MILITARY AND NAVAL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1609, 16 August 1861, Page 4

MILITARY AND NAVAL.

The troops remain in camp at Olahuhu, the 65th and the Artillery are in Auckland, and th 6 Militia is directed to cease training. All the men of war have left with the exception uf the Harrier aud Miranda, but will reiurn in

the spring. Furtber reinforcements are spoken jog but we have no reliable information pn the subject. There was a rumour that the force was to be increased to twelve thousand stumg; but it probably arose from the expectation current, that Sir George Grey will not want adequate military support. Fuither drafts of reghfcents already in the Colony, have arrived aud also large military stores from England." More of the latter are en route. Sir Ge6ige Grey's arrival is looked Tor during the curreut month, and il is supposed that lie will bring an additional vessel of war with him.

Tbe Henry Femie, troop sbip, arrived with lhe drafts above mentioned, on the 25th July, after a very fair passage of 91 days. She took Jfer departure frora Queenstown on the 24th April, with the following troops, uuder commaud , of. Captain. Rutherford, 70th regiment ; Lieut. •pH-avhall, and 149 rank and file 12th ;— Lieuts. .Armstrong and Beamish, and 200 rank and! file . 14tlt ;- Eusigns Stack, Phillips and Simeon, .and 163 rank and file 40th ;— Er.sigus Barton, Powell arid Powys, arid 110 rank and file 57th ; -^Captain Rutherford, Lieuts. Cay, Ensigns J Bally, Greatwood, Whidborrie, and Ciippage, and 70 rank and file 70th regiment: Staff Surf" eon Bews, Staff Ass. Surgeon Everet, Rev. „ .Parsly, R. C. C; in all 710 officers and . soldiers,, besides 69 women and 'children. These 'troops are mostly young lads. r .t .The .City of Melbourne arrived same day frp : m Sydney with horses for the Commissariat department.. She shipped 63 and landed 53. As far. as the North Cape, had nvderale winds and pleasant weather ; but ihere she en countered a fierce sothh-easterly gale, which knocked up a prodigious sea, and drove the vessel a long way out of her course. One tremendous beam sea broke on board with such 'Violence tliat.it was feared many oi the horses must have been killed, more at least than those perished. For the safety of the ship, it "was found necessary to heuve'thc heavy deck load ! of drays,, waggons, and' the like overboard, iii^s'nxub.h asjfliey not only obstructed the work- , ing. .ojt the sbip, but imperilled the safety of all oji, board.

, ; . Tbe Cape Squadron consists of the following .eight ships:— Narcissus, 51 guns, 1996 tous, screw frigate, Capt. B. H. Bisk, flag ship oi Bear Admiral Sir B. W. Walker; Sidon,.22 guns, 1328 tons, paddle frigate, Capt. It. B. Crawford; Brisk, 16 guns, 1073 tons, screw . corvette, Capt. A. F. de Horsey ; Gorgon, 6 gilnsj 1111 ions,, paddle sloop, Commander B. ''C.T. Pirn ; Ariel, 9 guns, 490 tons, screw sloop, Cpmniander J. R. Alexander ; ' Lyra, 9 guns, 484 tons, screw sloop, Commauder It. B. ,„01.dfield ; Penguin, 6 guns, 360 tons screw, Lieut. I. G. G. McHardy: Persian, 12 guns, brig sloop, 484 tons, Commander Cecil W. -Buckley; Wasp, 13 guns,. 97o tons, screw sloop, Commander C. Stirling, was recently wrecked. The probability is ihat Governor Sir Gi orge Grey will arrive in Auckland either by tbe Sidon or the Brisk. Soine three or four months ago there was tben a nimour that his Excellency might be looked for by tbe Sidon.