DOMINION SCOUTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 14

DOMINION SCOUTS.

Sv-Hy attention haa been called ' to a i paragraph and a lotter in - Tub Domikion relating to the abovo. coros, which, owing to my absence from town, I did not eoe untu ; ywtonlny/ Aa my'name appears in both . casos I would esteem it a tavoux if jou .would aUdif .mo briofly to furnish an' explanation which the members requiro, and which they are certainly entitled to. On tho formation of the oorps somo six months ago I was, off the motion of Captain Gardinor, . . clcctod officer commanding hy the unanimous .vote of tbo moil. On Captain Gardiner's request ho wsa attached aa,'snpornumorary oUioor to conduct correspondenco and look after financial mat- . tors. Busincta necessitated my leaving Wellington for a month, but before going i_called Upon .Oaptain Gardiner and informed' him that tho ofior of service by-the Scouts ; bad boon accepted and would ehortly be gazetted. -I instructed him to wire mo im- ' mediately '.the Gazotte rotico appeared, arid to got notices ready for a meeting to beheld I on, my return to Wellington, tho date of J ... which I would wire him. Captain Gardiner ©ired m<J as directed, and'wrote promising > to havo everything ready for mo to assumo . command on • tho night of tho meeting. His ,: kitted reached 'Dannevirke on April 2, and five days< ilator a mooting was convened by ■ Captain Gardinor without my knowledge or Banctkm, -and without any notico having ' been senf .to me by the convener. At this . meeting dissatisfaction was oxprossed at my: ftbsemco withoat explanation, and- Captain Gardiner not .stating tho facts that were in his ■ possession _ was elected officer command- • ing at a .mooting of only 25; members of the corpa. -If b my intention to call- a meeting - of .tbo : ffiembers on ,Thursday next, as per advertisement appearing in your columns, i when I shall osk. Captain Gardiner to 1 kttplainwhy ho called a meeting without my eanction,.Bnd'whyj having called such meeting, he did not notify mo. There, are other ■jnatturs in connection with' tho formation of , ,lho ; oorpS regarding wijich the members and pnyself varo .eatitlod .to information,, but ,I .prefer in. the meantime to merely stato the pacts and refrain from comment until Captain .Gardiner has had an opportunity*, of jfnrnishingytho explanation required in tho jirescnco of\tho members of tho corps.—l .'cm, eta, . . ■■■■■■..' ■ . . . , . J. G. W. DALRYMPtE. i 'April 2a. ,