THE DEFENCE FORCE OF THE COLONY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 249, 7 November 1872, Page 5

THE DEFENCE FORCE OF THE COLONY.

In one of Sir George F. Bowen's despatches to Earl Kimberley, the efforts which jSew Zealand makes to sustaiu a proper strength to defend our shoros and uphold the Government are very favorably contrasted with what Britain does in that respect. He says ;— " The Militia has never been enrolled in the' South' or Middle Island, where there is no internal daoger j but the returns show that .there are 2.J36 Volunteers in that island. It wjlj be seen that the strength (all ranks) of the Militia called put for actual service and for training and exercise, in the North Tsland alone, is 4263. There are also in the North Island 3,832 Volunteers, and 723 officers and men of the Aimed Constabulary. It wftl be further perceived that Colonel Harington, the Inspector, reports that the per centage of ' efficients ' in the New Zealand Volunteers is 74, a large proportion when compared with the per centage elsewhere. It will thus appear that there are now enrolled and armed in New Zealand :— Militia. 4263 ; Volunteers, 6569 ; Armed Constabulary, 723 ; making a total of Europeans of -11,554. Moreover, about 4000 fighting men of the loyal Maori clans in the North Island are armed by the Government and have done good service in supporting the authority of the Qaeeu. It will thus be seen that the-entire armed force of New Zealand at the present time amounts to above 15,009 officers and men, in a popu*

tion (European and Maori) of something under 300,000 souls. In. othfl.r..wj>rds, more than one-twentieth part of ttfe inhabitants of this Colony are armed and drilled in suppott of the Government. This is as if the regular troops, militia, and volunteers in the United Kingdom were to number one-twentieth part of the entire population of 31, 000,0 JO, viz , 1,500,000 officers and men." His Excellency makes this contrast in a very pointed foim, and, small though it be, it shows the spirit of self-reliance which is felt in every section of our community,