SAND HILLS, OCEAN BEACH.

WHEN the Red Flag is seen on the Sand Hills the troops are at Ball Cartridge Practice, and it is dangerous to pass along the beach.

NEW ZEALAND VOLUNTEERS.

THE following Despatch, with Enclosure, is published for general information:—

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, 23rd Jan., 1863.

SIR— I have to enclose for your Honor’s information a copy of a letter of yesterday’s date, which has been written by my direction to the Deputy Adjutant-General, stating the views of the Government on the subject of the enrolment of Volunteers in the different Provinces.

The Government entertain a strong hope that your Honor concurs in those views, and will be disposed to co-operate with the General Government in taking such measures as may be necessary to encourage the formation of Volunteer Corps, and in assisting them, when formed, in rendering themselves effective.

I have the honor to be,

Your most obedient servant,

ALFRED DOMETT.

His Honor the Superintendent,
Dunedin.

(ENCLOSURE.)

Colonial Secretary’s Office,
Auckland, 22nd Jan., 1863.

SIR— I have the honor, by the direction of Mr. Domett, to communicate to you the views of the Government with respect to the enrolment of Volunteers in the different Provinces of New Zealand.

2. The Government regret that in the Northern Island, where the necessity for local forces is the greater, the Volunteer movement has not in the several Provinces, with the exception of Taranaki and of the Districts of Wanganui and the Hutt, made that progress which might have been reasonably anticipated.

3. This result has, no doubt, arisen from a variety of causes, to which it is not now necessary to advert, inasmuch as the object of this letter is not to impute blame to any one for the past, but to state explicitly the course which the Government wish to take with respect to the future.

4. The Regulations, under which the services of Volunteers are accepted, now in force, are, as you are aware, those constituted by an Order in Council dated the 16th January, 1862, and published in the “New Zealand Gazette,” No. 6, of the 20th of that month. The Government would infer, from the disinclination shown by the Volunteers to enrol themselves under their provisions, that they are not generally acceptable, but the Government are not aware what special objections are entertained towards them, or what alterations (beyond those already promised) are desired. The Government are, however, fully disposed to make such reasonable modifications in them as the well ascertained wishes of Volunteers, and of those who wish to serve, may indicate.

5. Orders have been sent by the last mail to England for the supply of 1750 Uniforms, and it is the intention of the Government to furnish them to Volunteer Corps without cost, on condition that the Legislature of the Province in which those Corps are enrolled contribute one-third of the expense. This Provincial contribution is requisite, both on account of the limited funds at the disposal of the General Government, and also because it is only equitable that the particular Province which benefits by the presence of an organized Volunteer Force should bear some special share of the expense of that organization.

6. The Government will, of course, continue the supply of arms and accoutrements, as heretofore, and they will use every effort within the means at their disposal, by the supply of ammunition, the payment of drill instructors, the laying out of proper firing grounds, and by other modes, to assist the Volunteers in rendering themselves a disciplined and efficient Force. The Provincial authorities will, no doubt, co-operate in the same direction.

7. It is highly desirable in a Colony, on many accounts, that effective Volunteer Forces should be formed for self-protection (which of course is the only object in view) rather than that the Militia should be called out for training and exercise, for, with Volunteers, the services of able and willing men in the prime of life are secured, without an injurious interference with industrial pursuits, while, by calling out the Militia, the progress of colonization is materially retarded,—whereas in a colony, labor is of such value, and a large portion of the male population is not restrained by any ties from immediate migration,—and a serious blow is struck at the very root of the ability of the colony to assist itself, and to contribute,—as it has done for the last three years to such a considerable extent in proportion to its resources,—towards the expense of its local defences.

8. It is also inexpedient that a Volunteer