NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENDERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1334, 30 April 1885, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND'S DEFENDERS.

A fresh Volunteer Corps is being formed in Auckland. Maior Goring and thirty-two of the A.C. have arrived at Dunedin. Steps are beiDg taken to form Volunteer Corps at Fairlie Creek and Rangiora. The Defence Minister has accepted the services of a Volunteer Corps formed at Anderson's Bay. Fourteen hundred and four names bare been placed on the first-class militia roll for Wellington city. The C Battery of Artillery, Timaru, is now nearly 100 strong. They were inspected by Major Lean on Tuesday evening.

Government have received information that a quantity of war material, including that required for torpedo defence, will be shipped from Sydney in a day or two. Sir G. S. Whitmore, M.L.C., has accepted the position of commandant of the New Zealand Volnnteers, and is now in Wellington consulting with the Government.

An enthusiastic meeting of old soldiers was held in Dunedin on Monday night, when it was decided to form a Reserve Corps. Of the 35 enrolled all but five served with the colors.

The students of the Canterbury College have organised a rifle company 60 strong, which, if its services are accepted by the Government, will be commanded by Captain Hutton, late of H.M. service. Rewi, the great Ngatimaniapoto chief, has been taking great interest in the expected war. He writes to tlie press suggesting that the Auckland torpedo boat be called Ami te Uru, after the Aaniwa, a sea God who, tradition has it, formerly guarded these waters. Major Lean inspected the Timaru Navals on Tuesday night, and in complimenting them on the progress they had made said he hoped the company would take part in some kind of a Volunteer demonstration on the 25th May, a day which, under circumstances prevailing at present, should be marked in a special W V»> ,-...■' A number of persons desiring commissions in the Militia waited on Captain Hume at Wellington on Tuesday. The only condition stipulated is that those who desire appointments shall undergo a course of drill instruction before they are definitely accepted. It is not expected that the first-class Militia will be called out until war is actually declared, but the Defence Department is anxious to have a body of competent officers to select from whenever It is found necessary to call upon the Militia to serve. Captain Badham, who is to take charge of the Artillery, is on his way to New Zealand.