VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 10398, 20 August 1897, Page 2

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

A meeting of the Dunedin District Officers’ Club was held in the commanding officer’s room, Garrison Hall, on Wednesday evening, when a lecture entitled ‘ Corea and the Far East 5 was delivered by Lieutenantcommanding Allen, Dunedin Naval Artillery, The lecturer handled his subject in a manner which made it prove entertaining, amusing, and instructive. A considerable amount of information was afforded about the past and present state of Corea, its former government, and its present state of absolute apathy. Captain Allen explained how the Japanese had found themselves unable to do anything with the country, and also the advantages which Russia would derive from an occupation of it. At the present time Russia was organising and drilling the Corean army, and as she was possessed of considerable colonising power it might be anticipated that she had come to Corea to stay, and that the object in view was the securing of a seaport on the east coast of that country which would be open during the whole of the year. This would bo of immense importance to Russia, as her nearest port, Vladivostok, which was farther north, was closed by ice for four months each winter. Captain Allen also referred to the persistency with which Russia had pushed her railway system through Siberia, and recently through Manchuria to the port ofVladivostock. A discussion followed upon the close of the lecture, and a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Captain Allen for his evening’s entertainment. It was intimated that instructions had been received from "Wellington that the local corps were to hold a week’s combined camp, commencing on Wednesday, 3rd November. The camp will be held in close proximity to Dunedin, so that the men may be able to get to their usual occupations during the day. It was resolved to invite Captain to an officers’ mess dinner upon his return, and a committee was appointed to carry put the necessary arrangements. Surgeon-captain Will continued his course of lectures on ‘ First Aid ’ to the Engineers on Monday evening, when there was a good attendance. The intended exhibition of the X rays was postponed till next meeting, the doctor taking for his subject the_ treatment of fits, burns, and bruises, and also giving practical illustrations for the restoration of persons partially drowned. The usual fortnightly lecture to the electrical section was delivered on Thursday evening by Sergeant-major Wall, of the Torpedo Corps, who gave a r&sumA of the work done during the last few weeks, and explained the mechanism of the telegraph sounder. It is intended that the next few evenings will be devoted to the subject of demolitions and firing the ex-, plosives with electricity.