The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]
New Zealand Militia
New Zealand Militia.
New Zealand Militia. The New Zealand Militia comprises practically the whole colony's adult manhood, capable of bearing arms in the defence of the country. This force would only be called up in case of the direst necessity. The New Zealand Army list gives the names of all officers on the Active and Unattached Lists.
Lieut.-Col. F. Y. Goring.
Major Lusk, New Zealand Militia, who is on the staff of the Government Survey Department in the Auckland District, rendered invaluable services to the colony in the days of the Waikato war. He and the late Judge Maning formed a scheme for marching 1200 Ngapuhi warriors through the Waikato to Taranaki, with a view to the extinction of the rebellion by placing the Kingite Maoris between two overwhelming forces. The Government of the day, however, refused the offer, though it afterwards wished to accept it, but by that time the Ngapuhis had decided to remain neutral. In 1863, Major Lusk had succeeded in organising his fellow settlers in the Waikato into an effective corps named the Forest Rifle volunteers, of which he was elected captain. This corps did excellent service, and was victorious in several memorable engagements with the Maoris, especially those which took place in the dense bush near Mauku on the 9th of September, 1863, and at Bald Hills on the 23rd of October. The action at Bald Hills was one of the most desperate of the war; eight of Captain Lusk's men were killed and many were wounded, while the Maoris had thirty-two killed and so many wounded that they fled across the Waikato river and left the district. The Maoris had 350 warriors in the engagement, and Captain Lusk had only sixty-seven volunteers with him at the time. This engagement had far reaching effects, and was mentioned in the most special manner in the despatches of General Cameron and Governor Sir George Grey. Captain Lusk was afterwards, on account of his special knowledge of the New Zealand bush, placed in command of the transport at Te Awamutu, and was present at the historic siege of Orakau. In 1868, while in command of the Waiuku and Wairoa districts, he marched 300 men a distance of nearly thirty miles within twenty-four hours, and was in that way instrumental in compelling Te Kooti to leave the district. It was a brilliant piece of work, and he and his men received the special thanks of the Government for their achievement. Major Lusk retired from the command of the Waiuku and Wairoa districts in 1878.
Major J. Pirie.
Captain S. C. Schofield.
Captain John Whitney, of the New Zealand Militia, is the founder of the Colonial Ammunition Company, Ltd., and is referred to in an article on that company printed in this section. Captain Whitney received a commission in the 2nd Battalion, 8th Royal North Lincolnshire Regiment, in 1859. He served several years in this regiment and saw some active service.