DEPARTURE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR

Press, Volume III, Issue 284, 28 September 1863, Page 3

DEPARTURE OF VOLUNTEERS FOR

-NEW ZEALAND. g)fS|B.;DILLOH BILL'S BPI-KBH; The Argue of tbe 4th instant says:— The firat detachment ot tbe, troops enlisted by Colonel Pitt* for- service in tne"Auckland Militia left Melbourne on Monday, and were berthed on boat--the White Star liner Star of ludiaj lying at WiUiaraatown Pier. Altogether 405 privates and officers embarked, under the command Of four officers, Captain H. G. Smith, late-of tbe Volunteer Engineers; Lientenant H. P» Lomax, Lieutenant W. A. Smith, and Lieutenant W. Jfnnnington. The SpencerBtreet Station waa'crowded during the morning with people desirous of seeing the volunteers atart, aneVßome.three' or foiir buntbecl persons, including wives with children in their arms, •went down to.the Railway Pier, where the ship was moored., The Juvenile Volunteer Drum and Fife 'Band was at the station during the early part «f the morning, and played some inspiriting a«*»v -The crowd, too, gave their friends some hearty cheers, so that the departure was rendered tolerably lively. Although the volunteers included many specimens of the genus *• loafer," they were altogether a fine body of men, antvu well drilled and' well officered, are not at all likely to' reflect shame on the Colony they aro lea-ring. Thejmajority appeared to be laborers, miners, kc, but there were also a number of tradesmen, artisans, and clerks, among them. It is a creditable fact that,'though there was necessarily a good deal of hurry and excitements not a single case of drunkenness was trbe noticed. Tbe Melbourne contingents left per the quarter-past nine train, and tbe detachments from. Geelong, Ballarat, Castlemaine, and aSdhursti fo-Oweelat eleven,am. Mr.'Jeremy, the traffic superintendent, took charge of tbe men while on tbe line, and ran the trains down to the ship's side,. so -that. the embarkation was effected without \mneccessary confusion. The vessel was only chartered on Thursday week, and consequently no, time has been lost iv fitting her up. Colonel Pitt secured the co-operation of Mr;' MwFarlane, the immigration officer, in superintending ibis'work. The arrangements may be supposed to be all that are required. The Star of India is a fine vessel of 1.700 tons register, and she is expected to make a rapid run to Auckland. Tbe wind being unfavorable, she did not sail until next morning. Mr. Dillon BelL who was present, made tbe following addreaa to men on their departure:— i ** Officers and men of the Victorian Contingent,—! with to thank the Victorian volunteers on behalf of .the Government and colonists of New Zealand, for the prompt manner in which they have come forward to aid tbat colony in its difficulties. New Zealand requires at this time all t_i strong hands and strong arms which she can get. I. am glad to see that so fine a body of men baa volunteered already from this place. There is one point on which I wish to say a few words. Letters have appeared in t_°. Melbourne pipers, the writers of which state that the Government of New Zealand is not able to fulfil the contract -which ii has made with you. I assure you tbat the Government has not made up its mind to make tbe offer to you which it has made without anxious and careful consideration, and a conviction of its ability to fulfil its own part of the bargain. One thing, indeed, is quite true, that the Government has not got at this moment in its possession tbe and which is offered to you. The land is still ia the hands of rebel natives; and we trust to you and your military comrades to bold by the force of your arms tbat territory which will hereafter be allotted to you by' Government This is land which we have long tried to obtain by peaceable means. We have endeavored to coldnSWthe country, and introduese the arts of c;vih_ation among the natives without violence, »ad with every advantage to them. We should never have thought of taking this land by foroa U Uiey bid not uiado war with us, and did not constantly threaten the lives of the women and wwon of onr peaceful oeWlcra, it.ii not only t—fc.colnnint.s — i—l _rar>lnnial Haremmpnt w_> —re eD PgKlia the pretentplan of ntflifcry k^ ****Jjt«.; the Governor of Kew Zealand is a party I? HIT? m$ r <n*y «*•■ ■■*~" "■ It is —aia» a_ct —1 oar opixiion -tx—_tt " —i^yfrli^-ri'js.

can now secure peace in tbe country of New Zealand but tbe eutablisbment of strong military settlements in tbe interior of tbe country, and it is to form settlements that we have invited you. Your own commander in this war will be Colonel Pitt, whom you all know and appre ciate; and you will serve under a general whose name is illustrious among the band of Crimean heroes, who distinguished himself in the glorious victory of the Alma I have no doubt you -will perform your duty, by strict obedience to your officers ; and L in the name of the name of the Government and colonists of New Zealand, promise you that we will not fail in ours. Remember, that as soon as you land in New Zealand, you are soldiers, as amenable to military law as we who are already in arms there; and that strict discipline and obedience will be required from aIL I hope the arrangements on board ship will be satisfactory to you, and that when you bind on the wharf in Auckland you will find that these arrangements have been punctually fulfilled. I now bid you farewell till we meet in Auckland; and 1 can only say tbat lam proud to have sent such a number from Victoria. 1 now call upon you to give three cheers for the Queen." (The battahon then gave three cheers for the Queen, and three cheers for Colonel Pitt.)