NEW VOLUNTEER REGULATIONS.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6626, 17 December 1886, Page 3

NEW VOLUNTEER REGULATIONS.

_ a> [P-XSS AttOOXATIOM TB-MB-—l.} WBLLXNGTON, December 16. The new Volunteer Begulatio-— have been finally approved. Enrolmentt are to be quarterly, in January, April, July and October in eaoh year. No Volunteer it to be entitled to claim his discharge until a year after hit enrolment. The minimum height for the Artillery is sft 6in, ia other corps sft 4in. The maximum strength for Cavalry or Mounted Infantry is 80, bnt at present capitation will only he paid for three officers and sixty non-oommissioned officers and men. The minimum strength iB forty. For Naval Artillery, Artillery, Engineer* and Bifies the maximum is 100, and the niinimum forty, but capitation will only be paid for sixty-— tree. Companies may enroll up to maximum, and ammunition and accoutrements will be given by Government; bnt, except in the case of trained bandsmen, no capitation will be fiven in exce* s of the number of men menLoned. The Volunteer force is to consist of Naval Artillery, Cavalry when dismounted (when mounted they take precedence of all infantry and dismounted corpse Mounted Infantry, Artillery, Engineers and Bifies, who will rank in the order named. Honorary reserve corps take precedence of other corps of the same arm. No Volunteer, unless a bandsman, it to be enrolled unless seventeen years of age, aad if apprenticed the content ef his matter mutt be given. Full provision is made for the examination of officers. Corps of all anna are to be classified as follows:—(a) " Honorary Beaerve corps," the members of which will not receive capitation or any other pecuniary allow—ace, who will provide their own arms, accoutrements and ammunition, who will be permitted to draw up special private rules for the general management and discipline of their corpe, provided such rules are not repugnant to the provisions ef the Defence Act then ia force, and are submitted for the approval of his Excellency the Governor, (b) Volunteer corps the members of which will be entitled to capitation. Cavalry volunteera must parade twice a day for cix consecutive days twice in the year, and attend four Government monthly inspection parades each year. A capitation allowance at the rate of —3 per annum, from money appropriated annually by Parliament, will be granted to all efficient members of volunteer corps who havd (a) attended eighteen Government paraaes or drills, six of which must have been by daylight, (b) Fired in the first, seoond, ana third periods ot target practice, or if the range 1b certified by the Musketry Intructor to admit of it, in the first and second periods individual practice aad s-drmiiihing and volley firing instead of the third period, and must have passed into the second class as laid down in paragraph 221 relating to musketry instruction, (c). Gone through the firat period of judging distance practice and at least four position and aiming drills. £2 per anno—, only will be granted to all Volunteers who have attended twelve or lees than eighteen Government parades of two hours each, five of which must have been daylight parades, and gone through the practices as detailed in above Bubsec-ons (c) and (c) _1 per annum only will be granted to all efficient Volunteers who have attended eight or lets than twelve Government parades of two hours each, of which four must have been daylight, and have gone through the practices aB detailed in the above tubBectioßß (b) and (c). The above rates are subject to tee annual appropriation voted by x-urliaxaeat aad are liable to reduction pro rata, it tor two Buccesßive years a Volunteer fail to pass into the second class of musketry instruction he shall cease to be a Volunteer af tor the ter-uaatioa of hit second volunteer year. Guards of Honor are to consist of not less than forty rank aad file aad recruits are not to be detailed for them- Companies are to have power to make rales, but a model set is provided which will be held to apply to corps when Mothers have not been approved of. No capita —ton will be given_to corps which are below the minimum at- the last day of the Volunteer year, and no Volunteer is to get a capitation until he has served six months with hia corps. Full provision is mado as to camps, for which Volunteers are to be paid 2s ed per day for not more than four days, z nd attend-

anpe at camp will reckon ac two daylight drills for capitation. A new course of target practi>- similar to that lately ordered for Volunteer force in England will be brought into force for the year. 1887, but the number of prints required to pwa into the second claas hae been largely reduced, but will hereafter be gradually increased, as shooting improves until English standard is retched. In regard to medals and decora—one, it is nrt—U that no medals or decorations are a—Bared to be worn on the left brtaat except auoh as have, been conferred by her Majesty for military or other services, or by a foreign sovereign with her Majesty's consent, or by tbe Government of New Zealand for military or long service. Medals granted by Humane Societies for saving life and decorations granted heretofore by the New Zealand Government for rifle shooting may be worn on the right breast.