HAURAKI ENGINEERS.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3397, 11 November 1879, Page 2

HAURAKI ENGINEERS.

The detachment of Auckland Engineers which visited the Thames fell in the ranks of the local Engineer corps for drill, and partook of luncheon at the George Hotel after the review had terminated. As the time at the disposal of their guests was but limited, the toasts were piled one on the other in I rapid succession. Captain Small, in expressing his satisfaction at the presence of his visitors, said ho would have liked to have seen their officers, band, nnd the remainder of the Company, but looked forward to meeting them all on some future occasion when they would again drill shoulder to shoulder. Lojal and patriotic toasts having been disposed of, the "Colonial Press" was proposed enthusiastically. In responding for the Thames Advertiser and the New Zealand Volunteer Service Gazette, Lieut. Barlow said that if every colonial journal would as persistenly advocate the interests of the force as the two he had the honor to represent, not only the attention of the public, but of Government who held in their hands the purse strings, would be secured and encouragement would be more amply extended to volunteering. There seemed to be a probability of the attainment of at least one of the objects which the press had continually advocated, viz : A general uniformity of dress for the several arms. When this had become an accomplished fact different compauiesof a battalion coukl be equalized, and more success would be attained in steadiness at battalion drills than was possible when component companies were of unequal strength. He looked forward with sanguine anticipation to the time when New Zealand's volunteers would be called up annually for a week or fortnight's continuous training under canvass; there would then be a prospect of the men becoming imbued with more military idea 3 and knowledge than was possible under present circumstances. Lieut. Barlow also said he hoped to sea the Volunteer Engineers incorporated into a corps, similarly constituted to the Artillery Regiment. Lieut. Den by said he would like to see theJEngineers incorporated|togelher. He regretted the absence of the Auckland Engineer officers, but hoped to hail them on some future occasion.

Sappers Boon and Power, of the Auckland Engineers, in brief language expressed their thanks for tho hospitality shewn them by their Thames comrades, which so far as they were concerned, should be repaid with interest when the Hauraki Engineers visited Auckland,