The Volunteers.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1888, Page 2

The Volunteers.

' The City Rifles mustered in strong force at the Volunteer Dnllshod last evening for their annual inspection by Lieut. -Colonel Hume, N.Z.M., Inspector of Volunteers, 57 of all ranks being present, under the command of Captain Collins, with whom wag Lieutenant Bailey. Every man of the corps was present, a fact which in itself is highly commendable, and speaks well for the etprtt de corps of the members. It is also a circumstance worthy of note that yesterday was the 21st anniversary of the corps, the firat enrolment haviDg taken place on 29th uotober,lß67. The cores fell in at 7.30. Soon after the inspecting officer arrived, and was received with a general salute. LieutenantColonel Hume, accompanied by LieutenantColonel Butts, Lieutenant-Colonel Crowe, Captain Coleman, and Adjutant Qnick, inupooted the arms and appointments of the men, whioh he found clean and in good ordor. After the inspection Captain Collins was directed to put tho company through heveral movements— manual and firing: exercise, bayonet exercise, besides several company formations, all of which were very creditably performed. Lioutenant Bailey was then entrusted with several company movements, including changing front, forming company square, and one or two minor evolutions, acquitting himself fairly well. The drill was watched by a. large number of spectators, amongst whom were the majority of the volunteer officers of the garrison. The system hitherto in force, of inspecting the whole garrison, was departed from on this occasion, Lieut. ■ Colonel Hume preferring to see whit each company oan do on its own account. Before leaving the shed, the Inspector, through C*pt. Collins, complimented the corps upon its general efficiency, and expressed much pleasure at the smart, clean, and soldier-like appearance of the men, who, he said, had gone through the various exeroises they had to perform very creditably indeed. The manual and firing exercise was very good, as was also the drill of the men. As regards the bayonet exercise, he was muoh pleased with the display. As a company it waa excellent, and he hoped the one or two non - efficients, who he had no doubt were recruits, would Boon be able to hold their own against their more efficient comrades. As to the fine muster, he expressed himself nomewhat astonished, but admitted (that it was only what he had been led to ex-

J»ot from the officer commanding the district, who spoke in high terms of the corps. This brought the proceedings to a close, and the company was dismissed. ColorSergeant Davis is the only member now serving in the corps who joined tho company on its formation 21 years ago. Sergeant Davis then joined the corps as a bugler, and with the excoption of a broak of a few years has been connected with it over since. As will be seen by advertisement in another column, the annual inspection of tho Wellington Navals takes place to-morrow evening, attendance at whioh is compulsory. C.P.O. Aiaher, who has beon connected with the Naval company for a number of years, is about to try his luok in business on his own account in Palmerston North, and as to-morrow's parade will probably be the last he will attend, his comrades intend to entertain him at a smoke concert after the evening's dutios aro completed. " All hands" are expected to muster to do honour to the guest of tho evening.