MILITARY ITEMS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 561, 19 March 1868, Page 2

MILITARY ITEMS.

The s.s. Lord Ashley, which left Napier for Wellington on Tuesday last, bad on board No 3 company of the 18th Regiment, for location in that city. The Evening News, of the 1-ith hist., thus notices the departure of the company from Auckland ;

This afternoon a detachment of tho ISih Royal Irish, consisting of company No 3, or Capt. Young’s company, marched from the Albert Barracks to tho wharf, where they embarked on board tho Lord Ashley, en route for Wellington. Capt. Young does not accompany the detachment at present, but will wait until the visit of the Governor to Auckland. The detachment which goes to Wellington to-day has been well drilled to the mode of firing the new Snider rifle, which is said to require more care and exactness than the old Enfield, but to be uuon the whole a superior weapon, and capable of effecting great destruction in action. As the detachment passed down Princes and Shortland streets to the wharf some martial music was played by the band whoso enlivening strains drew quite a crowd as they passed along, which assumed considerable dimensions on reaching the wharf. At the rear of the company was led a pet goat, dressed with the gayest ribons, and evidently a great pet with the men, which animal will accompany them to tho Empire City.

Lieut. Pearson, Ensign Powell, and Assistant-surgeon Carson are the only officers with the company. Lieut. Minnett, Musketry Instructor to the 18tb Regiment, was a passenger by. the Lord Ashley from Auckland. One of the objects of his visit is to put No 7 company, at present stationed in Gore Browne Barracks, through their annual course of rifle ball practice, &c. It is whispered in military circles that Capt. Pitt, Royal Artillery, at present in Australia, is to be appointed aide-de-camp to his Excellency the Governor. Capt. Pitt was some time in Queensland while Sir George Bowen was in that colony. The Government is reported to have commenced the formation of a Police Force in the Waikato, to consist of 100 foot police and 30 mounted. The pay of the former to be 4s per day, and of the latter 6s.