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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 134, 7 August 1863, Page 2

Saturday, Ist August, 1863, was an eventful day in the history of Hawke’s Bay. At an early hour Councellors in gowns and wigs, and policemen in strong force, gave other and sundry indications of the presence of law and justice, somewhere in the neighbourhood. Respectable and substantial burghers and country settlers might be seen converging from all points of the compass to the one great point of attraction the Hall of Council. Hither in haste came all those who having the terror of Judge Johnston and a d£lo fine before their eyes, desired to be as enlightened jurors, early in their place. All being now assembled the learned Judge proceeded under cover of his venerable wig to give to his expectant and awe-struck audience a neat and concise idea of the advantages to be derived from the administration of justice, and from the due execution of the law, enforced by his arguments with many extremely soothing and gratifying observations. In illustration, and to prove the force of these remarks, and to shew that his (the learned Judge’s) ideas upon this important subject were really practical, and by no means confined to the theory of the thing, he at once gave a striking example in point, and came down upon his brother big wig the Sheriff for non-at-tendance at the proper time and place along with the other and lesser luminaries required to throw light upon the subject, and snuffed that distinguished rushlight to the tune of a cool two hundred. Thus the ends of justice were met at the very beginning of the proceedings, and even the most hardened cal-

prit must be that to be “ worked off” in such excellent English by so just a Judge would be a most unanswerable argument as to his own guilt and his merciful Judge’s wisdom. After the due solemnities had been gone through, and a great deal of swearing had been gone through also, the parties separated in high spirits, to meet again for the transaction of business on the 3rd instant. MILITIA CALLED OUT. At two o’clock on the Ist instant, the men of Napier were required to present themselves before the commandant, and answer each to his name as one of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria’s liege subjects enrolled on the Militia list. That exciting ceremony being duly got through, and the Volunteers having separated from the Militia, or, as our fhcetious contemporary calls it, “ the chaff was separated from the wheat,” each man was then presented with an Enfield rifle. The commandant having formed the companies into three sides of a square, proceeded to address them in a neat speech, which was received with satisfaction. Each Captain now stood forth at the head of his men, and after sundry evolutions had been gone through, and many a respectable citizen had nearly lost his eye in the struggle to carry his formidable-looking but strange to him weapon in a proper manner, the men were marched off the ground. Proceeding in a very respectable order, and marching, taking all things into consideration, in a very creditable manner, each company got itself away to the depot, at which point another halt was called, for the purpose of giving to every warrior in embryo another, and very nearly a finishing touch. No. 1 Company was of course served as No. 1 ought always to be, viz., first. Here began a most amusing scene, venerable fathers of families, merchants, and gentlemen of all classes, ages, and sizes might be seen, “eager for the fray,” buckling themselves up in the most cumbrous of manners, straps became irretrievably entangled in legs, and arms might be detected hopelessly pinioned with unaccountable and most vexatious gear. Each man received a respectable box, and other little matters, which, taken together, we considered to be a masterpiece of inventive genius. In time of war, the soldier is supposed to carry his ammunition and other little trifles of that sort in these numerous pouches and contrivances. Now in time of peace, and herein appears the great power of genius, the terrible cartridge box becomes a peaceful and balmy receptacle for the inoffensive and nourishing sandwich, and the ferocious and bloody-looking cap-pouch is transformed by one wave of the olive-branch into a most commodious and convenient holder of the refreshing weed ; and, in short, so perfect is the whole material that a man in two minutes can be transformed from a sanguinary and determined warrior, into the most innocent and harmless of God’s creatures, and vice versa. Charming reflection, is it not ? Being all now regularly sworn in, and properly instituted as a legal and lawfully assembled body of men in arms, the proceedings terminated, and each man took himself and his newly-acquired properties home.

Upon the whole, the sight of many men gathered together and with every appearance of unanimity and desire each to emulate the other in efficiency, is highly gratifying, because, although it is by no means agreeable to reflect that in return there is a chance of being practicably engaged in fighting it is still pleasant to know that he have the wherewithal of men and means. We observed that the Captain of No. 1 Company appeared somewhat acquainted with the art of war, as he moved his men off in good style.

The authorities deserve thanks for the efficiency of the accoutrements of the men ; the rifles are of the first class, nothing can be more effective as a weapon.

A public meeting was held at the Settlers’ Hotel on Ist instant for the purpose of considering the best means of getting up a Volunteer Cavalry Corps. Mr. Powdrell, senr., having been unanimously requested to take the chair. Mr. Harris, being appointed Secretary, a letter from Captain Gordon, stating that he would be happy to accept the command was read. Captain Gordon was therefore proposed by Mr. Rich, and seconded by Mr. Munro as Commandant and elected accordingly with enthusiasm. Mr. Way proposed Mr Rich, as second in command, which was seconded and carried unanimously.