The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1882.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3521, 20 October 1882, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1882.

We are not surprised to learn that, after the colemn farce "pone through " on the occasion of the " military " funeral of the late Lieut.-Colonel Lambert, on the day following several old soldiers of the Imperial service were anxious to form themselves at once into a Veteran Company. We hear upon good authority that a plan is being proposed, which, if carried out in its entirety, would not only bring volunteering in this district to Its acme, but would furnish the town of Napier with a volunteer corps that would be second to none in the colony. It is proposed, we believe, to suggest to the Napier Battery of Artillery and the Napier Rifles the advisability of their disbanding, aud then en masse forming a part of the new corps about to be raised, so that the officers and non-commissioned officers of each corps would hold respectively the same positions, in the new corps as they at present do in their own corps. This new corps will in all probability be named the Napier Rifle Brigade, and will consist of at least 300 rank and file, and be made up by at least four and perhaps five or six companies, each company having a captain and two subaltern officers attached to it, the whole being under the commaud of a major who will be supported by a regimental staff of an adjutant and paymaster and quarter-master combined. A drum and fife and bugle band will also form part of the corps, the instructor allowed by the Government taking the position of regimental sergeantmajor. It is, however, contemplated that the officer commanding this corps must have held a commission in H.M.s Imperial forces. The uniform is proposed to be (if possible) as like the Imperial Rifle Brigade as is consistent therewith. The advantages of such a corps are— that it will be commanded by an officer in everyway fitted to instruct and carry out the principles of military instruction completely ; that it will cause an amount of esprit cle corps which is absolutely necessary to the welfare of any well organized body of men ; that the expenses of supporting the corps, such as money prizes for good shooting, &c, will evidently fall much lighter on those interested in so doing than is at present generally the case ; and, above all, that this town would be the only town in the colony, we believe, should circumstances require it, that would be capable of placing such a corps at the disposal of the Government. A public meetiDg will soon be called for the purpose of ascertaining the names of all those who are willing to serve in the above corps. We are glad to hear that some of the leading residents in our district have promised their influence and support in obtaining from the proper authorities the means of starting such a volunteer corps as we have here briefly described. We heartily wish all success to the undertaking, and feel sure that if this corps be once organised that it will always remain " Second to none. , '