MOUNTED CORPS FOR ASHBURTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxi, Issue 5055, 5 March 1900, Page 2

MOUNTED CORPS FOR ASHBURTON.

An Enthusiastic Hosting.

The meeting called by Hia Worship the Mayor (Mr H. Friedlander) and the Chairman of the Ashburton County Council (Mr C. J. Harper) for Saturday night, was a thoroughly representative gathering of ir Sciential men from every part of the county. The Orange Hall was crowded.

Hia Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and on the platform were Messrs G. A. ML Buckley, 0. J. Harper, T. R. Upton, and 0, W. Purnell. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Measra K. Gates, Tinwald, C. Doherty, chairman Tinwald Domain Board, J. Studholme, o■dd■treain, andH Willis. On rising;, theohairman was received witb applause. Before opening the meeting he w Bhed to congratulate oneand all upon the successes that had attended the British in South Africa. (Loud applause). The best news was the relief of Ladyimith. General White deserved great credit for keeping the Boers at bay. (Applauso). But great credit) was due to Colonel Baden-Powell for his defence, and for giving the Boers another lesson on the 17th of last) month. (Applause). He (the speaker) hoped the war would Boon be over. However much they might sympathise with great Britain, they j were aorry to see so many noble lives ! sacrificed, and he trusted the Boers would soon have to cue for peace. When they did so England would take what she was entitled to, namely, charge of affairs in South Africa, (Applause). Whatever might be contained in the secret cable received by the colonies, it was evident England wished to be prepared fur any emergency. The meeting that night was consequently in the proper direction; New Zealand should put her own house in order with regard to defjnoss. The proposal made by Mr Buckley that a mounted corps should be raised in and from the Ashburtcn county was an excellent one. (Appl»ii-e). It was proposed to make the corps about 80 strong, In order that the corps, when formed, might permanently continue, it was suggested to divide the county into several districts, in each of which the men might be trained, meeting together for drill as a whole at stated periods. (Applause). He would ask Mr Harper to move the first resolution.

Mr Harper was received with applause. He waß glad to see such a large gathering that evening. Ib showed they took a great deal more interest in the formation of a mounted corps than they did in politics when he addressed them. (Laughter and applause) As the proposed corps was to be an Ashburton one, it had been considered fitting that he, as chairman of the County Council, should move the first resolution. He had very great pleasure in doing this, because they had ample evidence that if the young men of the county, or even the middleaged men, were called upon they would respond handsomely. Eleven of their men had been aeleoted for service in South Africa, and that pointed to the fact that many had been left behind who were equally as ready to take service there if necessary. (Applause). The formation of the corps was a step in the right direction. It would prove to all New Zealand thab Ashburton was ready to prepare for any emergency that might arise. la view of affairs in South Africa and elsewhere, ib was evident they were, so to speak, living upon the et'ge of a volcano. They never knew what might happen. Ib was absolutely necessary now to look bo the defences of New Zealand and the Australian colonies. In the event of a naval war, the first: point of attack would, no doubt, be the colonies. No nation could ever geb into Old England (applauve), but they could worry her enormousiy by attacking her colonies. Ashburton Bhould show the people of New Zealand, and of England,

they were prepared to help themselves and her* (Applause). He was exceedingly fortunate in having in the district, and as his colleague in the Council, a man who was capable of taking command. (Loud and prolonged applause and cheera). The trouble with the third contingent, right up to the last moment, had been to get officers. Hare they had no Buch trouble. He thought;

every man who could ride or bear arms ought to allow himself to be pub in training. (Applause). Ho did not know (,ho limitatio,na, but; if they could find three more m^n of hie (tha speaker's) years, weight and condition, to make up a section, he was one. (Ltught>r and oheors). He could only trust to the leniency of the commanding officer not to give him too hard work. (Applause) He moved —"That in the opinion of this meeting it is advisable to form a mounted sorps within the Ashburton Oounfey." Ha would ask Mr Buckley to second this

