CORRESPONDENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 167, 3 June 1873, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We do not necessarily endorse ths opinions expressed loy our correspondents. ]]

To the Editor of the Waikato Tim c*. Sir, — Some tune w*o I addressed ft letter to you signed " Greyb.iek " As I find that tin* statements made in that letter have been called in question, I must beg a corner m jour popular journal for my explanation. I stated that the key was in the Sergeant's pocket when lie went out with Major Clare's part). I hive since found that it was not a Sergeant but a Constable that was m charge of the station, and that he left the key in its usual place, viz, hanging on a nail in the Orderly Room, or some such room belonging to the Constabulary. lam informed that Constable C. Collins, the person referred to, feels himself aggrieved at the former statement. No one would regret more than myself giving offence to Mr Collins, and I apologise for stating that the key was in his pocket. Next, it is stated that we (the C.C.V ) had not any ammunition in the magazine. I believe we had not any ; but, surely, in a case such as that mentioned in my former letter, we are not supposed to stick to the fact of ammunition being labelled " Volunteer " or " Constabulary." Their ammunition fits our carbines, and I presume that red tape cannot go so far as to say that ten Volunteers are to- be kept from obeying orders simply because there is no legal ammunition for them, when there i» plenty fit for their use in. the magazine. All other questions raised in my former letter I adhere to, and am only too willing for them to be called in question. I understand that it has been stated that as a Volunteer I had no- right to send such a letter to the paper. Sir, I ask, is a settler in the Waikato, who gives up his time to try and learn a little drill under our able instructor, and who, in common with other Volunteers, is ready to do his duty when on parade or when called oour—lt r—lr—l r — 1 ask is ln& pen or his tongue to be tied when questions such as that named in my former letter are the common tilk of the district? When we a.c called out we are willing to be tied down to rules and regul.itioni ; but| when wo are simply "settlers," and only Volunteers in name, I don't think that the Government will find that the Volunteer Corps will long exist if wo are to be under military law the whole year round. No one is more anxious to see strict discipline in the Volunteers than I am — that is, when caled out; but when we are simply settlers, and not on duty, we are our own masters. I quite agree that Constable G. Collins, the man who had chargo of the- magazine (which lie received fiom Constable C. Collins), did his duty like a man, but at the seme time I wouUT have caltetC on the C? C"V to tatUe «t. X IWL. aa dealva to again trouble you, but I do not wish to be misunderstood by any one, and in easo there should be any doubt as to w lio "Grey.back" is r I remuiu yours faitlifullv, W. Nouuvv Lusitic.

To the Editor of the Waikvto Times. Sir, — 2T» doubt the great railway meeting held at Ngaruawahia was a great failure. The subject was the greatest and the- raogt captivating, and the oratory was the smallest of very small beer. In the advocacy of a railw.iy, for the construction of which better reasons could be adduced than for that of any other similar work in New Zealand, the speeches exhibited the most plentiful lack both of fact and argument. Forcible feebleness exhausted itself in strong assertion that thero|\vus " no doubt" the Waikato railway should go through the Delta. Aad no doubt it is hoped the Government will have no doubt. Certainly one of the speakers did address himself to the subject for which the meeting was ostensibly convened, and showed, that in the e\ent cf futuro disturbances, a railway would increase the physical force of the Q-ovemment tenfold, which most people would think very pertinent to existing circumstanoes ; but he was promptly jumped upon by a subsequent speaker, who held that Maori difficulties would be over ages before the railway could be built. This may mean either that the railway wdl be long of coming, or that the Maori trouble will be soon over. If the latter, it would luvre been satisfactory to tho public, if not to the preceding speaker, to hare given his data for-th& assertion. If he has any evidence that the present Native Department of the Government are more sincere in their desire, or more capable as regards their means or brains, to settle the Maori difficulty now , than they have shown themsolvesjany time during the last ten years, it would be obliging to mention it. But the meeting soon forgot tho general question, and then the unanimity, if not the oratory, of the meeting was complete. Soeakor and writer were conclusive that they had "no doubt." The West was arrayed against the East ; but yet the East was called on to help them. The orator's theme was, " Oh, all je people of the "Waikkto join together as one man and" get the railway to run through my paddock." The miserable jealousies of tie- little Waikato communities have long been known, but this is the first time they have been coupled with a pathetic whine for union. Formerly they were only odious, but with union, as suggested, they become also ludicrous Such public spirit,, such abnegation of self, such potent facts, so convincing figures, so comprehensive and intelligent an interest in the general welfare, must powerfully work in favour of the railway. It now only remains for the dwellers on tha eastern bank of the river to set up their wail, and the thing will be complete. This they have not dotie yet, and never will do, in the opinion of Easto-sian.

Here's a new illustration of cmine shrewdness. A dog, whose master purchases his family supplies at one of the two meat markets hut a few doors apart, has been in the habit of going there every noon with a five-cent piece which his owner gave him, in his mouth, and receiving in return a dinner of meat But one day he blundered into the other market. Too proud to retieat, he laid his money on the counter, and was furnished a dinner by the propi ietor, who was familiar with his habits. But either through generosity or a more liberal sprrit of dealing with customers of every sort, the dinner was considerably more bountiful than he was in the h vbit of receiving at his old quarters, and from that day to this he has regularly pationiseil the market which experience had shown gave him the most for his money. For a young girl of some sixteen summers to plough a twenty-acre paddock for seed, handling a team of horses as if she were " native and to the manner born," is certainly not an every-day occiu rence. Such a feat in agriculture has been accomplished thia season by the daughter of an aged couple, residing about four miles from Seymour, Victoria. Certain gentlemen passing through the Tallarook Flats prououneed the work equal to the fair average woik of an ordinary ploughman. It was then mid -day, and tlie fair one was tvkmc: her luncheon on a huge log, whilst her horses were also taking " a spell" and a bite preparatory to turning over another half-acie in the afternoon. We recently copied from an American paper a paragraph saying that a sailor refused to ship on board a \ essel after &eein<j a rat swim ashore from her, and that the vessel went down the very next day. Some of those cruelly practical people who are always spoiling our roluance 1 ?, superstition* and tiaditions, have investigated the facts of this cisc, witli the following results : — That the sailor in question saw not only one- but hundreds of rats ; as well as a pile of snakes, <to — was suffering, in short, from delirium irem*iut, and was taken to the hospital to recover. The vessel went down- not to tlie bottom of the sea, but down to Toledo, nulling one of the quiokuit ti ips on i ccord. — Stan lai J. I