THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT AT NORMANBY. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) Normanby, 28th June.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1879, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT AT NORMANBY. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT. ) Norm a nby, 28th June.

The question of the native difficulty is now the one absorbing subject among all classes in the colony, and one which, from the very peculiar Ettitude assumed by the natives from the commencement of the dispute has excited the greatest attention' and curiosity. It is not, however, of its political aspect that I am now purposing to write; but I think that you may feel interested in hearing what is being done by a small body of volunteers at the extremety of what must, in truth, be called the country over which our laws have power. This township (Normanby), which has grown into considerable local importance in the last four or five years, is situated on a plain at the edge of the great bush which occupies the centre of this part of the island, and is more than four miles from Hawera (our nearest town) and two from the Waingongoro River, which is the natural boundary of the much talked of Waimate Plains. We have large hotels, stores, a bank, and had till the present time a large trade in all kinds of timber, and our open country is covered with large herds of cattle, which are sent to the markets to the north and south. Everything looked flourishing, and money was freely invested in land wherever it could be purchased, when the interruption of the survey on the Plains put the first check on our enterprise ; and from that time our prospects have become darker and darker, till they present the aspect they now bear. Our first «jt«p" towards forming a volunteer corps was taken at least a twelvemonth since, and as we theu could not get the requisite number to complete our strength, the matter for the time fell through; and although the necessity of our being armed for our own protection became every day more and more apparent, we could do nothing towards carrying out our intentions until the concerted and determined action of the natives in their recent occupation of land in Taranaki at last seemed to arouse the Government from their apathy to the fact that matters had reached such a pitch tbat for their own credit some show of assistance should be given to the settlers on the borders. Sanction wa* therefore given to our forming a volunteer company. The appointment of Major Noake to the post of Commander of the District gave universal satisfaction, for many of the volunteers had served under him before, and felt entire confidence that everything bis long experience and knowledge of military matters could do for us would be willingly and effectually done. Arms, the old-fashioned Enfield rifles, were served out, but only partially, to us, and then our work of defence began. We at once resolved to build a redoubt close to the town, and by means of regular working parties, who were at tbeir work eve*y day, including Sundays, a very strong and well-designed fortification was erected. It is 70ft. square inside the walls, with a ditch 6ft. deep ; tne walls 7ft. high from the level, and 6ft thick at the base. They are made of gorse taken from the hedges around, and laid in layers covered with the soil from the trenches, and firmly trodden down till it becomes a solid mass, and perfectly impenetrable to bullets. At opposite angles are bastons of a horseshoe shipe, \i"l loopholed, with wooden portholes, as of coars'j are the walls, with stages for firing over the top of the walls as well a* through the ports if necessary. On entering the square over the drawbridge is the blockhouse, a building 40ft by lift, with double walls, the space being filled with clay rammed tight and ball-proof. A brick chimney has been put up, and the whole of the building

Is leopholed like the walls and closed by a dooi seven inches thick. At the end of the blockhouse a large framed stage is erected, 30fl high, with flagstaff and yards for signalling to the Armed Constabulary station at Waihi The bush intervening has been cleared by tho men of that station under Captain Marshall, so that perfect communication can bo kept vo — by day by flags, and by night by lamps, &c. To that officer himself our warmest thanks are due fur his constant Interest in all our doings, and his ready assistance whenever it lay in bis power to give it. The willingness of all here to contribute to the work may be summarised thus— that storekeepers have given materials that were requisite, while owners have cut the timber and their men given their time; owners of the timber have given it ; carpenters have done the work with the greatest care and expedition, and every working man about the place has freely and willingly given the time that should furni-h him with bin daily bread, to hasten on the cbrnpletion of our redoubt. I think now, sir, that when you consider that all this has been done by the exertions of a body of men, most of whom are living by their dally work, y>u will agree tbat we have some reason to feel satisfied with what has been done, and I am certain of this, that no body of men could have shewn more unanimity of spirit, or a better feeling towards one another than, I am proud to think, has been manifested here. Those who were in a position to give, ha/c given; those who could work, have worked, and where a spirit like that exists, labour come 3 easy and the object aimed at is soon gained. It is no slight sacrifice for a number of working men, day after day, for such a purpose, but it has been established as our leading article of faith, that everything that had to be done must be done by ourselves, and that movement has been carried out to the utmost, for indecision and fear ceant losing everything that each fn the last few years has acquired, and giving up onr homes to the savage, and for that, to use a laconic but expressive phrase, we were " not on." As I hope I have now, to a certain extent, enlisted your sympathies on our behalf, I will ask you to look at our situation with regard to our military duties. Eacn night there are fourteen men on duty for foot sentries acd mounted patrols, and in the day a look-out Js always neressary, independent of any men who may be employed doiog work about the redoubt, but how that duty is to be performed even for a few days when men are_ entirely without resources, as is the case with very many, is a question that deserves serious consideration, which will simply result in the decision that it cannot be done. Unless the Government choose to put men on pay one after another will leavo, and at last the Government will find the whole of this side of the country unprotected, unless at a far greater expense they send here a force of another description We have placed ourselves in a perfectly defensible position— our position relative to Waihi is such as to form a mutual support, and to abandon this would be a most serious blow to the country generally, as it would at once increase to a boundless extent the confidence of the enemy. As is usually the case in theso frontier settlements, ODe of the crying evils that annoy us, and hy which our exertions are likely, to a certain extent, to be frustrated is the presence of so-called friendly natives. Some, no doubt, are friendly, but the race as a rule is gifted with an extra organ of speech, and* everything that is seen on board finds its way through them to the enemy. This has often had a most fatal effect on ourselves, as any who were here in 1868-9 well know. We are hoping very soon to have a telegraph station here, so as to be able to hold direct communication with other plaeps at all times, for our nearest station now is Hawera, as Waihi is only a snecial post for telegrams on public service. Hoping I have not wearied you with my long description of our litrlo Gibraltar, I will conclude.