AUCKLAND NAVAL BRIGADE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 116, 22 February 1872, Page 3

AUCKLAND NAVAL BRIGADE.

A meeting of those favourable to the formation of a Naval Brigade was held last night in the Thames Hotel, Auckland. Captain Copland in the chair. There was a large number of persons in attendance, some fiO or 70. Amongst those present were Captain Fenton, Captain Smith, Lieutenant Snell, &c. The chairman stated that the Brigade would be composed chiefly of seafaring men, blit they were willing to admit landsmen for about a third of the whole. All matters would rest, however, upon the acceptance by the Government or otherwise of their services, lie considered it would be a very desirable thing to start in connection with the Brigade a mutual benefit society. If that wore done, not only would members have something to look to in case of sickness, but in the event of death their friends would receive assistance to defray tho expenses. He also thought a portion of their funds could he devoted to the repair of their boats, &c. If fortune favoured them, as be expected it would, they might in time have sufficient funds to erect a Sailors’ Home for the port. If the matter were carried out with energy he bad no doubt but it would blend the whole of the different elements of the shipping interest together.—Lieutenant Jackson read a copy of a letter which it was proposed to send to Major Gordon, offering "their services as a corps to the Government. There was also a copy of the proposed, rules for the corps enclosed in the letter—tho rules to be adopted in the event of tlieir setvices being [accepted. At this stage of the meeting the minutes of the former meeting were read and confirmed. The names of those who had signed the rules were also lead over, and a number of additional names were obtained as members of tho corps. The chairman proposed that each member contribute something to the benefit fund every month, and stated that he expected to get a considerable accession to the membership from residents at the North Shore. The meeting was wholly a conversational one, aud, after a x r ote of

thanks to the chairman was passed, the meeting S. Cross