Correspondence.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1096, 3 July 1879, Page 3

Correspondence.

(Our correspondence columns are impartially open to all, but toe do not m any way identify ourselves ivith opinions expressed therein.)

Sib, — I am glad to see by the papers, that m some parts of the Middle Island, the Volunteers, m offering their services to the Government, have realized an idea I entertained m common with the late Colonel Nixon, that it only required evidence of danger to get the settlers to the

front.

I do not believe m the hastily raised levies of that admirable recruiting Sergeant, " Reader," but I do believe m drilled volunteers, and I am certain that, had the Government called upon the Volunteer Force of the Colony, when the disturbances first took place, they could have put, long ere this, m the field, a body armed, drilled and equipped, that would, if necessary, have driven every native lifting their hands l against law and order into " Hades.' ' I had some experience m the South, as a Volunteer, and have seen artillery, and infantry (I will not add cavalry) m camp do every duty I ever saw performed by the regulars, under similar circumstances The people of New Zealand Avould, I believe, like to see the land owned by the rebels pay for their disturbing action. The prospect of having this land distributed amongst tho Vounteers, at the end of the war, at once and without cavil, would act as an admirable incentive to tho force, to serve for six months only, when they would be releived by other Volunteers from the same localities. A grand, total of nearly 2000 of all arms could be made available. Previous to leaving their respective provinces, the force should be provided with all material, such as tents, camp equipage, &c, to the most minute neces-iary requisite, so that when landed, say at' Patea, they Avould at once be enabled to be brigadad t and ready for the fray. This action of the men volunteering would instil some spirit into the paid shift', who ought to take t'icir (share iv the field, and not have every night m bed, as Colonels Packe and Reader have, at £500 a year each.

Whitmore has a great idea of Constabulary, and, with their aid, he thinks to get, 1 1 daresay, the X attached to his C.M.G. J I believe m this force, when the men are properly _ set up, drilled and disciplined, and I think that every officer and man of them now serving m the Waikato (who, from their number, would be" no protection to the settlers) should be at once, horses and all, sent to the front, and the people, armed and drilled, to look after the district. Depend upon it, that a national effort of this kind would increase our credit m the money market at Home, it would evince a spirit of practical selfreliance that would guarantee to the people at home that the colonists of New Zealand were m earnest, and unaided by the Imperial troops, as well as unsubsidised by the Crown, they were determined, not only to hold their own, but make those pay who disturbed them m the attempt. Who is to command ? I suppose, when the necessity arrives, the Dens ex machina will descend, as he always seems to have done, m British Military History, and put matters square. Why don't Haultain and Brett come forward, the latter is always " I, I, I ing," as bad as Cracrof t Wilson, or the hero of Irun, Travers. Facta non verba is what is wanted from men of that rank and position, and as to being too old, that is all moonshine. Old Napier, General Gilbert and Radetsky never acquired any military rerjutation until thby were much older men, when they did deeds, the memory of which will never fade. — I am, &c, Bayonet.

Waikato, 30th June, 1879

m P.S. — It was at Waireka, 19 years since, that the Volunteers first showed the "mettle of their pastures," and; had they deen supported by the "muff" m command of the Regulars, would there and then have settled the war. I don't think that the spirit has died out, either m that province or anywhere else m New Zealand.