A GANG OF BLACKGUARDS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 896, 3 May 1889, Page 31

A GANG OF BLACKGUARDS.

At a time when it is so desirable that the Volunteer branch of our scheme of defence should be as effi-

cient and reputable as possible, it is especially to be regretted that such occurrences as those described in an Auckland telegram elsewhere should have to be recorded to the discredit of our Volunteer force. It is impossible to characterise in too strong language the conduct of that gang of blackguards and cowards who disgraced the Volunteer uniform at Mercer on Sunday last. Those brave (!) fellows seem to have found in a feeble old woman a foe worthy of their valiant steel. Having treated her with outrageous brutality in the first instance, they still further disgraced themselves by drawing their sidearms to protect their pitiful carcases from her attempted reprisals. Add to this monstrous misconduct the fact that they went in for wholesale robbery and destruction of property, and it will be seen . that we have truly a nice lot of “defenders”—Heaven save the mark !—in Auckland. The Minister of Defence is bound to take prompt and vigorous measures to bring these contemptible ruffians to a due reckoning for their misdeeds. Every man implicated ought to be instantly expelled from the service with all possible ignominy, and should further bp brought to condign

punishment under the criminal law for his share in such shameful and dastardly : outrages.