REMOVAL OF THE TROOPS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1062, 2 July 1869, Page 2

REMOVAL OF THE TROOPS.

By the arrival of the Wellington we learn that peremptory orders have come out for the removal of the 1 8th from tbis colony — - the Commodore having received instructions to concentrate without delay the regiment in Auckland, preparatory to its embarkation for the Australian colonies^ Very shortly, therefore, no Imperial soldier' will be left in New Zealand.

Surely "Great Britain," asßhe loves to style herself, musfc be rapidly approaching her decline and fall. At all events slie shews a want of humanity which will ever be a blot on her fair fame,. and which cannot fail to lower her in the scale of nations. At a time when, every mail brings intelligence of one or more dreadful massacres perpetrated in a British colony, the inhabitants of which emigrated on the supposition that, being British subjects,' they would continue to live under Britisb.protection, — at that very time the Honle authorities withdraw from the colony every British soldier, and leave a handful of colonists to defend themselves, how best they mayj against hordes of bloodthirsty savage's. ' Such an act, we will venture, to say, is Unexampled in British history, and must make the much vaunted British flag look very, contemptible in the eyes of the other 'nations, of the world. -* ! ;r The removal from Napier of/the detaohr ment stationed there will have a very serious effect in diminishing confidence. Actual danger may be averted in the future, but the feeling of security engendered by the presence in our taidst of a disciplined force, however small, will riot, for a length of time, be restored.' The rapidity of movement, on the part of Captain Wray's detachment, on the night 6f the Hau Hau alarm, shewed how emiihenfly fitted they were to act in the midst of threatened danger ; and their absence, on any similar occasion, will be keenly felt.

Regrets, however, as well as forebodings, are alike unavailing; a very few days will see the departure of Captaift Wray and his detachment. Apart from* more weighty reasons, their loss, on social grounds, will be felt by the community generally. The officers have always taken a kindly interest in public amusements or anything else of a social character, and the men of the force have shewn themselves to 'be most exemplary in their conduct — a pattern for imitation by the British soldier all over the world. We wish all future happiness to the detachment about to leave us.