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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

New Zealand Volunteers

New Zealand Volunteers

The inception of the Volunteer force in New Zealand dates as far back as the year 1856, or about three years prior to its institution in the Mother Country, and may be attributed to the forethought of Dr John Logan Campbell. That interesting and notable man did many things indicating public spirit and foresight, and his initiation of the volunteer movement was undoubtedly one of them. During the year 1856, when Dr Campbell was Superintendent of the Province of Auckland, Governor Gore Browne received a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, stating that in future New Zealand would have to pay the cost of Imperial troops, or do without their assistance in dealing with the Maoris. As Superintendent, Dr Campbell received a copy of this despatch, and, in view of the fact that the Colony must, sooner or later, become self-reliant in the matter of defence, caused a sum of £1000 to be placed on the estimates, for the purpose of purchasing a supply of rifles of the best class, with a view to arming a body of efficient marksmen, consisting of such of the militia as might volunteer to form a rifle corps. Colonel Hay, of the Hythe Rifle School, was entrusted with the selection of the weapon; and in drawing up a memorandum for the Colonel's guidance in the matter, Dr Campbell observed that, in order to create a rivalry among the proposed rifle clubs, an annual prize for competitive marksmanship should be given. This prize, which consisted of a rifle and silver vase, Dr Campbell provided, in September, 1856, for competition amongst members of the rifle corps formed at his official suggestion. To this day these prizes, or their substitutes, are competed for, and are known as Dr Campbell's Silver Vase and Champion Belt. The first competition was held in 1859, the year in which the great volunteer movement took definite shape in England, which had in a sense been forestalled in the matter by New Zealand. Another point worth noting in this connection is that competitions, akin to those instituted by Dr Campbell in 1856, have been proposed during the present year (1900) in England, as a means of raising efficient volunteers and avoiding conscription.

Dr Campbell's plan proved so far successful as to become a means of encouraging, subsequently, the formation of Volunteer Rifle companies. These companies have had a varied existence up to the present time, being always influenced by the barometrical pressure of the approach of war, when the dormant military spirit of the people has always asserted itself, and the slender ranks of the various companies have been filled to their authorised strength. The premier company bore the personal name of Her Majesty the Queen, and it still exists. It, together with four other companies numbered respectively 1, 2, 3, and 6, with the addition of an efficient naval corps, long constituted the effective strength of Auckland's volunteer organisation; and, as it was supplemented by militia, of the first, second, and third class, it formed a fairly effective force for ordinary requirements.

During the call to arms to check the native rebellion in the year 1863, and following year, these companies proved to be very useful auxiliaries to the regular force of the Empire, then on service in the North Island, and were almost, if not absolutely, the first volunteer companies in the Empire to gain the distinction of serving under fire, in conjunction with the regular troops of the line. The members of the No. 1 company (1st Royals), together with detachments of the No. 3 and 6 companies, were the more fortunate in this respect, receiving, as they did, their baptismal fire, in company with the 18th Royal Irish regiment, while defeating a large force of the rebels, at the defence of the Galloway Redoubt and Stockade, and subsequently in the attack and capture of the native settlement of Otau, in the Southern Wairoa district. In these encounters neither the Regulars nor Volunteers sustained a single casualty, but inflicted a severe chastisement upon the rebels, who subsequently admitted a loss of fourteen killed and forty-one wounded. For these services the men, when peace was restored, received, in addition to the grant of land conferred upon all Volunteers who had fulfilled certain conditions of service, the decoration bestowed alike upon the local and regular troops. At the close of the war, the various corps subsided into a normal condition, and the personnel of the Volunteer force was from time to time influenced by the fluctuating nature of the population. The efficiency or otherwise of the various succeeding commandants—of whom Auckland has, up to the present time, had fourteen—was subject to a corresponding influence.

