WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 507, 14 June 1864, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

WANOANUI. The militia at Wanganui do not eeem to be getting on very comfortably among themselves, judging from the letters we find published in the Wellington press. The correspondent of the Independent, in a letter written on the 26th ulr., says :— The Prince Alfred arrived here just after, the mail left on Thursday, bringing two companies of the 57th regiment and the hon. Mr. Fox. lam very glad he has come at such an opportune moment: it will enable him, if he will only for once in his life discard the use of potitical eye glasses, to examine the VVang;inui Militia Department here, whose head he himself appointed. It was always said that the present head of the militia in this district was appointed solely for political reasons—but I rather expect that the consequences are not such as the hon. minister expected—for the result is, that the people, at least the majority, would vote against Messrs. Fox and Featherston, merely on account of the disgusting conduct of their appointee, who was supposed to be deep in their favor, and if such was the character of the man in whom they reposed confidence, the general feeling was that it would not do to place any further confidence in them. To prove the truth of my statements, just turn to the Chronicle, May 23th. The editor of that journal has spoken the truth like a man, and although not coinciding generally with " John Jackson's " opinions—still I must say that he has spoken the truth this time, if rather roughly. With the exception of meetings of the Magistrates to advise with his Honor and lion. Mr. Fox on the state of affairs, nothing particular lias occurred—but it is rumored that we are all to be dismissed, as they consider the garrison is sufficient for the duties of the place. His Honor started to-day fur Kangitikei.

Monday, May 30 The order for our dismissal hae appeared to-day only, although dated luat Saturday, and raised a rerj strong suspicion that it was kept back till after his Honor's departure. What gives rise to this suspicion, is the fact that the order is the greatest piece of non-

sense that ever emana'ed from any one order in full so that you may see foryourwlf * *• MILITU ORBIBB, The officer commanding the garrison I* 1 that until further orders the .£ ,§ decide< * called to furnish more than ** * duties required by the existing state of iff ***** * undermentioned men of the volunteers"w ; J* , and 3rd class companies of the No.l Sub-di.» \L d, receive pay and rations for performing th«LT ,^ ft Tsr? r,j s eep i tt { c etaff • Bd ««5& , after detailed, will only be required t« parade fortnight, on which day only will they CSS? » pay and rations (though still on active eerrirl\i to will be at liberty to resume their iSL'> and country. At the expiration of £*» this date the men above mentioned wVh. i °* by another fifty, taken from the Militia an/vi teen of the 3rd Sub-district. """"• Mα Tolaa. By command -

(Signed) Aimed Boss, Captain and Adjutant W K. The absurdity of the order will be seen at a riaiv — men io be kept on active service and therotW?* bidden lo leave the district, to receive rations. It is a hybrid state not permitted by .* Militia or other Acts of our Legislature Aeam. tJ 3rd Sub-district is a country district, on theTeftbmS nowu it likely that men would submit to be Sk } from their farms for one month to perform duttjU town, excepting the whole district was called out? t would like to know what would be th» .♦*■„ JtX. . - farms on their return. We of *» A captain of volunteers fortunately perceived ti, error, and showed the authoriUes the impossibilitr Af * keeping men ou active service without pay or ratLn —whereupon they immediately sent despatch*. £ Mr. Fox, who had gone to Rangitikei, to hmi of the error. They will get an answeTabout Wednesday. WH | Wednesday evening, June 1. Rumors of all being called out again, which T believe are owing, not to anything on the partofiuii natives, but rather to letters received from Mr pbx or his Honor, touching on the above-mentioned cider *~ Either they will have to dismiss us thorough], S wanted, or they must keep us on altogether which latter I think the most probable; £■* tho msaul state of things here is more like a riflm bnore s = storm. The natives Überally supphed wit£im» blankets, flour, Ac., started up the river on Mond«~ afternoon, their intention being to proceed as far at Banana, and there stop for a short time. They themselves are fully alive to the probability ©f heist out-numbered by the rebels, and if that should-bs th* case we shall have it. However at present eventhing is quiet. A steamer has been outside all day supposed to be the Prince Alfred with remainder 3 the troops. A letter from the correspondent of the Spectator * written on the 2nd inst., is to the same effect?— Militia affairs have undergone several changes hen during the past fortnight—thougli I can not report' for the better. An order was read on parads that no militiaman should be allowed to go more one mile from the town without a pass. A few days afterwards came another that the officers wen to bs saluted, military fashion, which is most repugnant to our citizen soldiers, considering the dislike most of the officers are viewed with; for noncompliance one of our merchants (late an officer in the No. .1 Company of Volunteers), was confined in the old koI sQ night, and another old settler, a sergeant in the Tictoria Company of Rifle Volunteers, was placed under arrest at his own house, and reduced to the ranks; if the order is not rescinded a new truai-d-roora will be required. Another case of hardship was a settler on No. 2 Line belonging to the Prince of WalesCompany ; he was taken from his farm, although lame, to do garrison duty at the Captain's hoofs, Sad. during his compulsory absence from home several articles were stolen from his premises; as he preferred staying to protect his own liard-earned property he '- was taken prisoner, brought into town, and lodged ut the guard-room * after a detention of thkty-fuX'oOßn he was discharged by order of the medical officer, at unfit for service, and it is said that he was also admonished before being set at liberty.

The Chronicle , * leader of Saturday was far bettor than could have been expected, oo account of the - present semi-military despotism. One subject wsj overlooked in it s some of the militia oAoen who received their commissions three or four yean back still - hold the same rank; it must be very galling to then to see others not bo much respected pat over then, and it ie rumoured that the senior lieutenant hss sent in hie resignation In oonssqtence.