Correspondence.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 297, 25 October 1864, Page 5

Correspondence.

To the Editor of (ho New Zealand Herald. Snt, —May I request the favor of the insertion in vour paper of the enclosed letter from Mr. "Wrigg, C.E. Yours, &c., C. Hf.AI'H . Auckland, 24th October, 18G1. " "Wyndham-streot, Auckland, "21st October, 1801. "Sin, —Since you called upon mo oil the th inst, I have had an opportunity of reading the reports you left in my hands. From those documents there can be no cioubt that yon were the first to draw the attention of bis Honor the Superintendent to the Nihotupu -tivcr as an available source for supplying Auckland with water. " Your reports were not placed in my hands for the purpose of being examined by me, and therefore, beyond the mention made of you by Mr. Harding in his statements, I had no oflicial knowledge of your having previously examined the Nihotupu River, o X should not have failed to give them such consideration as they required. "In the Ne\v Zealand llekalu of this day, I regret to find that the Kditor of that journal is under the impression that I have taken the merit of the discovery of the Nihotupu River as one suitable to supply Auckland with water. 1 have never desired to do so but in my report have merely discharged my duty to he Government 'in investigating the. meiits of the arious schemes they thought proper to place in my ands for examination, and claim no merit whatever

boyond discharging that duty without, bias to any paiticular scliumo. " I am, Sir, " Your oliedient servant, "JiENitv Wkioo. " Major Hnnphy, Parnell." THE VICTORIA CROSS. To tho Editor of tho Ni;w Zealand llek.u.ii. Sir, —By the mail that lias lately arrived we see that the Victoria Cross has been conferred on Colonel McNeill, A.D C., for brave conduct before the enemy 11 ear Ohapti. Now, without in any way wishing to detract from the gallantry and sit hi/ froiil of that wellknown oilicer, I would simply ask why such a distinguished honor has been conferred on him when Sergeant Keurick <M' the Colonial Defence l''otee (who only a few days previous to the taking place of the atl'air in question was, as your readers may remember, in far greater peril of his life), has not so muck as have been mentioned in any despatches, or received any token of reward of merit from either Imperial or Colonial Governments. J t seems hard that where an otiieer should obtain the Yirtoria Cross a sergeant, should not even be mentioned, hut have remained in exactly the same position up to the present date, uncared for by any but his own friends, thoso who served with him, who saw him wounded at Orakau, and have witnessed his invariable coolness in all enterprises of any danger. It. is not now too late. If he bo debarred from enjoying any Imperia honors on account of having served in a Colonial force, should not tho colony reward him ; for where real merit- is proved, am! one man is i'c» aided, whv should not also another reap the same or an equivalent mark of approbation from the country ? Hoping, sir, you will kindly give publicity to this case in vonr widely-circulated paper, 1 remain yours. •£*<■., On ru. Auckland, October 2 1.