GREEN ISLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 122, 7 April 1862, Page 3

GREEN ISLAND.

rUBLIC MEISTINO. •A,meeting of Green Island settlers was convened --on : the 3rit inst., at..the. Green Island Church,: for the purpose of forming a Volunteer liifie Corps. s ■■■.-'■-. . 11. Williams, Esq:, was called to the chair. Tho ■Chairman said, be: was glad to see them convened for the purpose of'"foriuing a Volunteer Kiflu Corps. It was of the-utmost importance to every settler to be preparbd for .any emergency. In the event of a war with, the Federal States of America, which was not at. ail. improbable, to arise out ofthe present complication .of--affairs —it- was of paramount in-.porfance to be ablo to resist the aggression of i'rivateei s, which would be attracted to these coasts, on account ofthe exports of gold from this Province. It was of the greatest moment that se tiers should b.- acquainted with the handling of the rilie ; apart from that, the training received would be highly beneficial to each and all ;he therefore trusted that perfect unanimity would pervade the meeting this evening ; and that each and all would come forward to enrol themselves as Volunteers.

■Mr. .Allen stated that, when the Volunteer movement was first mooted in this Province, the Green Island people cheerfully came forward on tho occasion to enrol themselves as members, and were drilled for several months ; and, had they received the support from Government m Inch they are promised on this occasion, the G. I. Volunteers would have been a handsome body ; forty-three at that time enrolled themselves. Jn Cargill, Esq.; who rdse amidst great applause, stated that he was mos'b happy to learn the spirit that animated the settlers on the occasion referred to by ' Mr. Allen. Volunteering in the home country was the great institution ofthe day; and he was very anxious to .see it take a firm root in the colonies, where it was most required. Each settler ought to be able to handle the rifle as he handles the axe or the spade'; and, were such a consummation of events attained, the Otago settlers would be in a position to bid defiance to any power whoinight think proper to pay a visit to our harbors, in the home country, where he himself was a member, and no period of his life was passed with greater pleasure, the spirit displayed, and the unanimity that prevailed among all classes, were most gratifying to behold. Mr. Cargill then described, with great felicity, the system pursued in the Hythe School of Musketry, where he had the advantage of a competent acquaintance with tho use of the rifle. Mr. Cargill gave some amusing anecdotes as to the opposition made at first, by superannuated commanders, to Volunteers ; but now, experience has taught them that the Voluliteers would be as effective in seasons of dangers as the military. In respect fo the colours of uniform, he was strenuously opposed to green ; for he thought such was not prepossessing ; tlie smarter ihe uniform the more attractive to young men ; he would, therefore, support ride red, in preference to green. At all events, whatever uniforms were fixed upon in Dunedin, they should be the same over the province, as young rneii changing from one locality to another would not be under the necessity of changing dress. However, he was desirous that the Greeii Island volunteers would take a part in the town meeting. -As to--the selection of uniforms, Mr. Cargill highly approved of the regulations recently issued "by Sir George Grey, and ho was sanguine they would be the means of increasing the force, and of making the volunteer movement highly popular in New Zealand. During the delivery oi a speech wliich nearly occupied an hour, Mr. Cargill was repeatedly applauded. Thcfollowing resolutions were passed : —" That a volunteer corps be got up in this district, to be called the Green Island Volunteer Kifle Corps, and that parties have an opportunity of enrolling themselves this evening." '• That a committee, consisting of Messrs. Williams, Allan, and Blair, be appointed to carry out all arrangements connected with the corps." One of tlio settlers offered his barn for the purpose of training in. A vote of thanks to the Chairman, whicli was carried with loud applause, terminated the meet-