LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 979, 19 September 1868, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himself responsible for

opinions expressed by correspondents,

Sir, — Permit me, through your widely circulated columns, to make a few remarks on the late disastrous flight of tho Colonial troops on the West Coast, from, in all probability, an inferior force of the Natives. They give the number of the enemy killed, which is a very unusual thing for a victorious force to do, let alone a force which is well beaten. Wow when the Imperial forces were out on active service, both in the Waikato and on tho West Coast, under the generalship of Sir Duncan Cameron, both the Press and Government of this couutry were ever and always heaping abuse both on the' officers and men ; — even the Hon. Mr. Fox, in his work on the New Zealand war, did not spare his taunts and sarcastic remarks on any little defeat the troops met with. But, thanks be to God, those defeats were nothing in comparison

to the late shameful conduct on the West Coast, and any obstacle that was placed in front of. the troops was not brought on by themselves, but by those would-be legislators of this colony who preferred the drawing-room and the gossip of the club-houses of Auckland. Before concluding, I would wish to ask .of , any who were on the expedition at Poverty Bay under Col. Whitmore, whether, Captain Carr was really shot dead, or whether he was left to die of his wounds.

Hoping that you will give this space in your valuable paper, I am, &c, Imperialist.

Sie,— ln reading your issue of the Bth inst., I find a letter from Wairoa, signed by a " Military Settler," wherein he states that on the Waiau river there is a blockhouse containing "30 stand of arms and 3000 rounds of ball cartridge," guarded merely by a. padlock. ..-.'/. .. I, as one of the public, trust that the authorities will see to their safety, either by distribution or otherwise, to prevent their falling, by possibility, into the hands of hostile natives.

I trust before this reaches you, such security of them will be effected, arid not leave a tempting prize to the already well armed "liberated" prisoners. Some of our bravest have lately fallen, by what were once Government rifles and ammunition. The past should teach us all experience.—l am, &c,

A. M. 'Newman.