To the Editor of the Tarawa ki Herald. Sir, — Tho attitude which tho Government has taken with respect to the arrears of pay due to tho military settlers renders it necessary that immediate action should be takon by that body should it intend to take any steps in the matter, and to enforce the recognition of its jnst demands. That the Defence Minister should deny the claim for back pay, even after having virtually recog nised it by the proclamation issued at his instiga tion by Hia Excellency Sir George Grey on the 11th December, 1865, need cause no astonish ment to those who have weighed the actions of tho present ministry in the scales of political morality. The utter contempt for all verbal pledges shown in the treatment of the Tikorangi volunteers and of tho companies engaged on the East Coast expedition, and which, though it would perhaps excite the Admiration of an Old Bailey practitioner of the old school, is yet below the dignity of the members of a constitutional government, proves that any demands on the Stafford ministry must be supported by clear documentary evidence, and that no amount of individual pledges, of merely verbal assnrances, though usually considered binding among men of honor, will by them be received with other than nmnixed contempt. But yet, where a claim is made backed by official documents emanating from the ministry, it might be supposed that at least no objections could bo raised either in law or equity to the case being tried before the regular tribunals of the colony, in fact that the claimants have a distinct right to demand that their claim should be so tried ; bnt thi3 is against tho principles of the Stafford Ministry. Fully aware that by a false step they have incurred the responsibility of an enormous expenditure not contemplated and provided for in the estimates, thoy now try by every subterfuge that can be resorted to to prevent the military settlers from bringing the case to an issue in the Supreme Court ; but by their attitude they only Buooeed in proving how very weak the grounds of their plea of" not indebted" must be when thoy thus oloso the Courts to our appeal, and cut off all our means of redress in this colony. 