DEBARKATION OF THE MILITARY SETTLERS.

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 100, 12 October 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

DEBARKATION OF THE MILITARY SETTLERS.

(From the Daily Southern Cross.) Yesterday afternoon ilie Volunteer Militai-y Settlers from Melbourne disembarked from the ship Star of India, and were landed by the Sandfly on the Qaeenstreet Wharf, in two trips. The hour fixed for debarkation was one o'clock, and within a few minutes of that time the Sandfly got up steam, and proceeded from her anchorage ground in the man-of-war offing alongside the Star of India. Numbers 1 and 2 Companies of Settlers had been previously mustered in readiness on the poop of the ship, and on the steamer coming alongside, the men passed along in single file and took up their positions on the steamboat's deck. -When two hundred of the men had been so told off, the decks appeared well filled, and the boat cast off, and made for the end of the Queen street Wharf. On the steamer leaving the side of the vessel the volunteers gave hearty cheers for their captain and officers and the cap'ain of the ship The men on landing were numbered and formed into fours right, when the " quick inarch" was given, and they proceeded, under the command of Lieutenant Lomax, lo the Albert Barrack.-", there to await the arrival of their comrades. They were loudly cheered along the line of route to the garrison. Numbers 3 and 4 Companies were, after some delay, owing to the Sandfly brinaing on this trip the baggage of the officers and men, disembarked afterwards. Lieut. Nunnington (late of the sSlh h'egirnent). had the command of this detachment, and fours having beeu formed, the men were marched to the barracks headed by the Volunteer rifle band playing a lively quick march. The line of route taken by the volunteers was crowded by spectators who cheered the men frequently and at the same time scrutinised them well, that they might judge of their capacity to perform the arduous duties for which they had engaged themselves. There can be no doubt their verdict was favorable,- and that the welcome reinforcement" was composed of men of the right stamp. On arrivaJ at the barracks a very short stay was permitted, it being considered desirable that the men should leave for Otahuhu without.d^lay, in order to arrive there before darkness had fairly sel in. Captain . Smith then took comuinnd, and the volunteers again, headed by the band, marched from the garrison about five o'clock, amidst loud hurrahs from the spectators, which were vociferously returned by the volunteers. Captain Goldsmith spoke very favorably of the conduct of the men whilst being conveyed here. One of the volunteers became seriously ill on the passage, and on arrival he was removed on a slretoher to the hospital. A slight misunderstanding arose in the case of three volunteers who offered some objection to being sworn in. Provost Marshall Syms (late Sergeant-Major of Police ) took them in chorge on being landed at the Q,ueen-street Wharf, and they were then inarched to the barracks, and, their scruples having been overcome, they were sworn in by L : entenrint( o onel Bdlneavis. They were afterwards sent off to their respective companies..