WELLINGTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 437, 24 December 1868, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(from ottr own correspondent.) The "Wellington volunteers for three or four weeks did " sentry go" of an evening the barracks at Thorndon and Te Aro, but lately, for some reason, this has been discontinued. I say for some reason, as I suppose the authorities had some idea that served them as a reason (if it would not have done so to any sensible person) for instituting the guards ; though what reason they could have had then, which is not equally cogent now, I am at a loss to discover. Perhaps it is as well that it should be stopped, for it was so absurdly arranged as to be a complete farce. Imagine three men being placed in the Thorndon Barracks as a guard; and to make matters worse, even these three were not allowed to load their rifles. Why, they could easily have been tomahawked before any assistance could have reached them, even if they could have made noise enough to have been heard in the town.

I have mentioned casually that the first militia parade has taken place. I should say the first-class men were paraded on Saturday last for the first time, and without arms. It is now nearly a month since they were swornin, but so dilatory hare the authorities been that they have only begun drilling them during the past four days, and hare not yet distributed a single rifle. The second class'are not to be called out yet. I suppose this is because they want to keep up the expense of drill instructors, &c., and therefore, the pay of officers and friends as long as possible. They are drilling the first class men at the rate of three hours per week. Of course it will take six months to get them even fit to have rifles put in their hands at this rate. Then after them will come the second class at a similarly slow rate, and then the third. Don't you see, there's eighteen months' salaries to distribute. It is no matter that in the meantime the rebels should be left to overrun the outsettlements. What does Colonel Haultain care for that ? His thonsand a jear will be paid all the same. Of

course he does not want the Maori disturbance quelled. If all was quiet, if outsettiers were prosperous instead of ruined, and if Titoko Waru, Te Kooti, and their gangs were shot, the Defence department could be cut down, and the office of Defence Minister abolished. This may seem h ard language, but if it is not deserved, all' I can say is that Col. Haultain is most unfortunate in eausing people to judge him incorrectly.