THE VOLUNTEEES AT PARIHAKA.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 134, 7 December 1881, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEEES AT PARIHAKA.

« TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVEKING POST. Sib — In justice to the Wellington rolunt«.:rs, will yon allow me to c >rreot evident misapprehensions which appear in other papers with reference to the position of several corps a.*, the advance on Parihaka. in the Nelson papers the contingent from that district is spoken of as the first to offer their services and als* first on th» scene. Without disparagement to any corps, the factis that the Wellington Naval Brigade first offered, first landed, and did first duty as escort to convoy from Opunake to Bahotu. In Wanganni district the belief obtains that the contingent from that place was the first Tolunteer corps up to, and held " the post of honour" at, Parihaka. Of course such a mistake wa3 natural, aa each party was ignorant of the whereabout* of the others.' But as a fait tho Wellington Naval Brigade was advanced right through P&rihaka, and the Wanganuis took their place in reserve, a portion of them being afterward moved upai stated. I mention this last fact, as Captain Watt unwittingly made such a speech on the reception of his battalion, and in a sketch of Parihaka this contingent is shown in the foremost place, although the Thames and Nelson men were only some 40 or 50 yards on their left, and inside the viliag*. The fact of the Wanganui volunteers ooonpying this position will be a snf&cient contradiction to a statement in the Lyttelton Times that they were sent to Bahotu for writing a letter to tho Defence Minister, asking why they had not bean placod nearer the front. am, <kc., Eri-rnrNiis.