HARIPIPI. (From a Correspondent.)

Waikato Times, Volume VI, Issue 309, 7 May 1874, Page 2

HARIPIPI. (From a Correspondent.)

It appears that when the Militia and Forest Rangeri were railed during the Waikato war, the men were promised one thousand feet of timber. When the mm were disbanded, three militia regiments received their timber, but from some reason, the Government refused to give the men of the lit regiment and also of the 2nd company of Forest Rangers theirs. Howe\er, about 12 months ago, the member for the East Coast brought pressure on the Government and got money in lieu of timber for the men of the l«t regiment, , and about one month »go, the men of Major Jaclnon's company got theirs : but the Government refuse, and will not pay the men of Yon Tempsky's company. A meeting of the men was, therefore, held on Monday evening, at 7 p.m. Mr Thompson haring read the notice calling the meeting, Mr McMinn proposed, and Mr Southee seconded, thatMrßobt. Hill take the chair. The Chairman said, "he would like to know the reason the Government refused to give Us our timber money. There were four regiments and two companies of Forest Rangors — in all iix different corps — five of these have received it, and we, the sixth, are refused. Is it because our officer, the gallant, brave, and accomplished Yon Tempsky got killed, and we have noir no oflicer to look after our interests that wo do not get it ? But it was always 10 with our company ; our great and good Major got small justice when he was alive ; small-minded men in authority orer him were jealons of his superiority j ho was a standing rebuke to them. WLen the hard I nocks were over in the Waikato, he, of his own accord, put himself off pay. and when hard knocks were again the order of the day, ho volurt* teered, and we all know bow that he was killed in his endeavour to save wounded men — he rus'ied forward when ib was almost certain death to do no, and fell in hi* endeavour to save others. Unfortunately for poor Yon Tempsky he was c\ery inch a gentleman, if he had not been so, in place of his bones now lying bleaching in the sun he might have hern alive and doing well, perhaps Under Secretary of Dofence, or a Flux C'jniinisMoner, or something of that sort. I think Major J.ickson is very much to blame m not looking after the interest;) of this company as well as those of iiis own. Tte two companies of Forest Rangers were stationed together, and fought together, when in the Wuikato, The Major of tho Ist compiny certainly did not volunteer out of the Waikato, and was not with Yon Tempsky when he fell ; but still, when in the Waiknto, the two companies wore like one, and I do think that when Major Jackson got his men and himself the timber money, he might have minded in also, as we had no one to look after our interests. Perhaps, if v*e had au oilier in the House of Representatives, we inig'it have received our due, and probably more than we weie entilled to. A \ote with the present Government goes n Ion;; way I wonder how Colonel Moute, who came up the Waikato nith his regiment when all the fighting was over, had the audacity to receive the timber money for himself and liisnifu, and refuse it to v* who went through the campaign. I wonder what excu-e the Government h.vve for it ; it cmnot be that tliey are hard up, for here are Ministers gnlnvintmg through tho country from one end to another, not at their own expense however. There is a Native officer spending money tbat cannot be counted by thousands, and sponduii; it m such a manner, that if the country knew it, it would not be tolerated for a moment, yet the Defence Minister refuses to pay us our due, but allows Native Commiuioners to spend money without check or hindrance ; he, (the Defence Minister) is a delusion and a mare. I am certain that if you pick up the greatest joskin in the province of Auckland, and give him the nnm amount of blankets, saddles, ploughs, tea and sugar to divide amongst the Maoris, he would keep them quiet. I wonder how it u that when our Premier can find money to bribe three-fourths of the population — for three-fourths of the population are bribed some way or another either individually or directly, that he cannot pay us our due. I wonder how, when the Government is throwing about money, that they cannot spare a. foy» hundreds to put up a monument to thre memory of poor Yon Tempsky. It ii for tho meeting to say what steps, if any, are to be taken to obtain our j(rst frghts." Mr James Sherrett proposed, " That a letter to Major Jackson bo written, asking him if ho could give any explanation, as wo fully understood that wficn he was getting (he money for his own men he was also getting it for us." Mr Alexander Sherrett was deputed to do so. A rote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting leparated.