Mr G. A. M. Buckley, on stepping fco the front, reoeived a perfect ovation of prolonged apphuee and cheers. He would not detain them long. Mr Harper had put the matter be ore them in a nutshell. He would nob take up their time expatiating upon fc^o many excellent points of this movement. H: could only see things in fivor of it, and nothing against it. Soma people might have d fferent views, and might express them, but he did not think any of those people were present. (Applause.) Some people had said to him they thought at the present, moment the colony was in a state of war fever, and if the corps were started now, in six months time the fever would be over, would die out, and the corps would die with it. Others thought the formation of a r.fla club would be better. Well they were in a little fever, and instead of getting over ib he hoped the fever would remain and become chronic (Applause) One thing about Britishers was they were slow to move and never woke up till they had gob a good slap in the face. (Laughter.) Ha thought they had now got that slap in the face (applause), and from the way events were shaping themselves they would he kepb awake whether they wanted bo or nob. He wished to speak about the improved status of the volunteers. Years ago when the system was first inaugurated, they were the subjects of ridicule, and such papers as Punch carric&tured and laughed at, them. Th»b, however, bad al gone by, and the day of their just and proper recognition had dawned. (Applause,) They would never again be called toy soldier*. Perhaps for the first time in their history they had been con* , sidered worthy of recognition, and the powers that be, in totting up the strength of tho Empire, were very glad to rely upoa them. He thought that they were about to be welcomed with open arms, and he hoped the authorities would see that, in future, they received the recognition they deserved. He suspected the authorities were sorry now they had nob taken this matter into their view before. He thought the volunteers had established a precedent likely to last for all time. He meant that in future whenever England was at war—and she generally manage 1 to geb into hot water somewhere—they would have to take their share of the work, (Applause.) They wonld then see them regularly going forward to fight the battle of the Empire, let the foss be white, black, or yellow (Applause.) The rifa clubs were deserving of exactly the same encouragement as the volunteer corps were. But they were very different things. One was a young, the other an old man's game. He took it the young fellows had a better idea of the duty they owed their country and would join the volunteer corps, leaving the rifle clubs to be their father's hobby. (Applause). The question was*, was the county in the position to run a strong and effective corps. He thoughb it was, and he trusted tbe meeting would express the saw© opinion by carrying Mr Harper's motion, which he would now J second. (Applause) 1

The chairman invited discussion, but as no one spoke, the motion was put. A forest of hands we it up, and it was declared carried amid cheers.

Mr Puraeli was very pleased to be able to take part in the meeting. He had always taken a great interest in volunteering^ The I movement) had come at a very good time, j and the formation of the corps would undoubtedly be & suooess, The Government were realising they must take some steps to put the colony's defences upon a more satisfactory footing. Looking into the matter, he found only eighteen mounted corps, totalling nay 1000 men, in the colony. That was a miserable and unsatisfactory a^ate of affairs. The preseno war was teaching the whole world (ha value of mounted forces. One mounted man was worth two or three foot Boldierß> Ib was sot » question of courage, bus % question of mobility. Time after time the British forces had defeated the enemy, who simply cot on their horses, retired Borne distance, and took up another position. He thoughb that after this war tho cavalry would be increased. It Bi}ow»d Niw Zefcl»nd B houl4 iwmn be;

