OPOTIKI. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) April 11.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3358, 21 April 1868, Page 3

OPOTIKI. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) April 11.

Nothing new has transpired here lately. The ■ettlers ate leaving the place by every opportunity, as it apprars the Hauhaus are to be allowed to reign supremo until next season. A large number of the men have been struck off pay, and these are all leaving the district. A pretty fair supply of officers, however, are retained on pay for the handful of men. The following iB a list of t-iem. AtOpotiki: Major Mair, R.M. ; Major St. John, Commanding Officer ; Captains s>kene and Mair ; Lieutenants Ross and Gray ; Dr. Oliver ; privates, 70. At Whakatane : Major Fraser ; Captains Tuke and Richardson ; Lieutenants Hunter and Gundry ; Dr. Baker ; Ensigns Goring and Pitfc; privates, 50; and a few Maoris who are continually migrating to and from Wliakatane to their own place at Maketu, and need therefore scarcely be counted on, alihou h they are in receipt of Government pay of 3s. 6d. "per day. So we have three majors, four captains, four lieutenants, two doctors, and two eusigns to officer about 120 men. Poor New Zealand ! A meeting of the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry wan held ou the 31st March, when an address was prepared for presentation to Captain Gwynneth, on the eve of hi* departure from the district, and resignation of his command of the corps. Captain Gwynneth was-requeated to withhold his resignation until after he shall have received the capitation grant due to the corps. The following is the address, and Captain Gwynneth's reply :— "B.P.V.C. " To Captain Gwynneth. '•Dear Sir, — We, the undersigned officers and men of the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry, do hereby expre-s to you 6ur sincere and heartfelt regret at the uhfortunate necessity which compels you to resign the command you have hitherto so ably and satisfactorily held in this corps. We beg of you to accept our most grateful thanks for the energy and perseverance with which yeu have forwarded the interests of the corps throughout, and for the kind and forbearing manner in which you have fulfilled the duties of Commanding Officer over us. In conclusion, we pray that, whatever may be your future course of life, you may meet with the honour and succeis you so woithily deserve. " (Signtd by 32 Officers and Men.) " Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, 11 March 31, 1868."

"Opotiki, April 11, 1868, "To Lieutenant Thompson, an<l the officers, noncommissioned officers, and privates of the Bay of Plenty Volunteer Cavalry. •'Gentlemen, — I have the honour to thank you for the addiesa forwarded by you to me on the eve of my departure from tbe district (for a time). It gives me great pleasure to find that my endeavours to promote the welfare of the corps have been appreciated by the members of it, especially as T know that a great amount of opprobrium generally attaches to the commanding officer of any young corps of volunteers when he has to maintain the necessary discipline amongst its member', which many of them have been unaccustomed to. I have »lso to thank you for your kind wishes for my future welfare, and, in reply, to inform you that I shall always look upon the corps as my own, and take a lively interest in its welfare. Trusting you may contiuue your drill instruction, and always sLow the same alacrity, you have hitherto done in assembling at a moment's notice when the distuib-'d state o£ the district require 1 your srrvicro, — I have, &c, "John Gwtnnbth, "Captain Commanding 8.P.V.C."