Correspondence.

Wanganui Herald, Volume V, Issue 16712, 7 February 1873, Page 2

Correspondence.

answer, lam, &c, Fair Play.

AHMED CONSTABULARY

To the Editor of the Evening Herald

Hawei-a, sth Feb, 1873. Sin,—Up to a short time ago people were under the impression that promotion in the \nned Constabulary went occordinir to seniority and merit, but the kte promotion in the depot has dispelled that impves-j sion, and shows that seniority and merit has nothing to do in getting a member of the Force promotion. There are several Sergt.-Majors and Sergeants who have been serving in the A.O. for the last five years, find in every respect qualified for any rank in the service.; men who won their promotion in front of the euetr-y, and still-hold their positions ; men who bore all hinds of privations ; fought and bled for the country ; and this is their reward !—The promotion which they are justly and lawfully entitled to is given to men who have been only a few months in the Force ; men who have never done an hour's duty in the bush, and were not to he found when fighti men were required, but step in when pec. •. is restored, and are given the bread from the mouths of those who earned it at the risk of their, lives. Now, Sir, is this fairplay :is it just; is it honest; is it not enough to make any right thinking man feel disgusted with a service where such jobbery is carried' on. What inducement is there for a man to stop in a service where there is no chance of promotion except you baye private influence. Generous country ! This your reward to those who answered to your call in time of need and defended your cause ! But if ever you will have to" call again, depend upon it it will have to be loud and shrill, with an honest mail at the head of the A.C., to deal out your rewards without favour or affection, before those who have had practical experience of your generosity for bravery will

To the Editor of the Evening Herald Horowheuua, January, 3lst 1873.

Silt, —I read a local in your issue of the 11th inst., commenting upon the disgraceful doings at Otaki. I know nothing or what was done on New Year's Day, as I was in Wellington, but as for disgraceful proceedings on Boxing Day I defy any one with the least regard for truth to point out any one thing that could be called disgraceful. There were races on the fiat, which were -well contested; there was a booth on the course, and plenty to drink. With all this I only saw two "that were worse for liquor, and they rode home on horseback full tilt without a fall, so they ! could not have been very drunk. There was but one row, which" was short, and thai? was caused by the same boy that illused _ Walsh. He (the boy) got'well paid for it, for his two half caste brothers knocked him down and gave such a kicking that ought to have kept him quiet for some time. He is.onlyalad but a very bad one. The races was over about six o'clock when all went home peaceably and quiet. _ There was no row in the 'town that night, for most of the natives were at a dance in one of the large houses lent to j them and the whites/by the Bdv Mr Williams, where dancing W a s kept up till two o'clock, when all went home. I was on the course, and at the dance with some of my_ children, and many other respectable white people, whose names I can get any time to certify to the trulh of what I have said. As to Walsh by what I have heard [he was drunk, and ,'behaved very badly the most of the da}', calling the natives bad names, which theydont like. I saw;by the evidence given at the trial that it was at night, he got illused, had it boon by daylight he would have got plenty of help. Sir, I am not taking the natives part, for to my thinking Walsh did not get half enough but knowing you are willing to give fair play I think you will admit it is not fair to blackball all Otaki' for the bad deeds of one or two. I am, Yours, &c, H. McDonald.