THE LATE FIRING AT NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 170, 9 November 1881, Page 2

THE LATE FIRING AT NORMANBY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sir, — In your edition of the 7th insfc., you state that persons here were giving vent to their feelings, on Saturday last, by firing volleys in honor of Te Whiti's capture. The fact really was that the volunteers were using blank cartridge at drill. People here are not accustomed to put themselves into any great state of excitement ou the native question without due cause; and do not regard a Maori scare as simply an opportunity of inducing the Government to defray two-thirds of the expense of a totally unnecessary new building. We hear that it is currently reported in Hawera that we are iv nightly danger of having our throats cut, and our houses burnt down, as we lie so near the bush, that at any time the Maoris could surprise the town ; but your paper, which has been so eloquent on the necessity of erecting defences for Hawera, and of galvanizing your moribund Cavalry Corps into life, has not one word to say in favor of providing any defence for Normanby. As I said before, we are not in a state of terror, and do not desire drill-sheds, cavalry corps, bodies of A.C.'s, or any other means of defence ; but the action taken by you seems to us here not very sympathetic or straightforward. — I | am, <&<;., Fair Fiay. Normanby, Nov. 8. j [We have taken the liberty of excising one paragraph, which, we think, our correspondent will, on reflection, regret having written. — Ed. Star.]