During more recent periods, and at the present time, under the dominant influence of war prevailing in South Africa, the status of the troops throughout the colony, has been largely fostered in point of numbers and of efficiency. A comparison will show that, whilst in earlier times, the establishment in Auckland was confined to the few infantry corps and the naval company, the effective force of the present day comprises the various branches of artillery, mounted infantry, engineers, infantry, naval, sub-marine mining, and torpedo corps, which are well represented in both town and country districts.

Permanent Staff.

Captain James Reid, Adjutant of the Auckland District, was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1850. At the age of thirteen he was enrolled as bugler in the 1st Berwickshire Rifle Volunteers. He joined the ranks in 1867, and was associated with the Dumbarton Artillery, 1st Haddingtonshire Rifle Volunteers, in the F. Company of which he received his commission on the 20th of March, 1877. In 1886 he left for New Zealand. Captain Reid formed and commanded the Hamilton Light Infantry Volunteers from 1887 to 1900. During the last three years of this service the corps was changed to that of the No 1 Waikato Mounted Infantry. Captain Reid was also instrumental in forming the second and third companies of the Waikato Mounted Infantry. In January 1900, he was transferred to the Permanent Staff as District Adjutant of Auckland.

page 159
Hanna, photo.Captain J. Reid.

Hanna, photo.Captain J. Reid.

Brigade Sergt.-Major Robert Carpenter. Drill Instructor, was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1850. He joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1866, and served with them from 1870 to 1875 in China and Japan, and from 1875 to 1879 in South Africa. He was transferred to the Middlesex Regiment as sergeant-major (Warrant Officer) in 1883, and served on the permanent staff till 1892. Then he was posted to the depot as regimental district sergeant-major, and appointed acting garrison sergeant-major at Hounslow, where he remained until December, 1894, when he was engaged for his present position.

Sergt.-Major A. Cheater, Drill Instructor of the New Zealand Volunteers, Auckland District, was born at Warley, Essex, England, in 1869. He joined the Manchester Regiment in 1885, and served in India from December, 1887, to February, 1897. Then he returned to Aldershot, and was sent thence to depot at Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, as colour-sergeant on the permanent staff. He was engaged by the New Zealand Government through the War Office in August, 1899, as drill instructor, for a term of three years.

Sergt.-Major Hoar, of the Permanent Staff, and formerly of the Hampshire Regiment, arrived in New Zealand in October, 1899, under a three years' engagement with the Government of the Colony.

Unattached Active List.

Lieut.-Colonel P. Dignan, of the Unattached Active List, is fully referred to elsewhere in this volume as an exmayor of Auckland.

Major Harris, who is on the Unattached Active List, is fully referred to as a member of the Legislative Council.

Captain John Grant, Ex-Adjutant of the Auckland Militia and Volunteer District, was born at Hillsborough, in the county of Down, Ireland, and educated at St. John's school in his native parish. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in Her Majesty's Royal County Down Regiment in January, 1855, and served for ten years, during eight of which he was sergeant. When holding the rank of colour and pay-sergeant, he was discharged at his own request. He emigrated to Auckland, where he arrived early in 1865. In 1867 he took up his residence at the Thames, where for a short time he engaged in prospecting for gold, but was not one of the lucky ones. In the following year he assisted in the formation of the first local volunteer corps (the Thames Rifle Rangers) immediately after the massacre by Te Kooti at Poverty Bay. Several other volunteer corps were soon formed, and a district staff was appointed by Government, who offered Mr Grant the position of Sergeant-major and instructor. He accepted the offer and afterwards became adjutant of the Thames district, where, during his residence of twenty years he received a number of valuable presents and addresses. In 1888 Adjutant Grant was transferred to Auckland, where he served till the 31st of March, 1900, when he was retired at his own request, after a service in New Zealand of thirty-one years. Captain Grant on his retirement received from nearly every officer in the district letters of regret and sympathy, and from the Waihi Volunteers a handsome gold albert chain and pendant, together with an address. The officers of the several corps presented an address and valuable
Captain J. Grant.

