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Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 307, 4 June 1889, Page 2

The Atkinson Government have shown their opponents another weak point on which an attack may with justice be made. A message from Wellington on Saturday, gives the following extract from the Post:—Hitherto there has been but three full colonels ever commissioned in the New Zealand Militia or Volunteers. They were the Hon. Colonel Haultain, the Hon. Colonel Ke any, and the Hon. Sir George Whitmore. Two at least were distinguished officers in the field, and all held high political position, A fourth colonel has now been made, and a rank deemed too high to bo conferred on such gallant officers as Lieutenant-Colonel M'Don. nell, Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts, and Lieutenant Colonel Lyon has now been conferred upon the Assistant Under Secretary of Defence, a retired captain of the Imperia] force, whose only connection with military matters in this colony has been as a paid official in the piping times of peace—as Adjutant at Nelson and at the Hutt, and subsequently an officer in the Defence Department. We have no hesitation la characterising tha appointment as a most unjustifiable and improper one. It is little less than an insult to the many other officers who have a much better claim to such promotion —a claim, in many instances, based on brave service in the field, and w« are sura it is one whioh will be unpopular with, and be resented by, the force of which we suppose “ Colonel ” Humfrey is now to be regarded as Com-mander-in-Chief.