A NEW NAWAL BRIGADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 253, 24 October 1881, Page 2

A NEW NAWAL BRIGADE .

A meeting of those interested in forming anew Naval Brigade wag held in the Dnll bhed on Saturday night. Major Pitt #bo wastoteato thMbaii rftated that he, had called the meetings his private ca£acit£ aY a citizen in consequence of information which reached Nelson the day before that the late Nelson Port Naval Brigade had been disbanded. He did not intend to refer in any waytotbe.cinramstaacea which had caused the disbanfling bi,tnas corps; but he thought, having regard for the name of the titace, that Nelson should not be without a Naval Brigade, , and, he, .believed that, all were aniious that the "Aurora,^ which had tendered such good service in the past Bhould not leave Nelson. As soon aS'he learned I that the Nelson Brigade was tiisbanifed he i telegraphed to the Defence Office at Wellington to the effect that he was taking steps to form another Brigade under Mr Richardion, who; he understood, was willing to take charge. He did this because he was afraid that the Wellington Navals might apply for the •« Aurora." That his telegram was not a bit too soon was shown by a telegram, he had thai/day received from the Defence Office askiSf f ox plans of the boat, also her dimensions, build, and ri*. These particulars he would at once forward to Wellington. He supposed that as the Wellington Navais could not get the •* Aurora" the Government were going to baild them a boat like her. He said that he saw aeveral gentlemea present who evidently took an interest in the meeting, and perhaps one W j two of them would say a few wotdfei : ; ; | Mr Sclandern said -that- it had been a sadden thought .his coming, there that erening, but be took aotfie ioiefcesb In the [old j Brigade when it was Btattedj and he had learned with pleasure that "a new one was likely to be formed. He was sorry he could not become an active member," bait that would be no loss to them; as he would probably be even a more useless sailor man than Captain Corcbran or S\r Joseph Porter. But he would be glad to assist, either by becoming an honorary member of Mr Riohardson's company, or in Borne other way. He had also much pleasure in telling them that Major Richmond had asked him to say that he also felt interested in the forming of this new Brigade, and would be glad to have his name, too, put down as an honorary member, and to assist the Brigade in any way he could. After it bad been put to the meeting and enthusiastically carried that a Corps should be formed to be called the Nelson Volunteer Naval Brigade, Major Pitt invited those who were willing to join the Corps to give in their names and 64 men (exclusive of honorary members) immediately did so. Mr Richardson was then proposed and with great cheering elee'ted as acting captain and asked to take charge b£ the needful ar rangement for having the aemcea of the Corps offered to the Governor. [ Mr Richardson then addressed the men, and said he wag both .pleased and proud at j the result of the meeting, and had to thank them for the very cordial and handsome way in which they had chosen him as their captain. Be had commanded a Bimilar corpi in Nelson some years ago, and from his experience then he had no doubt at all that a. very good company could be got together in Nelson in a very short time. There wai only one remark he had to make, and: he asked their special attention. It must be distinctly understood that they Were starting this company on a basis of its own. He neither knew nor wanted 'to know, nor would he consent to being told, anything at all about the circumstances that led to the disbandment of the old Brigade. They wera going to form a new corps and he was quite sure that he could rely upon every one of them behaving in all respects in such a way as would not disgrace themselves, their Captain, their uniform, or their country. Three cheers were then given for the j Captain, Major Pitt, and Dr Collins (who | was present and gave, in his name as a mem- | ber of the Corps), and the meeting, which was in all respects a most successful one, was brought to a close. A large amount of interest appears to be taken iv the new Brigade as is shown by the list of those who have given in their names as honorary members. Tbese are, the Hon. Major Richmond, C.8., the Bishop of Nelson, Judge Broad, the Rev. P. Calder, Mesßre Black, Hunter Brown, Donald, Pell, Macdonald, Sclanders, and C. Watts.