CAMP, TE AWAMUTU.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XII, Issue 622, 2 July 1864, Page 3

CAMP, TE AWAMUTU.

[From the Correspondent Daily Southern Cross."] PRESENTATION OF THE VICTORIA CROSS TO ENSIGN McKENNA. June 18. The troops in camp paraded at 2.30 to-day to witness the presentation of the Victoria Cross to Ensign McKenna, and of the medals for meritorious conduct to Sergeants Braccgirdleaud Meara, LanceCorporal Bulford, arid Private Thomas, of the CSth Regiment. The troops were drawn up in an open square, and after a short delay General Sir Dnucan A. Cameron and staff walked into the centre of the square, and Ensign McKenna was called to the front. Colonel Gary, C.8., Deputy-Adjutant-Ge-neral, Ripon, in reference to tho bestowal of the .decorations; after which. General Sir Duncan A. Cameron spoke as follows :—": — " Ensign McKenna, in obedience to her Majesty's instructions, it becomes my pleasing duty to present you with the Victoria Cross ; and although I could have wished to have carried out those instructions in a still more'pubßc and formal manner, yet it is satisfactory to see that the presentation takes place in the presence of your own regiment. Your coolness, presence of mind, and personal daring in the engagement at Camerontown, fully justified the confidence placed in you by the small party so suddenly thrown under your command, and are too well known and appreciated by the whole of the force to need many comments from me. Enough for me to say that the honorable elevation of the Victoria Cross was never oonferred on a braver or more deserving officer than you." The General then stepped forward and attached the ribbon and cross to Ensign McKenna's left breast, and said, " I trust you will be long spared to wear it with honour to your self and country." The General shook hands warmly with Mr. McKenna, after which the latter retired to his place in line with his brother officers. Three vociferous, hearty cheers were given for Ensign McKenna. The following men were callad to the front : Sergeant Bracegirdle and Meara, Lance-Corporal Bulford, and Private Thomas, all of the 65th Regt. Colonel Carey, C.8., D.A.G., then read a letter from W. F. Forster, Under- Secretary of State for War, and at its conclusion. General Sir Duncan A. Cameron said: "It must be a matter of deep regret te us all that Corporal Ryan, who was to have received the Victoria Cross, should have met with such an untimely death ; but be it remembered that he died as nobly as he .had lived, for he was drowned in endeavouring to rescne a comrade from the fate which unfortunately befel himself. Sergeants Bracegirdle and Meara, Corporal Balford and Private Thomas, your devotion to your officers in the engagement Camerontown reflects the highest credit upon yourselves and the regiment to which you belong. ".When men are. led by such chivalrous officers as Swift, Butler, and McKenna, and such officers are followed by rfuch brave and devoted soldiers as you, they cannot fail to conduct themselves with honor and to earn the gratitude of their country. It is very gratifying to me to notice the cordial feelings existing between the officers and men of the 65th Regiment, and I trust that it will continue." The General then stepped forward and presented each of the men with the medal for " meritorious conduct in the field." The men retired to their respective places, and the ceremony ended. The troops then marched to their private parades. There are still two others to be presented with the medals for meritorious conduct, namely Sergeant Scully, who has been discharged from tho service, and Private Talbot who is nick in hospital.

The Times seems to think that a substitute has been found for coal as a steam producing agency. This is petroleum oil, which is believed by an American official commission to he twice as powerful as anthracite coal,— that is we presume, foi the same bulk of material. The pain to all steam traffic if this could be proved would be enormous, and the Times calls dn the Government to make experiments The oil is producible in endless quantities, but it. is a very dangerous material to carry in large quantities, — as dangerous as gunpowder, It is rematkable, considering the inimeiue importance of obtain itiji fuel somewhat less bulky than coal, how wry little science has been able toaceunplish in that <lirectirn. Coal in one form or another, i*'ihc t ouly futl yet employed to generate motive pinw- , , • •' /?