AN ALLEGED GRIEVANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 182, 19 July 1900, Page 2

AN ALLEGED GRIEVANCE.

10 THE EWTOB. Bib, —The claimant cam* to Um> naki with a first-class character, having served 12 years in the Biitiah Amy and been through all the Tmfyq Mutiny receiving the Indian medal of . 1857 and 1858 and 60 soree of tad in centre of heavy bush country, (our miles from any road. Only the track* being cut, the old soldier with great perseverance and hardships fell and cleared 32 acres of this, all hie food, grass seed, etc., having to be carried to the section. When the war broke out in 1868 by Titokowaru this old soldier was forced by the Government to take up arms and fight against the Maories. He fought all through the Maori War, having first joined the Militia, then the A.O. and afterwards rejoined the Rifles, being present at two large engagements, one in Tan* naki, and the other in Poverty Bay. He served with these three corps from/ Ist January 1868, to 1871 all active service, and on returning home in the latter year found that the Government had confiscated his section, and for this he claims the medal and compensation. The first of the two engagements referred to was at Oak*toopa near Waverley*on the 7lh November, 1868, when fifteen wounded men were burned by the Maories. The other was on January 6th, 6th, and 7th, 1869, at Ngtapa in Poverty Bay, where 5 men of Ko. 1 Division, were shot in a rifle-pit by the side of the claimant. To provo tiie correct* nets of llio claimant's statement there •no two sworn witnesses, Jos. Weir >f No. 7 Division A.C., who stated before a Justice of tlis Peace that he was at Ngatapa and Oakatoopa, and Major Swindloy, who also stated that lio was at both engagements, Colonel Whitmore being Commanding officer. Sergt.-Majors M. Quade, Smith, Wake, Corporals Mclfeusio, and ftittiman, Nainer, O'Uonnell, and Black, all of No. 1 Division, AO. are (be chief men who knew he was at both engagement! and if the Government were to inspect jtho strength rolls of November 7th, 1808, and sth, Gtb, and 7th January, 1869, which are the dates on which the engagements were fought, they can prove for themselves the correctness of these statements. In the event of the Government not taking steps to enquire into this matter the claimant will place the whole of the ease before the British War Office.—l am, eta, Eichabd CurroßD. New Plymouth, June 30th.