LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 978, 15 September 1868, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himself responsible fbr

opinions expressed by correspondents,

Sib, — As the same things seem different from an opposite view, perhaps you will allow me to point out spjme o£ the. flimsyobjections urged by y oar correspondent to the Napier Brass Band jtiiiiing the Napier Rifle Volunteer Corps. . J

First : As a subscriber, I "cannof agree that it is unjust for the' members of that institution to do so ; neither, in the capar city of a subscriber, d 0, .1 think said correspondent believes soi ' He writes as a Militiaman — for, notwithstanding his incog, he is recog. — and lays himself open to the imputation of jealousy in. seeing a band belonging to any other corps than his own; and that corps,, irith that band leading on the parade ground, he contemplates 'with a feeling akin: to military horror. Second : What control the officers of the Napier Rifles might have over the band, I' don't know ; but " A Subscriber's" chief objection is fatal to his own suggestion. He believes if the band joined " any particular, company " a certain " evil" is sure to follow ; then, for the purpose of facilitating the evil, he suggests, "that they should enroll themselves as bandsmen to the Hawke's Bay Volunteers." In what would the difference of their position consist ? In what way would they "not belong to a particular company, but to Volunteers generally?" They would be H.B.V.'s instead'; of N.R.V.'s. They would have £6 gifre'up their peaceful /occupations and ■become soldiers, in fact, 1 for gude and a', with tlieit pay for their inheritance, and a liability to.be called to any part of the colony. So, indeed, may the Napier Rifle Volunteers have to do all these, save the last; but they, like the militia, are citizen soldiers, and have no pay unless on active service. The members of the band are settlers engaged in trade or some profession, and do not seek to join any corps for a livelihood, such as that to which "A, Subscriber " invites them. Again, is it not equally possible — although quite improbable — that the officers of the Hawke's Bay Volunteers would also seek an exclusive enjoyment and control of the band ?

Third, I am at a loss to see, what amount of breakage the carrying out of their intention of joining the Napier Rifle Volunteers, would involve the subscribers in. Surely no condition was expressed or implied, that on the " faith" of the. band not joining, the aforesaid body, public subscriptions would be given in their aid. , . '-•■-'-■"■".'"•

Further, I have said I am a contributor to their organization, and both on ttife field and in the street, I hope to reap some enjoyment from their laudable exertions ; but I deny in toto that I look upon the step they are about to take as a "frustration of the object for which the, money was raised." Neither has " A Subscriber ' shown that it is so. The Napier Rifle Volunteers may have some .peculiar attraction to the members of the band, which the militia, nor the Hawke's Bay Volunteers, do not offer, such as uniforms, to provide which an annual grantisrmade by the Government ; and it is quite certain that something superior to the nondescript garb of the former is necessary to the creditable and effective appearance of a band. Therefore, I. should think they have a right to elect their own choice in enrolling themselves in any particular corps ; and I do not believe, in doing so, they have any desire to withdraw their services from allothers, or that they can be accused of breaking, faith. • s ;

In conclusion, I must say ypuir.correspondent has gone somewhat oUt'of Jiijs way in assuming a dictation in this matter at all; and his apology to the, band, and negative expression of a wish for the happiness of the Napier Rifle Volunteers — averting, as he hopes to do, so dire ah evil, which threatens- them both — form a true index to his great desire, namely, to have them in His own company. — I am, &c., . .Citizen. _ Napier, September 10. . ■ ' ;