Correspondence.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1363, 30 March 1868, Page 5

Correspondence.

Ock correspondence columns being open to all, we do not hold ourselves responsible for any opinions expressed therein. Correspondents are requested to write only on one side 01 the paper, and, to prevent mistakes, they should write as legible ta possible. THE MA.BINE ARTILLERY. To the Editor of the Herald. Sir, —I have to request, on behalf of the corps which I have the honor to command, that you will allow me, both for their credit and for the credit of Sergeant BroDghton, Instructor to the corps, that you will be pleased to alter the remark in your issue of the 23rd inft., relative to the firing of the battery upon the landing of iiie Excellency the Governor. Your reporter stated that his Excellency had to wait until our firing was finished, which was rather slow. 1 beg to state that our salute of 17 prune, was firea in 2 minutes 50 eeends to ten second time, -which ia within the limited time of saluting ordered for land service—the time authorised being 12 seconds. Considering that the corps had only three guns to use for the purpose, and that it was the first time of E&luting by the corps, the firing elicited great commendation from many officers and non-commissioned officers of the Imperial service, and our respected commandant, Capt. Guilding.—l have, &c, E. H. Fbaton, Lieutenant Commanding Naval Artillery Volunteers. [If our correspondent will refer again to the account of the "Landing" he will find that the phrase u-ed by our reporter was a " little alow," not " rather tlow." It is nowhere stated his Fxcellency had to Wait nntil the volunteer firing had finished, but it is a fact of observation that the oarsmen in the man-of-war boat lay upon their oars. The phrase used rather implies the eomplimert of a comparison between the firing of the marine artillery and that of the naval and military. It would have been well if our correspondent woald have weighed the real import of the context, and correctly quoted before making coaipl»int, which cannot have the effect of impr' ving. Our reporter further informs ub that the military officers called " time," and that one gun did not go off at all.—Eβ. jS.Z.H.]