Captain J. Grant.

gold watch as a mark of their esteem and appreciation. Captain Grant is in possession of the long service medal, and is entitled to the Imperial Volunteer Officer's decoration, which he has just (1900) applied for, and he still retains his captaincy on the unattached active list of the Volunteer Force of New Zealand. Captain Grant was married in the parish church of Hillsborough (in which he was baptised), to Miss Mary Murray, of his native town. They have a surviving family of three sons and one daughter.
Honorary Unattached List.
Captain-Commandant Emelius LeRoy, of the New Zealand Volunteers (unattached list), is one of the oldest and best known Volunteer officers in the Auckland
Capt.-Com. E. Le Roy.

Capt.-Com. E. Le Roy.

district. He has been connected with the movement for more than forty years, and during that time has thrown his best energies and abilities into the service. Mr. Le Roy was born in the Island of Guernsey in 1827, and there served his apprenticeship to the sallmaking trade. After spending twelve months in London he adopted a seafaring life, and eventually became master of the trading vessel Ilio Mama,” trading between Sydney and Auckland. Commandant LeRoy's career as a Volunteer dates back to 1857, when he was one of the promoters of the City Rifles. He started from the bottom rung of the ladder, and proved in his own experience that promotion came remarkably slowly in those early days. After acting for a number of years as sergeant to his corps, he was promoted in 1868 to an ensigncy, and shortly afterwards in the same year became lieutenant. Commandant Le Roy saw some service in the Waikato war, and holds a long service medal. On the disbanding of the City Rifles in 1868, he was transferred to the newly formed Naval Brigade, and again started as a private. He was soon elected lieutenant by the members of the brigade, and, on the death of Captain Gilding in 1871, was appointed to the vacant rank, which he continued to hold till 1889. New regulations page 160 then coming into force, Mr. Le Roy, though much against his will, had no other option than to accept his present rank on the retired list; he now possesses the distinction of being the senior commandant in the Colony of New Zealand. Immediately after the “Russian scare” of the early eighties, Commandant Le Roy had the entire command of the six corps forming the Auckland Naval division. A fine picture of the veteran in full uniform accompanies this article.
Major Arthur Morrow, V.D., of the Auckland District Staff, is the fifth son of the late Mr Hugh Morrow, J.P.,
Major A. Morrow.

Major A. Morrow.

