AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 11 September 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

AUCKLAND.

ARRIVAL OF VOLUNTEERS. (From the Daily Southern Cross , Sept. 4.) Xesterday will be memorable for the arrival of the first instalment of Australian Military Settlers. Whether it be a good omen or not of a prosperous campaign, the winds blew fair, and brought the good ship Kale , Captain J. B. Sherlock, into her desired haven, after a remarkably quick run of sis. days and a half from Sydney. The Kate came round the heads about *8 o’clock in the morning, and eventually brought up alongside the Queen-street Wharf. There was a novelty about the event which naturally excited considerable interest in the townsfolk. Of course it was not the number of men that arrived that caused this, for they are but a handful compared with our wants; but it was the knowledge that they were the forerunners of 9 considerable reinforcement, by whose assistance it is hoped the present rebellion will be quelled. When the men, eighty in number, landed on the Wharf, their appearance at once indicated that a good selection had been made. Fine robust looking men they were, most of them of mature ages, and just such as are wanted to fight the rebels, and cultivate the lands of Waikato into what they should be, and will bo eventually, the garden of New Zealand .The uniform worn is simple and, to all appearance, comfortable. A blue shirt and cap, grey trousers, leather gaiters, strong winter boots, and a grey blanket, coiled in the approved fashion over the shoulder, form their equipment. After a short halt, the Volunteers marched up the Queen street wharf, headed by our local Volunteer band playing a lively air, and cheered occasionally by a crowd of spectators, who followed them. The men themselves joined heartily in these demonstrations, and seemed in as good spirits as if they were taking olf their armour, instead of being about to put it on, and to experience the discomfort and dangers ot Ataori bush warfare. It was evident, however, from the soldierly bearing of some of (hern, that it was net their first experience of military life ; and in proof of this we may say we have heard since that some of them, both officers and men, are old campaigners. As they passed through Queen-street and Shorlland-strcet, on their way to the barracks, they were loudly cheered ; and if anything beyond the prospect of getting fifty acre blocks, and town allotments in the City of’ Waikato that is to be, were wanting to incite them to the proper fulfilment of their self-imposed duty they had it in the hearty welcome they received. On reaching the barrack yard they came to a halt near the telegraph olliee, where quarters had been set apart tor them, and after some few preliminaries they retired to their several quarters. Many of them did not remain long there, but strolled about the town with the view of making the most of the brief period during which they will remain here—and brief it will be, for wo understand that they are to march to-day for Otahuhu. The men are under (he command of Captain Drury, Ensign R. J. Coulter, and Lieut. Abbott, and Dr. Drake is their medical superintendent. Though a paragraph, which we publish elsewhere, states that there was to be no public demonstration on the departure of the men from Sydney, wo understand that there was such a demonstration, as shown by the fact that 4,000 or 5,000 persons were present at their embarkation at the Patent Slip \\ barf; the volunteer band playing the men to the vessel. In all about 300 men enrolled themselves at Sydney, and those who arrived yesterday were a selection from them. The nest detachment of them were to leave by the Sea Gull, which vessel was being fitted up at the Patent Slip Wharf, and is now probably’ on her way here. As regards the progress of the military settlement movement in Melbourne, it is all that could be desired. In the words of the telegram “ Col. Pitt had enrolled 250 fine young fellows,” and lie expected to have more applications than arc wanted. Every’ facility was to be given to him by the Government for carrying out his mission. Not only in Sydney and Melbourne has the movement been favorably received, but by later news from Hobarton wo are informed that a volunteer contingent could be easily’ raised there. Waikato lands seem to be at a premium, and we do not see why, after the noble response of the Government there to our demand for troops, Tasmanian volunteers should not have a slice of the far-famed Waikato country too. Much pleased’ will the colonists be to find that Victoria is again about to act the same generous part which she did in the last Taranaki war. “The whole of the troops stationed there were to be despatched to New Zealand, except six drill instructors.” The troops there number some 340 men of the 40th regiment and 350 of the Royal Artillery, which, with the battery of Armstrong guns wo are also to have, will be a strong reinforcement from that colony, We give the above on the authority of a telegram in the Sydney Herald. A telegram in (he Empire states that only half of the artillery and 70 men of the 40th regiment are coining, but we have reason to believe that the former statement is correct, viz., that “the whole of the troops” are to be sent here. Probably some of these may be brought over by the Eclipse, which left this port on the 1/th ultimo. She had not reached Sydney when the Kate left, so it is probable that she Las gone on to Melbourne.