I I shall do no wrong to the merao% of a j gallant, officer (writes the London cor '.respondent of the Dunedin Star) if I now reveal a secret that has hitherto been veiled by military etiquettee. The death ' of Led Alcester, the last survivor of iho three officers who wereresponsiblefor the atl ack on Puketakaure, removes the seal that has bound my lips. The blame of that defeat, if blame there was, has been saddled on Mojor Nelson. True, he was fiery and impetuous, and that, after what he had seen B itish tnops & oomplish at Candahar, Guzoee, Cabool, and Maharaz pore he held the Maoris in small esteem. But the assault on Puketakaure was planned at a council of war held at New Plymouth between Genieral Pratt, Com modore Seymour, and Major Nelson. The general, originally an officer of the Royal Engineer?, or "sappers and miners," was by training; cautious. Major Nelson was doubtful of success. But Commodore Seymour was as sang uine as a sailor usually is. "With one watch of the Pelorus I would march through Now Zealand," was his proud boast. He was not by many the first British officer who had underrated an enemy and suffered for his mistake But in justice to his memory I ought to say that in the opinion of competent judges the disaster might have been converted into a victory had Colonel Gould not been stuck up with a co-operating column of the 65th at a flooded river. It is easy to be wise after the event. Little more than a year ago I stood on the grass-grown summit of Puketakaure Hill, in the midst of a green field, with sheep quietly grazing all about, and I saw how the slorming party had come to grief in a triachcrons morass, which at that tirao was hidden by the high fern.
