VOLUNTEER ENGINEER CORPS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXII, Issue 2682, 20 February 1866, Page 6

VOLUNTEER ENGINEER CORPS.

A otmebously attended meeting of civil engineers and surveyors of Auckland was held yesterday -afternoon, at 4 o'clock, at the Belfast Hotel, Princesstreet, and was convened for the purpose of considering the advisability of establishing a Volunteer Engineer Corps in -Auckland. Major Heaphy was voted to the chair ; .and Mr. Skeet appointed secretary pro tern. The Chairman, in a very pertinent speech, explained the object for which the meeting had been called. Mr. Stzphins then moved, and it was seconded by Mr. PrrcAißtr, " That it is desirable that a corps of volunteer engineers should be formed in Auckland." Mr. Skeet spoke in support of the motion, and •aid he felt convinced the Government would only be too glad to command the services of men who would be willing and able to perform engineering duties in the absence of- any engineers connected with the army. There would also be another advantage to be gained, inasmuch as though all the surveyors were not Maori scholars, still several of them thoroughly understood Maori ; and having ou different occasions acted as Maori interpreters, they would, no doubt, be able to do so again should the necessity arise for their services being called into requisition. Their assistance would also be found most \aluable to any officer, in guiding the troops through the country, as they would be able to giro a good idea of the beat paths to follow. In the event, likewise, of any general officer preparing to shell a pa, the members of the corps would be competent to give advice as to the distances. (Hear, hear.) Major Tighe had promised to recommend the corps to the acceptance of the Government. The Chairman said there was a capitation allowance of £2 10s. per annum, or £5 every two years ; and this might be taken as an equivalent for the uniform of the volunteers, which was supposed to last two years. Arms and ammunition were provided by Government, and the materials for clothing were sold to the company at cost price. There was also an allowance of 2s. 6d. per diem to each private, with rations, whenever called into the field ; a higher scale being granted to each non-com-missioned officer. The motion was then put and carried. Mr. Good all moved, "That the gentlemen present give in their names to form the nucleus of a corps." Seconded by Mr. Bltjcheb, and carried. A number of gentlemen present then signified their willingness to join the corps by placing their signature* on a paper handed round. The Chairman suggested the desirability of a provisional board being formed, composed of four or five members, to solicit the names of gentlemen willing to join the corps, until the requisite number, 37, had been obtained. He believed there were already 50 names placed on the list j but, of course, it most be expected there would be a certain amount of looseness about the first list, and it would scarcely be proper to fend the names down to the General Government until further steps had been taken. He did not fear any difficulty would be experienced in raising 37 names in a very short time. Mr. Skekt said complaint had been, made that, in the advertisement calling the meeting, he bad not inserted the word architect, but he could assure those -who felt aggrieved that it was quite an oversight on his part. Mr. Stephens moved, "That a Provisional Committee be appointed ; the committee to consist of the following gentlemen :— Major Heaphy, and Messrs. H. L. Skeet, Pitcairn, Goodall, Beere, and the mover: three to form a quorum." Mr. Bxpcheb seconded the motion, and it was carried. / The Chaibman said, if a company of the strength of 100 men were thought desirable, it would be necessary to go outside the limit, and introduce mechanics and workmen, who would, from their practical ability, be most valuable auxiliaries, although not able to_ do the work of au engineer. If a sufficient number of surveyors, engineers, and other professional gentlemen were obtained to be appointed officers and non-commis-sioned officers, it was perhaps as much as they could hope for. None but men of good character should be_ admitted, and they should also admit men •killed in some science or art; the company would thus become most useful to the Government. Any Mr. Goodaul said he had previously formed one of a corps of engineers in Scotland, and the first company wa«compo»ed entirely of professionalmen. Upon the formation of a second company the officers were drafted from the first, and the mass made up from ■killed artisans. The corps worked admirably, and -was in existence at the present time, as he could see by the advertisements in the papers.

Mr. Stephens said there was one advantage which \ had not beeu pointed out, but which would be as well placed in the form of a resolution. It wts to the effect that even if they were beyond the militia district the individual members of the corps would be prepared to offer their services, wherever they might be located, in the absence of any accredited engineer connected with the army. Mr. Skeet could fully bear out what had been stated by the last speaker. Jn a statement accompanying the list of names which would be forwarded to the Government, itmighk be stated that the members of the corps would be willing to give their services beyond any militia district. He believed the militia district extended for a distance of twenty miles. Mr. Stephens said if the duties of the surveyors . called them 20 or even 30 miles away from Auckland, they could not be required to serve in the militia, and therefore it was an act of grace on their part to offer themselves. He would suggest that the corps should be a provincial corps, and not confined to any particular militia district. Mr. Gwynhith said the corps could not pretend to dictate to the Government on 'frhat terms they would serve. If a corps were formed, all the members should be liable to do duty; and it would be idle for members to say, because their profession took tham to Opotiki, Tauranga, or elsewhere, that they were not equally liable to serve as any member in Auckland. Every man who belonged to the corps had a right' to be called upon ; therefore, some provision ought to be made for those at a distance. They ought to be compelled to serve, otherwise their volunteering would not be of much, avail. Mr. Skbbt said it was almost absurd to imagine that the services of the corps as a body would be expected by the Government. He could not see what object the Government could have when there were plenty members of thecorps in Auckland to send down to Opotiki and Tauranga, or the West Coast, for men. He believed that if the Government required any engineers in the Bay of Islands, the probability would be there would be some of the corps there. The services of the corps were offered to the Government on certain terms. Mr. Simpsos did not believe the corps could make terms with the Government. Their services would be accepted by the Government under the Militia or Volunteer Act, and no special terms could be made in favour of the corps. The Chairman said it appeared to be the wish of the meeting that the individual services of the corps should be offered to the Government wherever the members might be placed at the time of an outbreak —say at Tauranga, Opotiki, or elsewhere. The agreement simply would be amongst the members themselves ; but, whether they would state to the Government, for a week or month to come, that such an agreement existed, was, of course, a very different matter. . Mr. Skeet moved, "That this corps do offer their individual services in any part of the province of Auckland where they may be situated, independent of any particular militia district." Seconded by Mr. FrrzGißßOtf. Mr. Goodall moved an amendment that the words "independent of any particular militia districfc," b9 left out. Mr. Gwvnneth moved the adjournment of the meeting, but on being put it was negatived. Mr. Skeet said he would agree t» the amendment proposed by Mr. Goodall; and the words above mentioned were consequently struck out. Mr. Gwynneth proposed another amendment to the effect, "That the corps do offer their services to the Government as an engineering corps, to be called out in any district within twenty miles from Auckland, where their services may be required: but should individual members be located outside that boundary, and their services be required in that neighbourhood, that they be employed in the district or neighbourhood in which they reside without being called upon to attend in Auckland for the purpose of being sent back to where they came from. ' The amendment was not seconded, and it consequently fell to the ground. Mr. Lessong proposed, as an ameudtnent, that the words " independently of any militia district" be added; but the amendment was subsequently withdrawn. Mr. Gwynneth felt convinced there were a great many gentlemen present who did not know upon what question they were voting. He would, therefore, propose, " That the meeting be adjourned for a week, to permit members to discuss the matter privately." Mr. Goodall seconded the amendment, and it was negatived. The original motion was then put and carried, and the meeting adjourned at six o'clock.