The Evening Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 367, 14 March 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1871.

11, is greatly to be desired that the Volunteer Ball on Thursday evening should be attended with the utmost eclat. This is due to our gallant visitors from the Southern provinces, the ball being mainly intended as a demonstration of popular feeling towards them ; and it is due to the cause of Volunteering, which is somewhat languishing in this province. Such a social reunion has a powerful influence in cementing kindly feelings, and it will be a pleasing r- result of the rifle contest if our % Southern friends go away with feelings of lively satisfaction at the friendly courtesy that has been extended to them during their visit. That such has been the feeling produced in their minds so far, we have reason to believe, and though the appearance of the One Tree Hill during the progress of the firing has not been such as,.','to betokeu any very great enthusiasm on the part of " our community, we understand that in their private intercourse with our citizens, our Southern defenders have been very favourably impressed with the kindness shown them. We trust that kindly interest will culminate on Thursday evening. Any failure in the ball would also be a sore discouragement to Volunteering. On that eveniug the Volunteers should be trumps, and it should be made the occasion of showing marked respect to the cause. The day is now passed when it was sup-

posed to be a smart thing to sneer at Volunteering ; and such demeanour now is generally regarded as a sign of want of brains, and is only indulged in by the class of noodles who are good lor neither one thing nor another. It if? not evervonc that can devote sufficient time to the duties necessary for proficiency in military drill. But it is in the power of most people to show that they are sufficiently up to the spirit of the age to appreciate the noble principle of patriotism embodied in the Volunteer organisation, and to the ladies especially shall we look for their all powerful encouragement to the cause of our citizen soldiers, especially when that encouragement can bo given in a form so congenial to the female heart as that of a charming military ball.