PROPOSED IRISH VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1353, 16 June 1885, Page 3

PROPOSED IRISH VOLUNTEER CORPS.

A meeting was held hat Saturday night in the Star Hotel, Temuka, to consider certain matters connected ,vith the above. There were about 20 present. Mr B. D, O'Halloran occupied the chair and explained that the meeting had been adjourned from the previous Monday, and that it was called to consider certain letters which he had received. He then read a letter from Major Newall stating that the services of the corps as an honorary one had been accepted ; abo that honorary corps received no capitation grant. He also read a letter from the Defence Office, Wellington, as follows :—• "Defence Office, " Wellington, Ist June, 1885.

"Sir, —As it appears improbable that hostilities are now likely to occur, I am instructed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to intimate that he will be unable to accept the services of any more volunteer corps except as honorary corps. I haye, therefore to request you will inform those gentlemen accordingly who have tendered their services at Temuka, Amberley, and in the District north of Kaiapoi, and at the same time express the gratification of the Hon. the Defence Minister at the public spirit which prompted them to come forward when there was a probability of their assistajce being required. I have the honor, etc. "(Signed) H. E. Rbadbr, " Under Secretary Defences. "Lieut.-Col.Lßan."

The Chairman continued to Bay that these letters bad been received by him, and the meeting had been called to discuss thom. He was now ready to hear anyone who had anything to say on the subject. Mr Twomey said he was sorry there was Dot a larger meeting. There appeared'to be a great difference between the state of feeling which existed when war was imminent and now ; as shown by the fact that their meetings used to be then twice as large as at present. He would move—" That as the Government deem it improbable that hostilities will ensue, and consequently cannot require our services, and as the great majority of those who signed the list of membership live at loDg distances (some six and 8 mileß) from Temuka and could not attend drill without making extraordinary personal sacrifices, wo consider it advisable to defer the enrolment of the corps for the present. That we fully appreciate the great honor the Hod. the Defence Minister has conferred on us in accepting our services at a time when lie found it necessary to decline similar offers, and that the preferment thus shown to up, has inspired us with fresh feelings of loyalty and gratkudu to the Government. He had taken this course, believing it to be the best. They had

offered their services in the hour of dange*-, and now, when the danger was all over, lie felt they could retire honorably. They could noi, in the first place, keep the corps going without dipping their hands deeply into their pockets. They would have to buy uniforms, which would cost from £3 to £3 10s to be

presentable at ill. They would have to pay something each night for the use of the Volunteer Hall, and also contribute towards repairing the riflo range ; but he did not lay so much stress upon this point as on the fact that the men were scattered over a large district, and tbey could not possibly attend drill without putting themselves to extraordinary inconvenience. If there were any prospects of war tbey would all no doubt readily set these considerations aside and prepare themselves for it, but as there was not, lie did not see the good of going to trouble and expense. The British Govercment had retraced their steps, and as loyal subjects he thought they might do the same. (laughter.) Another reason v/üB, Mr O'Hallorau was leaving the district, and Mr Qninn had point-blank refused to accept the position of captain, and consequently'they did not find it easy to get a suitable mun to fill that position. Sumo people had been kind enough to suggest that he (Mr Twomey) should take it, but he did not think himself fit for it. He was afraid he had not been built for a soldier ; the pen was mightier than the sword with him, and if he did not gain renown in any other field he would not gain it in the battlefield. He knew very well that a great many of the young meu wore very much dissatisfied with this course being adopted ;,he had spoken to many, who had expressed themselves very much against withdrawing now. He did not at all regret seeing that such a spirit existed amongst them, but he would appeal to them to carry this resolution because it was the best course. He did not think they could carry on the corps permanently as a sufficient number of them did not live within a reasonable distance of the town, and many of them might be in the North Island before twelve months had passed. Some of those who had signed bad already gone there. Tf there were war it would be a different thing ; they would be ready to make sacific-js and put up with inconveniences, but as there was not it wouid be foolish to go to so much trouble and expense. He therefore moved the resolution he had read.

Mr Angland peconded the motion with much regret. He would rather by far go on with it, but as those who starled it appeared to be drawiug back now lie did not see they could do anything else but wind it up. Several of those present expressed themselves dissatisfied with this course being adopted, and urged that the corps should be formed.

Mr Quinn said he would support the resolution. It was apparent to him that a great many had cooled down since tho war came to an end, and that these arere not at all desirous of going on now. Probably, if they went on now, tluy would not get more than 30 or 35 to join, owing to their enthusiasm having cooled down, and he did not believe in starling with that. All these could not attend drill ivgularly, and no doubt some of them would get tired of it hi the course of time and would not go to the trouble of coming five or six miles on drill nights. It was quite different in Christchurch or Dunedin where the men were employed in the town and had not to go a long distance to the drillshed. He earnestly hoped the Irish Corps formed in those places would be a credit to the colony and he had no doubt they would. They were too scattered in this district and he did not think they could keep it on creditably ; consequently he would* rather drop it at once than carry it on in a struggling sort of waj. If there were any prospect of war he had no doubt but they could get up a good corps, but as there was not he believed it would not be a success. On these grounds he wa3 in favor of withdrawing now. After a conversational sort of discussion, Mr O'Halloran in putting the motion expressed regret at having to put it, and said that if he had been remaining in the district he would have been in favor of carrying it on. He then put the motion, when about 12 hands were held up for it and about 8 or 9 against it, and it was declared carried.

Mr Quinn moved, and it was agreed to—- " That Messrs O'Halloran andTwom3y be appointed a Sub-Committee to draw up a letter in reply to those read." Mr Twomey moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr O'Halloran, not only for having presided on this occasion but also for the ninny other occasions on which he had so ably filled the chair, and for the very valuable assistance he had given them, and to this he wished to add an expression of the very sincere regret they all felt at his departure from their midst. He spoke in very eulogistic terms of him as an officer of the Post Office, and said they felt his loss now, for had he remained he was inclined to think the corps would liave been carried on as he. (Mr O'Halloran) had both the time and the ability to devote to it. He could assure him that he carried with him to his new home the good wishes and esteem of those who were with him engaged in the formation of the corps. Mr Waleh seconded the motion, and it ■vas carried by acclamation. Mr" O'Halloran said too much stress h d heeo laid on his leaving the district. If tbey desired to go on could do so without him. However, Ae wished to thank them for the honor they had intended to confer upon him, by making him their captain, and if he had remained in the district he would have done bis best to make the corps a success. He felt sure it would have been a succcsb if they had goheon witli it, and it was only a feeling of backwardness that made certain persons think they were not fit to be officers. He had always been fond of volunteering, and if thera was one corps more than another he would like to be connected with it was an Irish corps. He was sorry at leaving Temuka, he had many friends there, but owing to his wife's ill-health, he was obliged to go. He thanked them most heartily, not only for the vote of thanks and their expression of regret at his leaving, but also for the courteous manner in which they had always treated him. He could assure them that he would always remember them with kindly feelings. The meeting then terminated.