THE OTAGO PACK SADDLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1093, 16 October 1869, Page 2

THE OTAGO PACK SADDLE

The following letter on this subject has been published in the Army and Navy Gazette: —“ A letter on the subject of the Ota- ■ go pack saddle, which appeared in your columns of July 25, 1868, having been brought to my notice by a friend who happened to know something of the truth of the business, I feel called upon in justice to myself to request you to make public the real history of the invention, although in so doing I am reluctantly compelled to upset, not only the pretty little story of the modest department at Woolwich, but also to set aside the pretensions advanced on behalf of the director of Transport, New Zealand. There is, as usual in similar cases, a large admixture of truth in the account given by your correspondent ‘H.’andl have only to complain that he awards the merit to another which I claim as of right due to myself. The history of the matter is briefly this : —1 happened during the year 1863 to be living many miles up the country in Otago, and was called on to do a large amount of packing. The saddles which I used for the purpose were the common Cape pattern, precisely similar to those supplied from the stores department to the Imperial troops. The want of ventilation and the constant friction with the closing of the pads from the weight of the load upon the horses’ withers and the ridge of the back speedily rendered every animal I had useless. I tried the riding saddle, making such additions to it and alterations as I found necessary from time to time to effect the object I had in view. The idea uponVhich I worked was suggested to me by the principle adopted in the knapsack invented by my late father, Colonel Spiller, of the Royal Artillery, in 1861. 1 worked at it for a considerable time, and incurred no small expense, until I realised my conception of what a packsaddle ought to be, and which I found, I am glad to say, work perfectly in every particular, whether horses or bullocks, were employed. During the late campaign in New Zealand, in the same year, I was attached to Her Majesty’s Transport Corps, in the Waikato and Tauranga actively employed in the field. The destruction of the pack animals from the use of the Government pack saddle was a constant theme of animadversion. I spoke of my invention to the Director of Transport, Commissary-General Baily, and he requested me to get a saddle made after my plan, which I did at my own expense, and which upon trial was entirely approved of, and obtained the favourable notice of General Sir D. Cameron, K.C.B. ; General Sir T. Chute, K.C.B. ; Colonel O’ Brian, Commanding Military Train ; Colonel Gamble, Quartermaster-General; Colonel Moule, Royal Engineers ; CommissaryGeneral Jones, Commisary-General Baily, Major Baker, Assistant Adjutant-General; Captain H. Hill, aide-de-camp ; Major the Hon. F. Le P. Trench, 40th Regiment ; Captain Tigh, who commanded my own division of Transport—all or any of whom could corroborate the truth of my statement and substantiate the justice of my claim. 1 was advised by my friends to make application to the Colonial Government for some recognition of the great service I had rendered in perfecting an invention whereby so many thousands of pounds would be saved to the government, and was informed by the Hon. the Colonial Defence Minister that, whilst the Colonial Government fully recognised the value of myinvention, it was a subject entirely for the consideration of the Imperial authorities. 1 have addressed the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for War on the subject ; and as my attention was drawn to the matter through the letter of your correspondent ‘ H.,’ which appeared in your columns, I trust you will afford my letter every publicity in making this somewhat tardy claim for justice. Being separated by so many miles from the opportunity myself, I must leave the affair entirely in your hands and those of my friends, in the old country who are acquainted with the matter, for my vindication. Harvey Spiller, Captain and Sub-In-spector Armed Constabulary, Com. Wairoa District, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.”