VOLUNTEERS.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 44, 3 November 1860, Page 4

VOLUNTEERS.

Colonial Secretary’s Office, Auckland, 26th March, 1860. Whereas by the “ Militia Act, 1858,” it is amongst other things enacted that it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to make Regulations under which the services of Yolunteers shall be accepted, and whereas numerous inquiries are being made as to the terms upon which Volunteer Corps can be enrolled, and it is expedient to make known the same, the following terms and conditions upon which the services of Volunteer Corps will be accepted on behalf of Her Majesty are notified for general information. Volunteer Corps can only be formed within some district constituted under the “ Militia Act, 1858 ”. Whenever it is desired that Volunteer Corps should be formed in any district not already so constituted, the persons wishing to form such Corps should intimate their wishes to the Colonial Secretary, specifying the boundaries of the proposed district, with the estimated number of householders within the same. All persons desirous of being enrolled as a Volunteer Corps should memorialize the Governor to that effect, setting forth their names in full.

The Commissioned Officers of each Corps will be appointed by the Governor, and as a general rule, on the recommendation of the Corps. Every member of the Corps shall take the oath of allegiance, as prescribed by the Act aforesaid, and sign a declaration that he will serve for twelve months at least, provided that if any Volunteer shall go to reside out of the District, he shall, if he desires, be discharged from further service as a Volunteer. Arms, Accoutrements, and practice Ammunition will be issued, under regulations, by the Government. The uniform of each Corps will be selected by the Members, with the approval of the Governor, and furnished at their own expense. ' The following Regulations, now in force in certain Districts will, with such variations only as local circumstances may require, be approved by the Governor in Council. E. W. Stafford. REGULATIONS. 1. Every Volunteer shall attend to be trained and exercised at such times as shall be appointed by the Governor, or by such person or persons as he may from time to time authorise in that behalf: provided always that no Volunteer shall be compelled to attend more than one hundred and sixty-eight hours in any one year. 2. Every Volunteer who shall absent himself during any part of the time appointed for training or exercise, and shall not account for such absence to the satisfaction of the Adjutant and the Captain of his Company, shall forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding one pound for every day on which he shall be so absent, to be recovered in a summary way. 3. All Officers of Companies will be appointed by the Governor, and names for that purpose are to be submitted to him for his approval, by the Company to which they are proposed to be appointed. 4. The Adjutant and Staff Sergeant of the Militia will act as Adjutant and Ser-geant-Major, respectively, to the Volunteers of the District, and all Sergeants and Corporals must be examined and passed as competent by the Adjutant before they will be appointed. 5. All rolls, documents, and correspondence shall be kept at the office of the Adjutant, and shall be open at all times during office hours for the inspection and information of the Officers of the Company to which they relate. 6. All orders and communications from the Governor, or Government of the Colony, shall be transmitted through, and be given out by the Adjutant. 7. If any arms, a.countrements, or other Government property shall be injured or destroyed by being used except on service, a line not exceeding the value of the arms, accoutrements, or other property, shall be paid by the Volunteer in whose charge they were; such fine to be fixed by the Adjutant and the Captain of the Company, upon consideration of the circumstances, and if not paid to the Adjutant on demand, may be recovered by him on behalf of the Government in any Resident Magistrate’s Court in the Colony. 8. Volunteers enrolled under these Regulations shall be subject to the provisions contained in the following sections of the “Militia Act, 1858,” namely sections 1, 3, 6,'7, 9, 18, 19, 20, 21 (except the proviso thereto), 22, 23, and 24. Sections of the “ Militia Act, 1858,” applicable to Volunteers. 1. It shall be lawful for the Governor to call together, arm, and array as a Militia, such persons as are hereinafter mentioned, and, subject to the provisions hereinafter contained,. to cause them to be trained and exercised accordingly, at such times and places as shall seem meet. 3. It shall also be lawful for the Governor to appoint a proper number of Officers to train, discipline, and command every Regiment, Battalion, or other body according to the Regulations to be from time to time made iu that behalf. 6. It shall also be lawful for the Governor from time to time to make such Regulations respecting the training and exercise, arms and accoutrements, clothing and equipment, pay, rations, and lodging of such Militia or any part thereof, and respecting all other matters connected therewith which may be required for promoting the efficiency of such Militia as a Military Force: Provided always, that the Regulations so to be made shall not in anywise be repugnant to the provisions of this Act. 7. In all cases of actual Invasion, or upon imminent danger thereof, and iu all cases of Rebellion or Insurrection, or upon any imminent danger to the safety of any part of the Colony, it shall be lawful for the Governor, or such person as he shall from time to time by Warrant under his hand appoint as his Deputy for that purpose, to direct the officer commanding the Militia of any district, with all convenient speed, to draw out for Actual Service such Militia Force, or such part or number thereof as the Governor or such Deputy shall judge

