MILITARY SETTLERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2386, 25 October 1887, Page 2

MILITARY SETTLERS.

TO TUB KDITOIi. t-jiK, —l hope you will not think me imposing on your generosity by asking you to find a place in your influential paper for the insertion of this letter. I beg to refer to the Military Pensioner Settlement question, now having public attention, especially the gentleman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. Having read the sub-leader of the Auckland Evening Star, dated about the loth, has put the polishing touch to the picture painted by the gentlemen of the Chamber of Commerce. After my experience and the experience of others, I look upon that article as grossly misleading, I wish to bo brief, bot having been 11 years in the regular forces, and knowing well, having Jived as brothers with hundreds of pensioners, and I am positive for to oome here and settle on the land which would be offered thfltp, they are utterly uusuitod. To start life on the linos as are run in New Zealand I am sure they would be in the rearmost rank. I think some of those gentlemen, particularly the money and land agent element, can smell their pensions, and are hoping to be able to lay their claws upon it, which, I am afraid, would be the case. It would be almost impossible for a pensioner to start without commuting, ny as Sir E, Walter said, pledging their pension, Now, as sure as the money or Japd ggent got their talons on their pensions it would he all qp. Their object would be accomplished, and then the men, no longer pensioners, might go and starve for all they oared, It is to prevent this that I hope yon will oblige by inserting this hr your paper. I left the military barracks direct, having read hook and official reports, which do not scruple at going beyond what is true. I was induced, like many others, to give up a good appointment to come out here, and had I been able to have reported this colony hah 1 a.-> good as reported, I would have been followed by hundreds of the class which those gentlemen seem so anxious to assist, good steady men, who would have come without any assistance being asked from either Governments, J have tins consolation, that no one has come out hero at my advice. I said no at lirst,

and, after five ye if >' • • \ | i -i ienc-', I. mi 1 .-mg asked, emphasize that by adding, n*» by n * means com*;. 1 will just give the npini'ui «>f a gentleman w!m. when in cuiimand id his regiment, spent thousands of pounds in adding to tljc conif'U ts <d his nnui. and foil anxious about them ulimi loft on tin ir pension. Having vjKmt li* month-. nine of them in Auckland and vnp'imdb.g districts, and having 11 a\ ol!■ •'i tin • -ugh the colonics and «iyn fa- lii• t>-■ ■ if, taking nuis|Mlier p ilf< at tle-ir worth, in writing to a gentleman who had 13 v>*tytliiuj-C ready to sail for this colony, he lini-lied his h-ltor, using this language : —Now, after having travelled and studied and see.n you ignore my advice and commute your pension to come and s-ttle in New Zealand, I say, if yon will insist in such a course, to ns" unmistakable ianguag". you are milling short of a blasted fool. On receipt of this, the gentleman unpacked his goods, and since Frondes report ami o|riaioii "f the Ijondon money market, he scarcely knows how to thank the gentleman for his friendly advice. Now, Mr Ivliior, f am sure that a» sure as the scheme is carried out, if left to tier money and lain! dealers there will he in a very short time disappointment and. discontent, a compound of which I think we have sufficient. Apologising for trespassing. —I am, yours etc., Tlld.'l \S CAIiI.KSS, 11 vears a military artificer. Huntly, 21st October ISS?.