THE HAURAKI ENGINEERS AND THE NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEER GAZETTE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3489, 1 March 1880, Page 2

THE HAURAKI ENGINEERS AND THE NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEER GAZETTE.

To the Editor of the Evening Stab.

Sib, —Feeling assured that in promulgating news through the columns of the Erening Star, that your object- is to furnish the public with truthful records of -passing events, and that you would not knowingly allow such publication to be made a vehicle for private spleen, or an instrument to distort facts from their .actual significance. Whether or not a local appearing in your issue of the 28th February does bear this construction, I will ask you to judge after you hare read what actually did occur prior to the parade being dismissed on Friday last. Captain Small called the officers to the front, which was responded to with the exception of Lieut. Barlow, who, without the Captain's knowledge had left, the room. ' Addressing the parade the Captain said that for some time past pieces , had appeared in the newspapers reflecting upon himself in his capacity of officer commanding the corps. An officer or member was not permitted to make complaints or to reply to them in newspapers, therefore he was placed in the position of not being allowed through that means of contradicting falsehoods. Howerer, it was his duty to wara the officers and members that such conduct was most unmililary and diametrically opposed to discipline. If he or any other ofloer exceeded their duty there was a right course to pursue, namely, make a report through the right channel.

Capt. Small then read the following extracts from the Volunteer Service Gazette, (professing to be from our own correspondent at the Thames) :—" The strength of our local Engineer Corps having been increased to 150 of all ranks, a meeting was called by the Captain Com* manding at the latter end of November to elect additional officers. The Captain wished certain geatlemen elected, and the men showed (hat they knew their power by electing those whom they preferred. Two officers were nominated by respective supporters for the position of 2nd Capsain; the senior of the two considers it presumption on the part of his junior to contest the position, and hence ill-feeling, cliquism. and partisanship arises in the company. The general idea is that the captain has shown much want of tact in the matter. As your correspondent is personally interested, he will, however, refrain from adverse strictures to any further extent." Speaking of the Association meeting, he says: "I fear the Hauraki Engineers will be unrepresented, many of the good-shooting men having transferred their services to other corps." You are aware, sir, that a good deal of what is said above is deliberately untrue* The company is represented at the shooting at Nelson, and, with the exception of Captain Small, by the same men as last year; and, further, a single shooting man has left the company during the last 12 months, and in every respect and corps is, with the exception of one or two individuals, as united as ever it wa^Jfiwv sir, I think you wilL^K^ifSt^tßeTloeai referred to isJiaWero convey a false imV pressiou, because it contains a portion of truth with untruth added, and : a considerI able portion of truth withhold^—l am, &C., A MEMBER OF THE COBPS.