Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1636, 17 May 1875, Page 2

The following letter throws some additional light into the queer doings in that now celebrated force—the Waikato Engineer Volunteer Militia. We were before aware of the manner in which Colonel Gorton was outwitted, but we did not desire to "blow" on the thing especially as we know that representations on the subject were being forwarded to Wellington. The case having been for some days in possession of the authorities at Wellington we see no reason for withholding this letter; and we venture to say that when the little incident at Eangiriri is investigated it will add one to the many funny incidents attending the peregrinations of the man with the branding irons : — "Auckland, 15th May, 1875.—Mr Editor : Sir,—-As you found my last communication too prolix, I will be more terse in describing a few more facts in relation to that corps of notoriety, the Engineer Volunteer Militia. I have already shewn the prompt means taken by these Engineer officers to elude exposure and to dispose of troublesome witnesses. I will now relate the manner in which the same officers mustered their tools for the inspection of the officer sent for that i purpose. Previous to and on the last visit of Colonel Gorton, old worn out and previously condemned tools were raked up, some were fished up out of the Lake at Rangiriri, where they had lain for months bofore, the men's private mess-pails and utensils were borrowed pro. tern, to make up the requisite number, but this not being enough for more than one detachment, the Inspector was cajoled into an hotel for refreshments. Meanwhile a party of men were despatched by a near cut to the next detachment, with the beforementioned "fishings and dredgings" to be again counted by the Inspector. I would suggest when these tools are finally dismissed from duty that they be presented to the British Museum. How long these affairs are to continue of course depends on the action taken by Government in the matter. For my part I intend to assist to my utmost the late Sergeant-Major, and Color-Sergeant Craig, in exposing these frauds. I will not detail more at present, but have more for the next letter, which with your permission I will insert.—Yours, truly, W. J. Barlow, late Staff-Sergeant E. V.M.