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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.

Lieutenant-Colonel Forster Yelverton Goring, of the New Zealand Militia, was born in Ireland on the 23rd of July, 1846, and is a son of Mr Forster Goring, of Highden, Sussex, and the Hon. Sydney Eloise Yelverton. In
Lieut.-Col. F. Y. Goring.

Lieut.-Col. F. Y. Goring.

1860 he came to New Zealand. On the outbreak of the Maori war Lieutenant-Colonel Goring joined the Auckland Volunteers, and went through the campaign. page 157 He received a commission in September, 1863, as Ensign in Pitt's First Four Hundred (afterwards the 1st Waikato Regiment of Militia) and served through the Waikato campaign under General Cameron. In January, 1865, he went to Wanganui, served through the West Coast campaign, and was present at the actions of Ngukumara, Patea, under General Chute; in 1866, Lieut.-Colonel Goring took part in several engagements including that at Otepawa, and accompanied the General in his march round Mount Egmont. Rejoining his regiment at Tauranga in the same year, he was present at Ake-Ake and other actions. In the latter part of 1867 Lieut.-Colonel Goring was appointed Sub-Inspector of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary, with the rank of Captain. He went to Opotiki, and under Colonels St. John and Fraster, saw service in the Uriwera country. On the outbreak of hostilities on the West Coast, in 1868, he was sent there, and was present at Te Ngutu-O-te-Manu under Lieut.-Colonel McDonnell (N.Z.C.), where, under fire, he helped to carry Captain Rowan, who was badly wounded, off the field. He served under Major-General Sir George Whitmore; and at Moturoa, the officer of No. 1 Division being ill. Lieut.-Colonel Goring took command of it during the engagement. He was present at the taking of Ngatapa in Poverty Bay, where Te Kooti was beaten but escaped. Colonel Goring then returned to the West Coast and took part in the actions at Woodall's Redoubt, Te Ngaire, and other places. In 1874 Lieut.-Colonel Goring was appointed inspector, with the rank of Major, and took command of the Opotiki district, and was afterwards at Waikaremoana, and various camps on the coast. In 1881 he marched to Parihaka and was in command of a camp there until 1885. In that year the New Zealand Permanent Artillery was raised, and Lieut.-Colonel Goring was appointed its first commanding officer, and he claims to be the founder of that branch of the service in New Zealand. He was next appointed as commanding officer of the Dunedin District, and in 1890 was transferred to Auckland, where he assumed the command of the Permanent Artillery, the forts, and the volunteers. Unfortunately, through failing eyesight, Lieut.-Colonel Goring was obliged to retire from the command in 1897. He will always be remembered as a brave and fearless man and a capable soldier. Since his retirement Lieut.-Colonel Goring has resided at Whangarei, where he is now engaged in fruit growing. In 1880 he married Bertha Virginia, a daughter of the late Major Herbert Dobie.

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 James Pirie, New Zealand Militia, was born in 1836 in Guernsey (Channel Islands), and is a son of Mr. Andrew Pirie, of Banffshire, Scotland. After receiving
Major J. Pirie.

Major J. Pirie.

his education, Major Plrie joined the 1st Regiment Light Infantry Royal Guerusey Militia, and became captain and adjutant in 1865, and major a few years later. On the re-organisation of the Channel Islands Militia in 1878, he retired on a pension, receiving a valuable plano as a testimonial from the non-commissioned officers and men of his regiment, in addition to presentations from his brother officers, and from various rifle clubs and associations which he had founded or supported. During his residence in Guernsey the major initiated the Guerusey Rifle Association—now a very important and prosperous institution; being an expert rifle shot, he possesses many valuable trophies and champion medals. Arriving in New Zealand in 1879, Major Pirie was soon afterwards appointed Musketry Instructor for the Auckland district. At a later date he became Inspector of Ammunition, and is now a member of the local board of officers' examination. In 1896 he was selected as commanding officer of the attacking force at the Auckland Easter encampment. The major has also held various non-military positions in New Zealand. He was for many years returning officer for the borough of New-market, and, in Masonry, now (1897) holds the position of past district grand organist, E.C.; he also compiled and introduced a musical ritual now adopted in all Auckland lodges. Major Pirie was married in 1865 to Miss Minna Carey, eldest daughter of Mr. John Carey, a landed proprietor and lord of the manor of Sainte Hélenè, Guernsey, and has four children. The eldest son, Mr. Carey James Pirie, who holds certificates as chief engineer in the Royal Naval Reserve, is in the Chinese Imperial Revenue Service.
Captain Samuel Charles Schofield, of the New Zealand Militia, was born in Tasmania and educated at Hobart. He volunteered for service in New Zealand in 1863, and joined the 3rd Waikato Militia, who were then engaged in the Maori war. Shortly afterwards he was transferred to the Commissariat Transport Corps for both land and water service, and later was re-transferred at his own request to his old regiment. On the conclusion of the war Captain Schofield was retained as Drill Instructor in the Waikato. About 1868 he went to the Thames goldfields, and remained there for seventeen years. He took a most active part in the raising of the Thames Scottish Rifles, in which he first acted as drill instructor. After a time he was appointed sub-lieutenant, and later on lieutenant. On the formation of the Engineer Volunteer Militia for service on the Waikato, he was appointed to command the No. 3 Company. The corps was raised by Major Cooper, under instructions from the Government. Later on Captain Schofield was appointed adjutant, and held the position until the disbandment of the corps. He then rejoined the Thames Scottish Rifles as adjutant, and held that position until the disbandment of that body at their own request. During the Parihaka trouble he was attached to the Thames Contingent as captain and adjutant, and on his arrival at Parihaka he was appointed to a similar position in the No. page 158 2 Battalion, and was one of Major Pitt's staff at the advance to Parihaka. When young Williams was shot at and wounded by the Maoris in the Upper Thames district,
Captain S. C. Schofield.

Captain S. C. Schofield.

Captain Schofield was, under instructions from Major Murray, entrusted with the duty of distributing to the settlers the arms supplied by the Government. About 1885 he removed to Auckland, where he accepted the position which he still holds in the Auckland Hospital. Although always greatly interested in volunteering, Captain Schofield, after his arrival in Auckland, refrained from taking an active part until 1899, when he assisted Major White (now Lieut.-Colonel White) at the Easter Encampment in Potter's Paddock, and he also acted as major and adjutant under the same gentleman at the Faster Encampment of 1900. Capt. Schofield holds the New Zealand (Imperial) Medal for services in the commissariat corps. He is a Freemason of many years' standing, and has passed through all the chairs in the Order of Foresters. Captain Schofield is married and has a large family.

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.