be employed in this description of duty. I have received instructions that they are not to be so engaged. On questioning the butcher, he says they are about a mile and a half away, and I think that rather too far to send men, considering the work they have to do.—Yours, etc., THOMAS J. HOLMES, Major, 43rd Lt. Infantry, Camp Warea. Mr. Ambury has asked ua to hand the letter to the Museum ftuttafftfep