necessary, and in such manner as shall to him seem best adapted to the circumstances of the danger, and to lead the said Forces into any part of the district in which such Militia shall have been raised, and such Militia shall continue on actual service «o long as, in the opinion of the Governor, the danger shall render their service necessary : Provided always, that neither the whole nor any part of the Militia to be raised in any district, shall, on any account, be carried, or ordered to go, beyond the boundaries of such district, except only such as shall volunteer for service out of the same. 9. Every Militiaman who shall be so seriously wounded or otherwise injured, when on Actual Service, as to afterwards impede his obtaining a livelihood, shall be entitled to a pension so long as he shall be so disabled, according to such Regulations as the Governor in Council shall from time to time make in that behalf, as nearly as the circumstances will admit in accordance with the Regulations, in force in respect of the Queen’s Regular Troops, and of a similar amount. 18. When the whole or any part of such Militia shall be ordered out into Actual Service as aforesaid, the person to whom such order shall be directed, shall forthwith cause notice in writing to be given to the several Militiamen, or left at their usual places of abode, to attend at the time and place mentioned in such order. 19. If any Militiaman so directed to be drawn out (not labouring under any infirmity incapacitating him to serve as a Militiaman), shall not appear and march in pursuance of such direction, every such Militiaman shall be liable to be apprehended and punished as a Deserter, according to the provisions of any Act then in force for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better payment of the Army, and their Quarters, and of the Articles of War made in pursuance of the same. 20. If any person knowingly shall harbour or conceal any such Militiaman when directed so to be drawn out, he shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding twenty pounds, to be recovered in a summary way. 21. Every Militiaman who shall appear at the time and place appointed for exercise, shall take an Oath, in the form following viz : I, A. 8., do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and that I will faithfully serve in the Militia until. I shall be lawfully discharged, and shall thereupon be enrolled. The said Oath shall be taken in the presence of the Senior Officer of Militia then present, who is hereby authorised and required to administer the same. 22. If any Militiaman shall sell, pawn, or lose any of his arms, clothes, accoutrements, or ammunition, or neglect or refuse to return the same in good order to his Captain, or to the person appointed to receive the same; or if any person shall knowingly and wilfully buy, take in exchange, conceal, or otherwise receive any Militia arms, clothes, accoutrements, or ammunition whatever, every such offender shall forfeit and pay for every such offence any sum not exceeding £lO, to be recovered in a summary way. 23. During the time that any such Militia shall be assembled for the purpose of being trained and exercised, or for Actual Service, all things contained in any Act of Parliament, which shall then be in force for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better payment of the Army and their Quarters, and in the Articles of War made in pursuance of such Act, shall be in force with respect to such Militia, and to all the Officers, non-Commissioned Officers, Drummers, and Privates of the same in all cases whatsoever. 24. And whereas it is expedient to encourage the enrolement of Volunteers for Military or Naval Service in the Colony: Be it therefore further enacted that it shall be lawful for the Governor in council from time to time to make, vary, and abolish Regulations under which the Service of Volunteers shall be accepted in any Militia district, and whenever any Volunteer shall be enrolled under such Regulations they shall be subject to such of the provisions of this Act as shall be specified in such Regulations, and to none other of such provisions, and all such Regulations shall have the same force and effect as though they had been embodied in and formed part of this Act: Provided always that whenever the whole of the Militia of any district is drawn out for Actual Service, the Volunteers in such district shall always be liable to serve, either as a body, or such of them as are on the Militia Roll as part of the Regular Militia; and that whenever a part or certain number only of the Militia of any district is chosen by ballot for Actual Service, and Volunteers being on the Militia Roll shall be liable to such ballot, and if chosen to serve accordingly, unless they shall be or shall consent to go, if required on Actual Service as Volunteers.