Hauraki Engineers.d

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3766, 22 January 1881, Page 2

Hauraki Engineers.d

This corps held a largely attended meeting last night, Captain Small in the Chair. The Chairman informed the meeting that he had called the members together on the present occasion to have a friendly talk regarding the. future of the company under the new circumstances in which they were placed through the Government depriving them of capitation allowance. He was ,of opinion that to expect any monetary assistance from the Government was hopeless, and he thought those present would agree with him, when he read the following circular he had received on the subject:—Sir,—l am instructed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to request you to intimate to the officers commanding Volunteer corps in the district under your command that, in consequence of the existing state of the finances of the colony, it is not intended by the Government to provide on the estimates next session for the payment of capitation to the Volunteer force, and although the corps in Ihe Thames .district will, as ' frontier corps," receive full vofes for the current year, the officers in command must be cautioned against incurring any liabilities on the faith of the capitation being continued." —Captain Small said it will be seen from this that the Volunteers need expect nothing from the Government.—Several members spoke upon the matter. —An invitation was read from Captain Wildman to join the Naval Brigade at Church parade, which was received with thanks and declined, as Church parades were not popular with the Engineers.—Several other matters regarding the internal economy of the company were discussed.—Notice of an inspection parade for Wednesday next was given, and arrangements made for competitors who desired the honor of proceeding to Nelson to attend the coming contest there.—The meeting then dispersed.