VOLUNTEERING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 93, 23 April 1891, Page 7

VOLUNTEERING.

The Minister of Defence intends to place the fortifications and Permanent Artillery in the four centres under the control of tho officers commanding the Volunteers in the respective districts. The captains commanding the permanent artillery are already under notice. There will bo a sergeant-major in direct charge ol each district. Tho volunteers and militia men will occasionally drill together, and a surprise alarm will be given shortly to test the efficiency of the working. Colonel Hume has resigned tho Inspectorship of volunteers.

The successor to Colonel Hume as Inspector of Volunteers will only be appointed temporarily. The arrangement to place the batteries under the commanding officers of volunteers in the respective districts is a temporary one, and the Minister of Defence is now engaged drawing up a permanent scheme which will be submitted to Parliament next session. It would appear that a new Naval Artillery Company, instead of the recentlydisbanded Waitemata Naval Artillery Corps is to bo formed in Auckland. On April 16th the Hon. the Defence Minister wrote to Mr Jackson I'almer, M.H.R., stating that as by the volunteer regulations another Naval Artillery Company is required to make up the complement of corps requisite for Auckland, if such a company were formed the Government would accept it 3 services.

A disposition of the Auckland Volunteer Garrison has been made by Major Goring, so that in case of a foreign attack the various companies would know exactly what place they would be called upon to defend. Two officers and thirty men of the Auckland Navals have been told off for Fort Cautley, and one officer and thirty men for submarine mining. The I'onsonby Narals will be required to assist in working the battery at Fort Cautley, and the "O " Battery will be responsible for Fort Takapuna. Should the two laet-named corps increase in strength, they will be required to furnish gun detachments for Fort Eesolution and Bean liock. The infantry companies' positions are now under consideration.

On April 7th Major Goring, officer in charge of the Auckland Volunteer Forces pro lew, met a number of officers of the local volunteers iv the Drill-shed and explained his views with regard to the system of volunteering which he thought should be carried out, at some length. He said that, with the view of enabling the volunteers to perfect their knowledge of defence, ho purposed applying for leave for the naval artillery to use the electric light at night; on the North Head at drill, and proposed that the infantry should go over to the North Shore and practice skirmishing drill there, also by the electric light. He considered that the Shore would be the scene of operations in case of any attack being made in war-time, and the volunteers should be acquainted with the ground.