AFTER FIFTY YEARS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3048, 19 November 1908, Page 5

AFTER FIFTY YEARS.

VOLUNTEER JUBILEE. Monday last was the jubilee of the inauguration of the volunteer movement in New Zeaiand. The outcome of the Crimean war of 1855, while ending disastrously for Russian arms, nevertheless left some fear in these distant outposts of thejßritish Empire that a Muscovite invasion might one day be attempted. The residents of the tiny hamlet on tne shores of Commercial Baytook up the movement here, says the "New Zealand Herald." They considered it an imperative necessity to reinforce the small garrison provided by the Imperial Government. One of the prime movers in the scheme was the late Colonel James Derrom, who, early in 1858, prevailed on about 100 pioneers to join the movement. Their names were handed in to Dr. (now Sir John) Logan Campbell, then Superintendent of the Auckland province. This company was given the name of the City Rifles, and while waiting for the acceptance of their services by the General Government were trained by Captain John Mitchell, of Parnell. The parades, without arms, were devoted to perfecting the members in drill and manoeuvre, and were held : in the open-?ir in early morning, and in the old Oddfellows' Hall, Queen street. Before the acceptance of the City Rifles, another company, the "Royals," was organised, and for some reason its services were accepted first. On the evening of November luth, 1858, the Royal Rifles were sworn in at the old Albert Barracks, and the following evening the City Rifles took the oath of allegiance as citizen soldiers in the service of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. It was not until the following year (18S9) that the volunteer movement in Great Britain was begun. In March, 1860, the native<risings in Taranaki directed attention to the necessity for more vigorous prosecution of the Maori campaign, and the two companies volunteered for garrison duty in Auckland while the regular troops took part in the engagements in the South. This course was in the end adopted, and with the commencement of hostilities a further impetus was given to the volunteer movement through the calling out of the militia, other companies being formed in Auckland — the Victoria Rifles, the Rutland Rifles, and the Parnell Rifles. The first-named still flourishes under the title it first assumed. A number iof members-of the two original companies combined to form the nucleus of the new. With these reinforcements were completed the six companies which formed the Auckland Rifle Battalion of the early days. The Royal company took the post of honour as No. 1, and the City Rifles the left flank as No. 67. When the Waikato war broke out, the whole battalion volunteered for active service, and was stationed on outpost duty, which was the means of gaining for the men experience of actual warfare at the,engagement of Otau (Wairau South). The work of the battalion was accomplished only through severe vicissitude and hardship, the facilities for transportation being then very inadequate. The Royal Company subsequently offered its services as an artillery company, and was finally accepted as such.