A NAVAL BRIGADE FOR PORT AHURIRI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 1007, 3 May 1871, Page 2

A NAVAL BRIGADE FOR PORT AHURIRI.

MEETING LAST NIGHT. Pursuant to advertisement, a meeting of those desirous of forming a Naval Brigade for Port Almriri was held in the Commercial Hotel at 8 o'clock last evening, Mr. E. Cook in the chair. There v\ as a very fair attendance, and the interest which seemed to be taken in the proceedings augurs well for the success ot ihe movement.

The Ghairrian having briefly explained the object of the meeting,— Mr. Boutledge, M.P.C., proposed the first resolution, viz. :

That it is the opinion of this meeting that a Naval Brigade should be formed at Port Ahuriri.

Mr D. M'Guire seconded the motion, which was carried. ' The next resolution was proposed by Mr J. Topping, seconded by Mr 1). M'Guire, and also carried, viz :

That we, the undersigned, agree to form ourselves into a Naval Brigade in accordance with the first resolution, and bind ourselves to act in conformity with the Volunteer Regulations now in force [ L'lie names of some 16 persons were here here appended.]

Previous to the second resolution being put, Mr lloutledge addressed the meeting at some length, and gave those present some very necessary explanations. Though, from his position iu the Artillery, debarred from joining the Naval Brigade, the movement had his entire. sympathy. Such a body, provided, as he had every reason to hope they would be, with a serviceable life-boat on the most approved principles, would be of immense service ah this port —not only in bringing mails and passengers ashore from steamers when the weather would not permit of other boats, or even the steam launch, venturing out into the Bay, but also, possibly, at some time in saving human life ; and he was surprised that a move in this matter hud not been uiade era now, a Naval Brigade being more necessaiy here, perhaps, than at any other port in New Zealand. The projectors of this movement, he was in a position to say, would receive from his Honor the Superintendent every as>istance that lay in his power. He concluded amidst applause. A vote of thanks to Mr Houtledge for the intere>t he had taken in the matter was then carried ; and a resolution having been adopted adjourning the meeting until Friday evening, sth inst., for the election of officers and other business, a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.