THE VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 419, 10 December 1859, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEER CORPS.

This movement is progressing in the most satisfactory manner. Rifle and artillery corps are established everywhere, and many of them are making great progress in their drill. The government at last have recognised the importance of the movement, which will certainly now be a national institution : the rifle corps will be furnished with 25, and in certain cases 50 per cent, of rifles, whilst great encouragement is offered volunteer artillery corps, especially in the seaport towns along the coast, who will be supplied with guns and ammunition, on condition of taking charge of the batteries and being prepared to man them when required.

With all these things going on, we are beginning to recover confidence. Even now an enemy would think twice before invading us, and in a short time it will be a most desperate venture.

Touching this point some attention is being paid to the defence of the colonies, which, including the Mediterranean garrisons, cost the British taxpayer between three and four millions ; and, except the latter, few of the colonies after all are secure : the prevailing idea is, that the colonies having perfect control over their own affairs, ought to provide for their own defence certainly by land. It is a difficult question to settle what the colonies should contribute ; they have no voice in the war, and it is doubtful, if they cut the painter, whether, if England was at war, her enemy would not still, especially France, try to seize them as her own : the chief idea is, that by sea the mother country ought to protect the trade, but that by land the colonies ought to be prepared to resist an invasion, or at all events a coup de main, against which a weak regiment or two of the line will be but little protection, rather the contrary ; so that the only best reliance is in a colonial militia.