EVM Waikato

The Engineers Volunteer Militia (EVM) Waikato, operating in the mid-1870s, played a significant role in securing key infrastructure in the region. This included areas like Lake Kimihia, where the house of Walter and Mutu Kohi was situated near the original shoreline of the lake. The militia was vital to maintaining the safety of the expanding trainline that connected key settlements in the Waikato region. Robert Kershaw, was a member of the No. 2 Company, stationed at Toles Hill in Ohinewai, a strategic point overlooking the surrounding landscape.

This company was tasked with ensuring the security of the trainline, which stretched from Rangiriri through Huntly and up to the Taupiri Gorge. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Eyre, the militia was responsible for safeguarding this crucial transportation link, which was essential for the movement of troops, supplies, and settlers. The trainline between Rangiriri and Huntly was a lifeline for the region, with the Taupiri Gorge representing a natural choke point where potential threats could arise. The militia’s presence provided stability and protection, not only for the railway but also for the local settlers and communities that relied on this infrastructure for their livelihood.

WAIKATO TIMES, VOLUME VII, ISSUE 400, 5 DECEMBER 1874, PAGE 2