BURNT IN EFFIGY.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 27 May 1881, Page 2

BURNT IN EFFIGY.

» M James Brown, whose writings under tbe nom de plume of *Snjder* have made him well-known throughout New Zealand, baa had tbe misfortune to fall foul of tbe *J f Battery of Artillery Volunteers at Poverty Bay, He published in tbe Poverty Bay Herald dome severe strictures on tbe discipline maintained at tbe Volunteer Easter Encampment in that district, and in retaliation the "Volunteers burnt; him in effigy. In a subsequent letter to tbe Herald Mr Brown humu rously states the case thus : 'When the effigy of myself was duly completed, I was taken out, hung up on a sour apple tree, to the t ; n whistling of ' Old John Brown.* I was afterwards fired on by a volley, and then carried round the encampment, tbe tin^whistlera playing (he • Rogue's March.' From this T cannot have the least reason to doubt but what strictest discipline was enforced, and martial law rigidly insisted on. And so we live and learn. We learn that while officers and men are on military duty, and in presecne of Her Majesty's Colours and further, presumed to be in the vicinity of an enemy from whom they may expect an attack an any instant — strictest discipline is being enforced and martial law rigidly insisted on whilst hanging, shooting, and burying an editor simply because he wrote of things which be would never have known-— had he not been informed by the Volunteers themselves.' Keeping up till three o'clock in the morning at canteen work and slaying an editor in effigy I now come to know as ' strictest military discipline.' Good help us— the longer a man Hve3 the more he learns. When tie history of Volunteer Encamp* ment comes to be written for the benefit of future generations, what a vast fund of valuable instruction it will afford. GenMeman of the'J' Battery, I have been charged by some two op three among you with having written from malice and vindictiveness. The charge is altogether a wrong and mistaken one. Most of you have been long personally known to me. Many have been my personal friends, Somt I have been on visiting terms with. I have dined and supped with you, have offered you the hospitality of my house, and have received yours hi return. I have drank with you / have borrowed your tobacco, and have during our acquaintance and friend* ship ' made ' a few knives, and I hope yet, when in your cooler and less angry moments, when you come to understand that it was the system I attacked and not 'yourselves* that we shall|once more resume acquaintainship and enter upon former friendly feelings.'