WELLINGTON VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4827, 11 September 1876, Page 2

WELLINGTON VOLUNTEERS.

There was a meeting of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of, the city volunteer corps at the Post-office Hotel on. Saturday night at 8 o'clock. Captain Pearce, M.H.R., was voted to the chair, and Btated that the meeting had been convened.to consider the necessity of a parade ground.and drillshed. Some time ago he: had waited upon the Native Minister and Colonial Secretary with reference to volunteer accommodation in the city. They both recognised the necessity of taking action in-the matter, and only the night before he had again seen the Native Minister on the subject. Sir Donald McLean during the interview said that he had not had an opportunity since their first meeting of bringing the defence estimates before the Cabinet, but would do so as soon as possible. His own opinion was that the strength of the several corps would considerably diminish unless adequate accommodation was provided. The Artillery must have some place to keep their guns and manoeuvre in ; in fact it would be better for all of them to be independent of the weather and have a. place of their own where they could meet. The matter was urgent, as the present drillshed would not be available after December next. He would be glad to hear the opinions of the meeting. Sergeant-Major McCredie .asked the Chairman if he thought the Defence Minister and the Government looked favorably on the matter?

The Chairman, in reply.said that the Defenc* Minister had spoken very guardedly on the subject, but expressed an opinion that the volunteer movement in the North Island should be decidedly encouraged. It was impossible to predict what actisn Parliament would take, but they should remember that last session the defence estimates were criticised most severely. . Captain Cnowu then moved, —That thia meeting, on behalf of the . city volunteers, desire to express its heartiest thanks to Captain Pearce for his liberality in having granted the use of his building for drill purposes for so many years ;—and stated that as captain of the City Rifles he could only say that it was owing to Captain Pearce's kindness in this respect that the corps had been kept together. The motion was seconded by Lieutenant Best, and carried unanimously. The Chairman thanked them for the resolution they had just passed, and said that it was a great pleasure to him that he had been able to provide the accommodation. He was now compelled to take the building for his own use, and he was not altogether sorry, for in his opinion the Government should provide for them some place in which they had a right to ge.

jlieutenant MoTavish said that it was necessary to take action at once, and even supposing that the resolutions of the meeting were carried out at once, they might get into a difficulty. In Wellington they had to provide guards of honor and perform other duties, which volunteers in the provinces haid' not to fulfil, and it was necessary that they should have a full muster-roll. During the session the members and their friends were up in Wellington, and he was sure the Government would not like to see a miserable turn-out of volunteers. The late Governor had refused to accept a guard of honor numbering less than forty, and hehoped the Government would see the necessity of taking the matter up and providing proper accommodation. The drillshed Bhould be in a central position, for members of the various corps came from both ends of the city, and if placed at cither end of the town it would be most inconvenient. He would like to see *.

portion of the reclaimed ground set apart as~a mte for the shed and a parade ..ground." He begged to move,—That a deputation, consisting of Colonel Header, Captains Pearce, Crowe, and Stevens, wait upon the Defence Minister to inform him that Captain Pearce's building would not [be at the disposal. of the volunteers after the expiration of the present year, and to suggest that a sum should be placed on the Estimates for the purpose of erecting a. suitable drillshed, with parade ground. Sergeant-Major McCbedie seconded the motion, and said that the matter could be better explained at a personal interview than by forwarding mere resolutions to the Defence .Minister. The usual course was to forward a memorial through the Colonel of the district, but if Colonel Header consented to be present with the deputation no difficulty would arise on this score. In a place like Wellington they required a large building for volunteer purposes, and he hoped their resolutions would have the desired effect.

Captain Stevens said he would like to see the motion amended, for one of the first questions the Defence Minister would ask would be as to the cost of the building. He thought they should appoint a committee to inquire as to a site and the estimated cost of the building. _ After a few remarks from Sergfc.-Major , McCredie, Sergeant Gell expressed an opinion that the cost of the building would be under £SOO. This expenditure would amply, cover • the v erectioh of a building 80ft. by 150 ft., with offices and racks for arms, which was all that they would require. Lieutenant McTavish quite agreed with Captain Stevens that the matter should bt placed before theDefence Minister in abusinesslike form. If the Government took the matter up, even supposing the sum named was insufficient, they were sure to carry out the work they had commenced, and supplementary estimates would be prepared. ; The Chairman said that he had expressed an opinion to the Defence Minister that the cost would be about £IOOO. He had some experience in those matters, and the cost of the present building, which was only about 50ft. by 70ft., was over £7OO. He thought Mr. Gell was a little out in his calculations. As to the site, it could be a public reserve and used for many other purposes. Ho would suggest to Captain Stevens to propose the amendment suggested, as a new resolution. —Captain Stevens agreed to this, and the motion was carried unanimously. Captain Stevens then proposed,—That a committee, consisting of Capt. Crowe, Lieut. McTavish, Lieut. Best, Sergt. Garrard, and the mover, be appointed to ascertain the approximate cost of erecting a suitable shed, and also to suggest a site for the same, with a parade ground. The committee to report within a week to the deputation appointed to wait on the Defence Minister. Sergeant Garraed seconded the. motion, which was carried unanimously. .., j After some little discussion as to the time when they would be able to get the proposed building erected, Sergeant Garrard proposed the adjournment of the meeting until the deputation were able to report the result df their interview with the Defence Minister, which was seconded by Lieut. Fox and carried iunanimously. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman having been passed, the meeting came to a close. ' ' - -