INTO CHARGES AGAINST INSPECTOR HUNTER, A.C.

5

D.—No. 9,

taken Turu Turu) by the fugitives to Waihi, it would have been folly to attempt to take a redoubt garrisoned by Maoris with cavalry. Under this impression I did not think it of any use, nor prudent, to send word by Wilkie (a fugitive) for the cavalry. The Poard.] Prom tho time of your leaving Waihi to when you saw the Natives running away from Turu Turu Mokai, about what time had elapsed ? —About half an hour, more or less. This closed the evidence for the defence.

Opinion. The Board having maturely weighed and considered the evidence brought before it, is of opinion— That after Major Yon Tempsky had gone to the relief of Turu Turu Mokai, and left the camp, magazine, Ac, in charge of Inspector Hunter, the latter was not justified in further reducing the strength of the garrison, except on the two occasions he did so, namely, in sending an escort with the surgeon, and a party with the stretchers to succour the wounded reported to be on the road to Waihi. A. M. A. Page, Captain (President). D. Michie Brown, Sub-Inspector, Armed Constabulary. Geo. Buck, Captain, Volunteer Militia.

APPENDIX A. Waihi, 10th August. The statements of the two non-commissioned officers, Sergeants Anderson and Bennett, are in the main correct, as far as I know, with reference to all that took place in connection with the attack upon. Turu Turu Mokai on the 12th July last. My reply to such statements, for there has not been any direct charge preferred against me, is simply this : —I was not in command of this post at the time the attack was reported, and therefore I had no power to order the cavalry or any men out of the camp. When Major Yon Tempsky started for the support of Turu Turu Mokai he simply told mo to take charge of the camp, without ordering me to send any further assistance ; and I do not consider it was my duty then, nor do I now think it would have been so, to send a single man away without a message from him, or in case of an attack in the immediate neighbourhood. Great stress appears to have been put upon the order given "to feed the horses." The order was given by me as it was about the usual hour for so doing, and I directed their saddles to be put on them, so that in case they should be wanted there might be no delay in starting them. With regard to my not allowing any of tho mounted men to go to the assistance of the wounded, I simply state that I sent a party of dismounted men, under Sergeant McEarlane, with stretchers, thinking them more suitable for that duty. It would take me much more time than the present emergency admits of to enter fully into all the statements made from time to time in the public press, and which contain a certain amount of truth, with the most gross and exaggerated falsehood. My character has been assailed and blackened in a manner unprecedented. The attributes of cowardice and incompetency have been applied to me; and, in a word, I have been made the scapegoat of an unfortunate and untoward affair. I refrain, therefore, from more than alluding to these statements, heaping such an amount of obloquy and abuse upon me. These I shall deal with in another way, if advised to do so by competent authority. But Ido on my own part, and for the sake of the force to which I have the honour to belong, most earnestly protest against such a course of action being permitted. My case may be any one's to-morrow. Any reverses, any mistakes, may, by popular outcry, throw a blot upon a man's escutcheon that he can never wipe off. Without fault of his own, he suddenly becomes a marked individual for ever. I have applied for a General Court-Martial, and the Government have decided that I am to be tried by a Board of Officers, consisting of the minimum number allowed by the Act —the number which would have composed it had it been convened to report upon the most trivial matter. Whereas I stand here this day, one of the oldest officers in the Colonial troops, to combat with charges which, if substantiated, arc enough to crush and ruin any man. To sustain my character, as earned by my previous conduct and services, I would have to summon witnesses from all parts of the country, and I trust at some future time this right may be granted me. W. Hunter.

Sic,— Camp, Patea, 14th July, 1868. Having been ordered by you to make a report of any circumstances connected with the unfortunate affair of the 12th instant, I have the honor to make the following statement:— I was acting sergeant-major at Camp Waihi about 6.30 o'clock a.m. on the morning of the 12th instant. I was awoke by the corporal of the guard, who told me that there was heavy firing in the direction of the Camp Turu Turu Mokai. I sent him to call the commanding officer, and immediately dressed and went on the parade ground. A short time afterwards Inspector Yon Tempsky appeared and asked me where the firing was, and I pointed out to him the flashes of the guns. He ordered his own division, No. 5, to fall in, and sent me to Inspector Hunter to say that he (Inspector Yon Tempsky) was going away, and that he was to take