TE AWAMUTU CAVALRY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2625, 9 May 1889, Page 3

TE AWAMUTU CAVALRY.

Till'. Defence Minister, it appears, has declined to grant capitation to the To Awaliiutu Cavalry for tho past year, on tho ground that the troop was at its last inspection bolnw the minimum strength. This is a mutter for regret, the Te Awamutu Cavalry behiß generally recognised as a most serviceable troop, and tho new regulations, in this instance, seem to press somewhat unfairly. The troop was enmllcd in lJSri, and did good service as a. frontier corps at tho time of Sullivan s murder by the natives. It h,\s always been available to the Government for service m repressing any outbreak by natives in the district—as an instance, the capture of Mnhiiki at Alexandra in March, ISS3. The present reduced strength of the troop is caused by the fact (if .-overal members lining employed at the Railway Tunnel Works, who had to be struck off the strength of the troop as they ccmld not attend to their volunteer duties without losing their employment. Since the inspection parade on 21st iNovemuer, ISSN, at which only 'M men were on strength, 7 new members were enrolled. Such enrolment was prior to 31st December, and consequently tho entire strength of the troop at the end of the financial year was but two below the minimum, and several more could have been enrolled had it been allowed to attest members at any time of the year, ihe entire withdrawn!, from the frontier, ot the armed constabulary, and tho proximity of To Kooti and his followers may still occasion the active services of the Ie Awnmv.tu Cavalry volunteers to be in request at very short notice. For the above reasons it is urged that tlio Hon. the Dofence Minister will see. fit to allow capitation for the year 188!), in order to give the troop a chance of mustering in greater strength for the future. At a meeting of the Finance Committee, held at To Awamutu, Captain Bruce in the chair, it was proposed by Lieutenant Gre.sham, seconded by Sergennt-Majur Bond, and resolved: "That the as-ustnnco of M.ipr .lacksnn, M.H.R., be invoked with a view r>f .ibtainii>f the reconsideration by the Hon. the Dofence Minister re the capitation allowance to the troop fur 18SS. This is m view of special circumstance of ( tho corps and ot past services rendered."