THE ARMED CONSTABULARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 921, 24 July 1869, Page 5

THE ARMED CONSTABULARY.

A non-commisioned officer of the Otago Volunteers writes to the Southern Cross, regarding the treatment of the Armed Constabulary, as follows : — " Being desirous of seeing for myself how the war is carried on, I became attached aa a volunteer to X Division, A.C. The first thing that I beheld at Wereroa was the mon nearly all dressed in different costumes, and I leave you to imagine to yourself about 90 men on parade. Some had no trousers on, but wore shawls ; one was in drawers, with a nightcap on, &o. ; some had long rifles, some had bayonets, dome had only the scabbard, others had carbines and revolvers, and the variety of cups worn by the men really was laughable. But tlie worst had to come when an attempt was made to drill them. Of the men generally thoy were, 1 found, nearly all rough diamond?, with a sprinkling of broken-down gentlemen ; and my candid opinion of them, after three months' active service, was that they could be made, with proper drilling and looking after their comforts a little, alao by giving them what tho regulars have, aa tho following will show what is wanted; then by showing them that they aro treated like men, and that the country relies on thorn to help and proteot tho hearths and homes of this favoured and beautiful land, esprit do corps would prompt the men to obedience, and to perform deods of valour. As it is now, tho mon have mutinied throe times within the last four months. This speaks for itsolf. Nearly twenty mon of the above division havo attomptcd to dosort this month ; many of thorn have boon caught, somo have escapod. Not having enough to cat, and tbo clothes sorved out to thorn being ac bad, and tho faot of thoir pay always being months behind — theso faots alono havo mado thorn (and will make tho best men In the world) mutiny.

Tho Bolf«roliant pvty is apparently doterminod that thoro slul l bo uo dissolution on tho question of Self-reliance, and to that end, tho Wellington Independent endeavours to frighten His Excolloncy. It says: — Sir George Bowen has received snftioiont intimation from tho Homo authorities, that it is a part of tho Inaporial policy to leave the oolonios to defend thomiolves, and that with regard to military oosistivnoo to Now Zoaland tho Homo Govornmont is specially determined. If his Exoollonoy should daro in tho faco of his numerous do* spatchos on this subject to diisolvo tno Assembly upon tho question of troops, ho will simply piano himself in this position :— Tho Imperial Govornmout says " wo will not sond troop*, and you are instructed to srnd away at once tho fow that remain. 1 ' Tho Governor by dissolving will say H you know nothing abont it ; Ido ; and troop* must bo sont." Should His Exoollonoy choooo to ohango hii presont pleasant qnartors for tho dooont retirement of soroo potty liitlo colony, or tho relaxations of an English watering place, our Adrioo to him i»~dis»olr*