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The Volunteer Service Ordinance 1861

7. The Volunteer Service Ordinance 1861.

Whereas in pursuance of the provisions of the “Militia Act, 1858,” an of the “Militia Act Amendment Act, 1860,” of the General Assembly of New Zealand, and in conformity with certain Regulations made and issued by the Governor of New Zealand, on the Twenty-eighth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and

fifty-nine, by virtue of the said Acts, and entituled “Regulations under which the Services of Volunteers shall be accepted in the District of Christchurch,” a Volunteer Corps, called “The Canterbury Rifle Volunteers,” has been embodied within the Militia District of Christchurch: And whereas by virtue of the same or similar authority, other Corps of Volunteers may from time to time hereafter be embodied: And Whereas it is desirable that encouragement should be given to the enrollment, training, and exercise of efficient men in any such corps as aforesaid:

Be it therefore enacted by the Superintendent of the said Province, with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof, as follows:

1. Returns to be furnished by Commanding Officer of Volunteers.

The Commanding Officer of Volunteers, within the Province of Canterbury, shall, in the month of September, in each year, cause to be furnished to the Superintendent a Return, certified under his hand, showing the numbers of men of all ranks enrolled in each Corps or Regiment of Volunteers within the said Province, and also the number in each Company or Troop of each such Corps or Regiment, and also the district in which each such Company or Troop is stationed.

2. On Returns being furnished, certain payments to be made to

Commanding Officers of Volunteers.

When such Return shall have been so made out and sent in, the Superintendent shall forthwith cause to be issued and paid out of the public revenues of the Province to the said Commanding Officer, or to such person as may be duly authorized by him in that behalf, if the total number of Volunteers certified to be then enrolled within the Province shall be not less than thirty nor more than fifty, the sum of Fifty Pounds, and for every man beyond fifty, the further sum of Thirty Shillings. Provided that the sum so issued shall not exceed Five Hundred Pounds in the whole in any one year. And the receipt of the said Commanding Officer or of the person duly authorized by him as aforesaid shall be a good and sufficient discharge to the Provincial Treasurer for any moneys so issued and paid by him in accordance with the Warrant of the Superintendent under the provisions of this Ordinance.

3. Money so received to be disbursed to the several Companies.

The said Commanding officer shall forthwith pay the said moneys so received by him to the Treasurer of the said Companies and Troops, for the training of the Volunteers enumerated, and for prizes for rifle shooting to be competed for by

the said Volunteers: Provided that the whole amount in value so appropriated shall be divided among all the Companies or Troops enumerated in the said Return, rateably to each in proportion to the number of men certified in the aforesaid Return to be enrolled therein.

4. Provided that Five Hundred Pounds shall not have been so expended in any one year, payment to be made for any new Corps, of which due Returns shall have been made.

If, at any time prior to the thirty-first day of August in any year, the whole sum of Five Hundred Pounds shall not have been issued for such year as hereinbefore provided, the Superintendent shall, on it being certified by the said Commanding Officer that a new Corps, Company, or Troop of Volunteers has been legally raise within the said Province, and upon receiving a Return, in the form and manner prescribed in Clause 1, cause to be issued and paid out of the public revenues of the Province as hereinbefore provided, if the number of such new Corps, Company, or Troop shall not be less than thirty nor more than fifty, the sum of Fifty Pounds, and for every man beyond fifty, the further sum of Thirty Shillings, and all moneys so received by the Commanding Officer shall forthwith

be applied to the equipment and training of such Corps, Company, or Troop, in such manner as the said Commanding Officer and the majority of the Commissioned Officers thereof may think fit: Provided always, that the sum so issued, tgether with any sum or sums previously issued during the same year under the authority of this Ordinance, shall not exceed in the whole the sum of Five Hundred Pounds.

5. Accounts to be furnished by Commanding Officer.

The said Commanding Officer shall, on or before the Thirtieth day of September in each year, cause to be made out and furnished to the Provincial Secretary, a detailed Statement, in writing, certified under his hand, of all moneys received and expended by the Treasurer aforesaid during the year then last past, in pursuance of the provisions of this Ordinance, and of the manner of the expenditure of the same, and such Statement shall be laid before the Provincial Council as soon as possible thereafter.

6. Nothing herein contained to affect the provisions of the “Militia Act,

1858,” or the “Militia Act Amendment Act, 1860.”

Nothing herein contained shall affect in any way the provisions of the “Militia Act,

1858,” or of the “Militia Act Amendment Act, 1860,” or any Regulations which are now or may at any future time be legally in force for the management of any Volunteer Corps in the Province of Canterbury.

7. Interpretation.

In the interpretation of this Ordinance the words “Commanding Officer,” shall mean the senior Officer for the time being in command of Volunteers within the Province. The word “year,” shall mean twelve calendar months, commencing on every first day of September. The word “equipment,” shall include arms, accoutrements, ammunition, stores, and necessaries of service of all kinds for the training or exercise of Volunteers.

8. Title.

This Ordinance shall be entituled, and may be cited as "The Volunteer Service

Ordinance 1861, Session XVII., No. 7."