THE VOLUNTEER UNIFORM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 793, 16 June 1860, Page 5

THE VOLUNTEER UNIFORM.

The following circular has been issued from.the War-Office:—

" Sir,—l am directed by Mr. Secretary Herbert to forward to you the enclosed specification of the uniform recommended for artillery and rifle volunteers by the committee recently assembled at this office to consider the question. ! " I am to add that pattern suits are deposited for general inspection in the waiting-room at this office, and that coloured drawings of them may be obtained from Mr. Ackermann, of .Regent-street, London. " I am, sir, your obedient servant, " De Geey & Kipon." specifications for patterns of rifle volunteer clothing.—(recommended by committee.) Tunic.—Brown and grey mixture, single-breasted, with fly one inch and three-quarters broad on the iuside; collar of the same material, one inch and three-quarters high, rounded off in front; the sleeve to have an Austrian knot, the braid of cord to form a pointed cuff, three inches deep, the knot nine inches and three-quarters long and four inches in width; the edges trimmed with the same cord, to be of such colour as the corps may decide on; the skirt ten and a-half inches deep for an officer or private, with a variation of half an inch longer or shorter for every inch in height; the back and skirt to be cut whole, and not to open; nine bronzed buttons in front and two behind. Tbowsers.—Cut so as to be sewn into a band round the waist, large from hip to ancle, and seventeen inches round the bottom, trimmed with square cord down the side seam, of the same colour as that used on the tunic. Cap.—To be made of the same material as tunic, three and a-quarter inches high in front, and four and a half inches at the back, with band of the same material round the head, the trimming to consist of two pieces of cord, same as on tunic, round top and bottom of band, and round edge of crown; small rosette on left side, of the same colour as braid; round peak, slightly drooping. Belts.—Of dark brown leather, with pouch to contain thirty rounds of ammunition, and ball bag to slide on the waist belt, to contain ten rounds of ammunition, caps, and oil bottle, bayonet frog on left side; on the large pouch a shoulder belt is fixed, so as to be perfectly level on the waist, passing under the right arm and over the left shoulder, fastening on the breast with a buckle. Leather Gaiters.—To be made of sheep skin, to match in colour with the pouch and belts; black enamelled, facing at bottom, cut with a point behind, to form a continuation of boot; buttons of the same material. Cloak.—To be made from the same material as tunic, cut two inches below the knee, forming a double-breasted coat, buttoning close to the neck, with stand or fall collar, having tags buttoning over to protect the neck. A cape, fifteen inches deep, fits on the shoulder, attached or detached at pleasure, and formed of double material; the inward part expanding, and when reversed forming a hood, to protect the head.. THE RIFLE AND HOW TO USE IT. The following extracts from a work bearing the above title, by Lieut. Hans Busk, Victoria JMes, London, have been published in the 'Wanganui Chronicle' for the information of the Wanganui Volunteers by J. N. Cooper, Major Commanding, and will not be uninteresting to the general reader: The wind must be attentively studied ; when blowing from the right, it will blow the bullet towards the left, and vice versa. When from the front, it will slightly reduce the speed of the bullet, and when from the rear increase it, causing in the first instance a reduction and in the latter an increase of range. If an object fired at be in motion, whether it be a man walking or a horse galloping, it must necessarily pass over a certain distance between the moment of discharge and the time the bullet reaches it. If it be moving from left to right or from right to left, the aim must be taken a little to the front of the object in motion, but how much, must depend on the rate at which it is moving, as well as the distance and the cbnsequent. time the bullet will take to travel. ' When the day's practice is over, the rifle should always be cleaned as soon as practicable, and never put away loaded or foul. It should be well washed out with cold water first, and then with hot water, finally wiped out thoroughly with a clean rag, and oiled inside and out. At 100 yards the sword bar covers a man six feet high from the feet to the shoulders. At 150 yards it will cover him to the tuft of the shako. At 200 yards, the swivel screw-head will cover a man to the shoulder. At 250 yards to the tuft of the shako. - It will also be remembered that at 50 yards a man six feet high is diminished to an inch; at 100 yards to half an inch; at 200 yards to a quarter of an inch; at 400 yards to one-eighth of an inch. In letting the lock down from full to half cock, let it be an invariable rule to allow the cock to descend almost upon the nipple and then to raise it to the half cock till the click is heard. Never, under any circumstances, cock a rifle until the moment, before you intend to fire it; but remember that it is far safer, at all times, even to carry a gun at full cock than with the cock down upon the cap: a more fertile source of fatal accidents than any other. . .-.>■■ ■■:•; ■■■■■. •■.:.■•■:■■ .:',■■■■■ TARGET DRILL—-RULES. : !,. ' 1. That the sights do not incline either to the right or left. , : . : 2. That the line of sight is taken along the centre of the notch of the back sight and the top of the fore-sight, which ia made to cover the centre of the target; ■■■■•■■ ;- :•• ■■■•••' ■■ ■■;-.• ■■ ■■..-.■■ 3. That the eye is fixed steadfastly on the mark, and not on the barrel or foresight, which latter

would be easily brought into the alignment if the eye be fixed as directed. Particular attention is directed to this rule, for beginners are apt to fix the eye on the fore-sight instead of the mark, in which case the latter can never be distinctly seen, and the difficulty of aiming is greatly increased. 4. That in aiming the left eye is closed. POSITION DBILt. 1. Load, according to regulation. 2. Ready, adjust the sight and proceed according to regulation. 3. Present, at this word the firelock is, brought at once to the shoulder, the centre part of the heel plate being pressed firmly into the hollow of it with the left hand, which grasps the piece at the swell; the right hand holding it at the small, the right elbow raised (but when firing in platoon, not so much as to impede the aim of the rear rank man), the muzzle inclining to the. bottom of the object and the forefinger of the right extended along the side of the trigger .guard, the left eye being at the same time shut. '' •' ' ; ■•'' ■' .■ ' ' '."'■"'. ' '' ' Two,—the recruit now raises the muzzle steadily till the fore-sight is aligned through the back-sight with the object on which the right eye is fixed, the second joint of the forefinger being on the trigger and the breathing restrained. Three,—the trigger is pinched rather than pulled with the second joint of the fore-finger, by, a steady pressure, without the slightest motion of hand or elbow, the eye being still fixed on the object, as in the preceding motion. Four, —the rifle is brought down to the capping position and the flap shutdown; at the same time the right foot is brought to the position in which it was placed before coming to the ready ; a pause of slow time is counted, and the recruit comes to the position of' prepare to load.' . > , 4. The most minute attention is now given to each man's position when at the • present,' and more especially that the firelock is pressed firmly to the shoulder with the left arm, and that the trigger .ispulled without the slightest jerk, and with the motion of the forefinger only, the eye being fixed upon,the mark during and after snapping the lock. In this drill the instructor usually place, himself in front of the squad at five or six paces distant, and causes each man successively to aim at his1 right eye, in orderto ascertain that he obtains the alignment quickly and correctly, and that his aim is not dis- I arranged by pulling the trigger; this is of the utmost importance. r,