formerly of the British Ordnance Department, and was born at Corraboola House, in the County of Longford, Ireland. He was educated for the Royal Marine Artillery, but having at the time of his examination passed the age prescribed for admission, he was ineligible to enter that service. On the 9th of June, 1851, he arrived in Auckland. Soon after his arrival, the Waikato war broke out, and having a taste for military life, he joined the 1st Royals, one of the companies of the Rifle Volunteers, on the 16th of May, 1863. They were soon drafted to the front for active service, on detachment with the 63rd and 18th Royal Irish Regiments at Wairoa. and were present in the skirmishes at the Galloway Redoubt and Stockade on the 15th and 16th of September, 1853, and in the subsequent attack on the native settlement at Otan, which was finally carried without any casualties to the troops, though the natives admitted a loss of fourteen killed and forty-one wounded. After serving with the troops in pursuit of rebel natives at Urungahouhou, Mr Morrow was afterwards attached to Major Muloch's flying column, consisting of the head quarter battalion of the 70th Regiment, together with detachments of the Waikato militia and Auckland Rifle Volunteers, operating in the Wairoa and Maraetai districts, and finally served with the 43rd Light Infantry at Ring's Redoubt, Keri-keri, for which he received the New Zealand war medal, besides, subsequently, the officer's long service medal for New Zealand, and the Imperial decoration for long and meritorious service. Major Morrow gained the distinction of being an excellent rifle shot, having won the District Rifle Champion Belt for Auckland, on four occasions, three of which, for Dr Logan Campbell's Belt, were consecutive. He also won the champion medal awarded by the New Zealand Government for the best rifle shot in the province of Auckland, and headed the picked team of the Cononial Rifle Representatives, North Island versus South Island, in 1871, when he carried off the first prize, a Martini-Henry rifle, valued at £25, besides beating the whole of the colonial representatives in the first infantry match at Wanganui in 1876. He also took first place in the annual competitive firing to represent the district on four occasions, and scored numerous minor successes. Major Morrow is still attached to the District Staff, and held the position of D.A.A.G. at the Easter manoeuvres in 1900.
Major William Henry Skinner, of the Honorary Unattached List, was born at Newport, Monmouthshire, England, on the 3rd of December, 1838, educated in London, and brought up to the building trade. He is the second son of Mr. John Skinner, builder, of Barnstable and Lynton, North Devon, and arrived in Auckland on the 18th of August, 1859, by the ship “Joseph Fletcher.” On the 21st of December in the same year, Mr. Skinner joined the Royal Rifle Volunteers, and served during the earlier part of the Maori war. He volunteered for the corps of Forest Rangers, under Captain Jackson; was in an engagement with the Natives in the bush at “Wellwood,” near Mauku, on the 8th of September, 1863, and was attached to the flying column under Colonel Nixon. Mr. Skinner was gazetted Ensign of the Royal Company on the 18th of January, 1868; Lieutenant commanding No. 2 Company, Auckland Rifle Volunteers, on the 2nd of July, 1874; Sub-Lieutenant Victoria Company, on the 23rd of November, 1875; Lieutenant, on the 18th of May, 1880; Captain, on the 7th of November, 1885; Adjutant, on the 25th of October, 1886, and Major, on the 21st of November, 1889. Major Skinner holds the Imperial decoration for long service, and also New Zealand war and long service medals; and he was selected to represent New Zealand at the Intercolonial Rifle Match at Melbourne in 1873, and also in 1888. He won the Auckland provincial class firing medal in 1874, and was also the Government representative and Rifle Champion Shot of New Zealand in 1875. Major Skinner won the Government Auckland district first prize in 1876, besides several association, company and other valuable prizes, badges, etc. After his arrival in the colony, Major Skinner successfully carried on the business of builder and contractor for a number of years Since 1880, he has practised the profession of an architect, and has designed and carried out several important buildings in Auckland, including the “Star” printing offices, Free-masons' Hall, Grand Hotel, Onehunga Woollen Works, St. Paul's Anglican church in stone, St. John's Presbyterian church at the Thames, and numerous other buildings and residences. As a Mason, Major Skinner has been P. M. of Lodge No. 1338, E.C., Past D.G. Warden, E.C., Past M.E.Z., and the first Principal of the Auckland Chapter, E.C., Past M.W.S. of Southern Cross Chapter of Rose Croix, and Past First Principal of the Ara Chapter, I.C. Before leaving England in 1859 for New Zealand, Major Skinner was a student for some years under the Department of Science and Art at South Kensington, and besides winning prizes, he was awarded in 1859 a bronze medal for success in art. While he was in London, Major Skinner passed much of his spare time in the gymnasium. He thus experienced the advantages of physical training, and after settling in Auckland he wrote, early in the sixties, to the papers on the subject of a gymnasium for Auckland. The matter was there-upon taken up and a strong club was formed, with leading citizens and members of the Provincial Council and the Houses of Parliament on its roll. A suitable gymnasium was obtained and efficiently fitted up and successfully conducted for some years. In conjunction with another gentleman, like himself a certificated member of the Home association, Major Skinner, about the same time, established in Auckland, classes for the study and practice of the Tonic Soi Fa system of singing. Good results followed these classes, as several pupils became teachers, and in their turn extended the system to others. Major Skinner has been a working member of the
Major W. H. Skinner.

Major W. H. Skinner.

Auckland Choral Society from its inception. He held the position of precentor at the Newton page 161 Presbyterian Church for over ten years, and has been an active member of the Orpheus Glee Club and several choirs. He has always taken a great interest in technical education, which he considers to be of very great importance to a young country, and more particularly for a city like Auckland, where there has been a tendency to encourage literary attainments only. Major Skinner was one of the founders of the present technical school, but since its establishment he has not been able to take any active part in its administration.