A Colony's Services to the Empire.

Manawatu Herald, 18 October 1898, Page 2

A Colony's Services to the Empire.

AN INCIDENT OF THEiMUTINY.

We have heard it said that daring the late Sir George Grey's governorship of the Caps he dtfl good service to the Indian Empire, bat what has not often been related was the instant response of the G%pe Colony for an appeal for aid at a critical period of the history of the British Empire, and its telling oannofe be but for good, now that the Aaatral asian colonies are so important, and a similar straggle for the Old County may ocourr at any time; The tale of the Indian Mutiny is most interesting reading for the records of the prowess of British arms, as well aa for the heroism shown by the British women. The Mutiny broke oat at Barrackpore in March 1857 when several regiments were disbanded, and so little was it thought that the rising was a general and concerted one that the Bombay Gazette on the first of May declared that "India is quiet throughout." On the 10th May the mutiny at Meerufc, near Delhi, broke oat, and the king of Delhi was proclaimed Emperor. At the end of June the native troops in the following places were in open mutiny; Meerut, Delhi, Ferozepore, Allyghurr, Boorkee, Mardan, Lucknow, Cawnpore. Nusserabad, Necmuob, Hansi, Qisear, Ihauri, Mehidpore, Julian* dur, Giz'nghur, Fatteghar, launpore, Bareilly, Shahjehamapore, and Allahabad. At ten of these places European women and children were massacred.

Id July 1857 Lord Elphinstone selected Captain Griffith Jenkins of the Indian Navy to proceed to Mauritioas and the Gape of Good Hope, with fall powers to solicit aid from those colonies, in men, horses, and, money, for the Indian government. Captain Jenkins at fonr boars 1 notice sailed in the steamer " Pottinger " and arrived on the night of the 19th July at Port Louis. Ha left the steamer in the offinogp and landing, poated up to Gover^

ment House on the neighbouring

mountains ; arousing the Governor out of his bed at past midnight, he placed before him the critical state of affairs in India. Sir James Higginson, who was ignorant of the outbreak of the Mutiny, immediately eumnr 3d his Council to meet bim at daylight, and, with an energy becoming the crisis, succeeded in inducing them to place the resources of the colony entirely at the disposal of the envoy of the Indian Government. Within sixteen hours the 33rd Regiment and a half battery of Artillery with guns and store were embarked in two vessels and they arrived at Calcutta on the 4 August tt a most critical moment.

Captain Jenkins then moved on for Simon's Bay which he reached on the 6th August and immediately waited on the senior naval officer at the station who plaoed the resources of the Royal Navy and dockyard at his disposal. Captain Jenkins then posted to Cape Town where he arrived at 8 a.m. on the same morning, and waited on the Governor Sir George Grey. His Excellency summoned his parliament, and plaoed before them the critical state of affairs, and the members unanimously agreed to assist the Indian Government, and formed two volunteer corps to take the place of the troops, who proceeded forthwith to India. It was stated in Parliament that the reinforcements despatched from the Cape alone, con» stated of three regiments of Infantry, two batteries of Artillery, and one thousand horses, besides £60,000 in specie, which Lord Canning assured Captain Jenkins arrived most opportunely at Calcutta, the treasuries up-country having been looted by rebels. At Captain Jenkin's request Sir George Grey not only ordered the transports conveying troops from England to China, but those which arrived with soldiers destined for Australia and New Zealand, to proceed to Calcutta.

It is reported that at the Mauritius political antagonism, ran high, more especially between the English and French factions, bat Captain Jenkins tact overcame all obstaoles, and not only the Council bat the the merchants of the Island, vied with each other in offers of assistance person at the wharf, and superintend - the latter actually attending in ing the despatch of coal for the use of steam ships. In the Cape parliament the members unanimously vote the loan of the whole money in the treasure chest • ad placed the entire resources of the colony at Captain Jenkins disposal, and moved the following resoluting. "We trust that the Governor will support the honour of your Sovereign and dignity of this colony, by such energetic measures as will prove to the world the strong union of all for our Sovereign."