LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1014, 16 January 1869, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

The Editor does not hold himself responsible foiopinions expressed by correspondents. g IR) — l a a late Gazette the public are informed that Major Lambert is promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel, date of commission December 19, 1868. One is tempted to ask the reason for such promotion, and in default of getting any solution of the problem, the public must jump at a conclusion. If it happens to be wrong, perhaps somebody will put the public right. Is Colonel Lambert's promotion due to the recognition of his great services rendered to the country by refusing to act under Mr. McLean's orders at a time, by so doing, the Poverty Bay massacre might (under Providence) have been prevented ? Is it possible that the Ministry, recognising the successful thwarting of a useful public servant as being of greater service to the colony than activity in suppression of rebellion, have thus gracefully acknowledged tho service? Settleb. Sir, — I have the honor to belong to Her Majesty's Bth. company of the Napier Militia. lam what people here somewhat flippantly call a new clium, and have only recently been enrolled in the abovenamed distinguished portion, of Her Majesty's force. I have, unhappily for my own I peace of mind, little of the dare-devil in me, but have a considerable regard for my own personal safety. Hinc illco lachrymce. After about two drillings, I was, with, the whole Napier force, marched to the top of a hill, with a band of music playing. Before this I must tell you I had on a previous drill been ordered to " form fours." I leave your readers to judge of the absurdity of a command of this kind without a word of previous explanation. We were ordered to " shoulder arms," and, now mark the next command, " Fix bayonets." Yes, sir, " Fix bayonets" at " shouldered arms !" Shade of Wellington, have pity on us ! Now, sir, I'm coming to my troubles. Let us return to the hill where we are formed in line. " With blank cartridge I must here remark that my rear rank man was private Muzzle. Muzzle informed me in confidence over a pint of beer, that he never fired off a piece before. Of course every man loaded any way he could — some right, but, alas! the far greater proportion any way but according to rule. Muzzle, with an obstinacy worthy a better cause, would cap with his rifle's point just behind my right ear. The angle was a peculiar one, inclining a little upwards and towards the left. The consequences of an explosion (by no means improbable) would have been the loss of the writer's right ear, the abrasion of the skull, the right lobe of the brain would have been entirely shattered, the dexter eye would have seen no more, and seven orphans would have been left to the apocryphal guardianship of the state ! After about half an hour of this dangerous work we were marched back and dismissed, much to my relief and the quietude of my nerves. We had a repetition of this amusement last Saturday, but the danger was infinitely greater. Muzzle was again in the rear rank. I think the rascal purposely picks me out as a front, because I am rather tall and good tempered, and lie thinks Ms blunders are not noticed, or at least not resented. We had that terrible firing over again. Not a word of command could I hear from, my own officers : an indistinct falsetto voice was once or twice audible, but nothing defined and clear. At last I did hear the words " Charge bayonets" from Captain "Withers. Of all the queer charges ever perpetrated, that was the queerest. It was certainly unique. " The thin red lino" — ho, not the red — the thin motley line soon became serried. Two of my right-hand men sank back. Muzzle's right-hand man with others in the rear charged too, as if emulous of the deeds of Chester and Stanley in "Marmiqn." It was no joke, however, for poor Pilgarlic, for one of the two men who had dropped behind (fearing being run through by Muzzle's right-hand man) turned his head to look back, and the consequence was that a bundle of nerves in the fleshy portion of the lower part of the back apprised me that a bayonet had effected an incipient entry. Of course I hollowed, and thereby saved myself from further mutilation. Six rifles were discharged prematurely— i.e., without -word of command. One man managed to get four charges in his piece, and when at last ordered to discharge it, asked for a back as a support to chedk the recoil ! Tiie words of command from the company's officers have nob sufficient pause between them— " ready" and " present" have been given in one breath. The non-commissioned officers have no idea of looking after the men : their use seems to be a kind of ornament to the company. They did nob see that the men ' ' locked up " when firing. In fact, we are being taught the algebra of military drill before we have learned the notation. How long are we to have this anomaly ? How loug are the smart men to be hampered, impeded, and imperilled by the obtuse and careless ? Is there any use in squad drill ? Only last night, when ordered to present, some of the rear came to the charge, and this, too, in close order! Why were these men not marked, and handed over to the drillsergeant ? Why were not the premature fixers also handed over to the drill instructor ? Are these irregularities to continue ad ivjinitw,m ? Several men boast of their obstinacy and indifference. The only cure is to mark them. lam sure, however, the majority are willing to learn under proper teaching. Let us begin at the beginning ; — let us have more of the drill-sergeants, and less of the officers. Nobody can deny the necessity of our becoming citizen soldiers ; but I certainly do deny the necessity of personally being a mark for Muzzle's stupidity and blundering. Make Muzzle learn Hs alphabet, and not trust to the Lap-hazard system of doing tilings. My romarks are chieflyapplied to No. 8 Company, the -writer having little chance of noting the efficiency of the others. I do trust wo may have something like a system, that vre may drill without fear of being bayoneted, and that those gentlemen who feel themselves in a false position from having accepted commissions they are in no way qualified to fulfil, will have the grace and good sense to resign and mnke way for better men. At present, in 'No. 8 Company there is no confidence placed in its officers. The truth is not at all times agreeable, but it is always -wholesome ; and knowing as I do the feelings of my comrades. I can confidently say that there are few but what would rather trust to their own sagacity and act according to their own judgment in tho hour of peril, than be led by those who appear to be deficient of the simplest rudiments of the military art. " Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well, " is a tmo old saying exceedingly applicable to military matters. Laxity never leads to excellence. In conclusion, I hope tho pertinacious corporal who must always help to swell the supernumerary rank will be taught his place ; or, if his procedure is nn advertisement for promotion, why not make a sergeant; of him at once r and then there will be less jealousy in the ranks. — I am, &0,, Piioabmo Patjpsstpe.