MILITARY SETTLERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 10, Issue 621, 23 June 1866, Page 2

MILITARY SETTLERS.

We regret very much to learn that a misunderstanding has arisen between at least a portion of the military settlers, who ar" rived here by the p.s. Sturt on Wednesday and the officer in command. The circumstances of the case, so far as we have been, able to learn, are very simple. The anxiety seems to have been to get the men to their location at the Patea, with the loss of as little time as possible, and accordingly the Sturt, as we stated on Wednesday, after coaling in Wanganui, sailed for the Patea. The bar, however, was impassable, and the steamer returned to Wanganui in the evening. The order to march overland next morning wa3 then issued, hut the men grumbled ; they wished, not unnaturally, to have a holiday, after their long campaign ; and Ave submit that it would have been but a fiLling Cunccoision to havo xxio.de to them. Most likely some of them might have got drunk, and some of them might have misbehaved themselves in other ways ; still they ivere entitled to a day’s rest and relaxation, and Ave cannot help regarding it as unfortunate that a boon so small Avas not granted. There was no necessity, as far as we are aware, for an immediate march to the Patea ; and it Avill he found that the same strict discipline as is enforced in the British army cannot be carried out among our free lances. Be this as it may, a number of the men—probably about onehalf of them—positively refused to march on Thursday morning, and rather than do so laid doAvn their arms, and these men are just now going about Wanganui, with a feeling of hardship aud injustice rankling at their hearts. Considering all that they had undergone in defence of the Colony, they expected treatment of quite another kind. Now, this is not a desirable state of things, and, in the interests of the public service, Ave are anxious that it should be put an end to. We do not defend the men for throwing down their arms—it Avas the act of persons smarting under irritation ; we never like to impugn the exercise of legitimate authority, but in this case it has been a mistake ; and the public Avill seeliOA’/ A 7 ery much there is to excuse the conduct of the brave felloAvs in the circumstances. And these circumstances should be their excuse ; the commanding officer should accept it as such ; and the men, after receiving a caution, should get back their arms and proceed to the Patea. In simple justice to men thinking themselves hardly treated, Ave most readily rlloav them to tell their own story in our “ Correspondence” column.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT. Thursday, June 36. [Before D. S. Durie, Esq., R.M.] LARCENIES. William Neary was charged in the name of James Hamilton with stealing one pound from the person of prosecutor on the 20th inst. The prisoner pleaded “Not Guilty,”, and the prosecutor not being in attendance the prisoner was discharged. Corporal Thomas Merry, 2nd battalion, 18th regiment, was charged by John Kelly with stealing three pounds from the person on the 20fch inst. The plaintiff gave evidence of the alleged theft, but it failed to satisfy the bench, who dismissed the case. CIVIL CARE. James Day v. James Daly. Claim £3, for stock work. Judgment for plaintiff and costs

The head-quarters and right wing of the 40tli Regt. embarked yesterday on board the hired transport ship Holmesdale, which will leave this port in a day or two for England. It will be remembrred that tlie left wing of the Regiment sailed on beard the Mary Shepherd, on the 7th May. Yesterday the head-quarters and the remaining companies marched into town from Otahuhu and upon arriving at the Albert Barracks halted for refreshment, subsequently proceeding by Princess-street, Shortlandcresent, -Lower Queen-street, along the lower stairs, whence they were taken in man-of-war boats on hoard the Holmesdale. They were preceded by their excellent regimental band, which played at intervals lively airs, of winch the most appropriate and the most popular were “ Home Sweet Home,” St. Patrick’s Day,” and “ Auld Lang Syne.”— ‘ Auckland Herald,’ June 16.