THE VOLUNTEERS.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6964, 18 January 1888, Page 5

THE VOLUNTEERS.

As showing the appreciation by MajorGeneral Sir Cr. Whitmore of the operations conducted by the Volunteers of North Canterbury under Lieut.-Co_onel Lean on December 16th, the following letter will be read with interest. It is addressed by direction of Sir George Whitmore to Lieut.-Colonel Lean, and is as under :— "Defence Office, Wellington, 9th January, 188S—Sir, —With reference to the inspection of the several Volunteer corps in your district, I am instructed by the Major-General Commanding to state that he has read your reports with very much pleasure, and he recognises that they show how much can be effected where the officer commanding has the good of the service at heart and is properly supported by the officers and men ot the several arms and corps under his command. The operations were of a most useful kind and the practice seems to have been very credit'ohle to the force. The Major-General will have much pleasure in submitting these ves-y full reports to the Hon. the Defence Minister, aud he trusts that you will exprfejt. to the officers and volunteers under-tour command the satisfaction with wh*ch hi? has received your testimony of the maimer in which the Canterbury Volunteers turned out and performed the duties allotted to them, which has done so much to prOxe that where the properspirit animates New Zealand Volunteers, they can attain a -.cry high standard of efficiency.—l have-the honor to be, &c, C. A. Humphrey, Assistant Secretary for Defence;"