mounted men, Thure was no better | place in the colony than Ashbur- I ton for forming a mounted corpp. j The maximum strength was 80, the mini- [ muni 60. They would have no difficulty whatever, in railing that number. They were more likely to have 200 applicants. He was satisfied the movement would be a success. Young men in the country found it difficult to attend in town, the parades of the infantry oorpo. They would easily be able to attend the drills of the mounted corps. He considered Ashburton an ideal place, for the formation of such a corps. (Applause). The formation of this corps would not work agaiustt he infantry companies bub would rather assist them by creating more enthusiasm. People said it was time enough to form these companies, when war broke out. We never know the mom nt it might break out. A few years ago, England was on the very brink of war with France, in fact the British ambassador wenb to the French office with an ultimatum in his p-cket, but was persuaded ab the last moment not to deliver it. This colony knew nothing of that little incident till | long afterwards. The preparation must be ; made now. It was not only getting the men ! bub there were the arms and accoutrements, and the drill. They might not be able to get arms and accoutrements, if they left it till war was declared and every factory fully engaged supplying the demand in England, They muat pub the colony's defences in such a state of efficiency that if war broke out they would be able to meet any country. (Applause) The present crisis would revolutionise the military arrangements between England and her colonies. As Mr Buckley had said the colonies would have to take their part, They had emerged from their youth and attained their manhood, and must now bake their part. The war had emphasised the facb that corps like the Ashburton Guards and Rfles were roaly part and rsrcel of the British army It. was an honour for our troops to be under such ft distinguished aod brilliant officer as Lord ' RohettP, (cheers) and they would never forget it. (Applause) The resolution he bad to propose waa " That a committee be appointed to give effect to the foregoing resolution, and also to make the necessary arrangements with the Government to accept the services of the corps." He proposed the following committee, the members being selected to represent all parts of the couuty. Measra H. McLean, Mount Hubt;T. S. Johnston, Mount Seiners; D. T. Todri, Chertsey ; A. Maxwel', Dromore; G. Marriot Watson, Ashburton ; P. Jones, Seafield ; G AM. Buckley, Lagmhor; J. Studholme, jaar., Coldsbream ; J. C, N. Griggf, Longbeach ; D. Miller, Hinds; and W. P Kellock, Maronan.

Mr Upton, on rising to second the motion, was received with cheera. With the number of young men in the Ashburton county, he thought the corps should prove one of the best in New Zealand. (Cbeere) He was willing to make one of the section spoken of by Mr Harper. (Laughter and Cheero). The name of a gentleman to represent the Wakanui district was asked for, and Mr S Brown was proposed. Mr Brown consented and said he was with the movement heart and soul.

Mr C. A. C. Hardy was added to the Committee for Rakaia.

Mr J. C N. Grigg, as one of those mentioned for the committee, said he would most heartily support the movement, and do hia best to recruit oapable men id hia district. Where there was plenty of life, manhood and horses, the movement must be a sucaea?. If the empire of Great Britain was to hold its position of to-day, they must all do their best. (Applause.) The motion was then put aud carried unanimously amid applause.

The chairman said there was always a little money wanted to start these things. In connection with the last contingent, his firm had bsen able to earn some money which he did not wish to see go to the firm's credit. Id smounted to about tweuty guineas, which he would oontribute towards the purchase of half a doaun uuiforma. (Loud applause.) No canvass would be made, but he was suie numbers of gentlemen in the dia riot would subscribe towards the outfit

Replying to questions by Mr Christian, the chairman hi id there would bo no charge for accoutrements or uniform. Each mem bar would need to supply a hnrs?, saddle, and bridle. Replying to Mr Deaahire— Any po«son could become an honorary member on paying a small subscription annually.

Mr W. Langdon, Wes'erfield. rffered to mount any man in the Weacei field district short of a horße. (Loud app'ause )

The chairman said, on behalf of the cot pa, and the coming cipcaia ('ipplanso)—he presumed Mr Buckley would be captain— (long continued applause aad cheon}- He thanked Mr Langdon for hia off jr. (Applause)

A vote of thanks to tho chairman terminated an exceptionally enthusiastic meeting.

Those willing to enroll aa members were then asked to com ■ forward. There was a ruin of applicant?, and the Secretary was s on able to announce that between 60 and 70 names had been enrolled

Mr Timmins hinded in a list of over 20 names from the town alone

Judging from the list compiled on Saturday evening, the company sh aid prove one of the crack corps of the colony

A meeting of the corps will be held at an e«r!y data to elect the officers

Aii informal meeting of the oommittee was held afterwards, when Mr G Marriob Watson was elected secretary.

Mr T P Gibson and Dr Maude were added to the oommittee, and with Mr G A M Buckley, and the secretary, were appointed as emergency committee, to make the neoessary arrangements for the services of the corps being offered to, and accepted by the Government*