VOLUNTEER GRIEVANCES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 971, 1 March 1862, Page 4

VOLUNTEER GRIEVANCES.

To the Editor of the Lytlelton Times. Sir, —I have just road your report of the Volunteer meeting in Christchuvch, and also your article on the same, which evidently emanated from one taking a real interest in the matter, and I must confess that it has infused some new life into my somewhat drooping spirits ■with respect to the success of this movement. I think, sir, you will agree with me that it lias been rather a dreamy affair, this soldiering, hitherto. The thing was well inaugurated, and people enthusiastically joined; but, naturally, when they found the General Government so apathetic as not even to send down sufficient arms to instruct men in their drill, they got disgusted and withdrew. I think, sir, we have also some reason to complain of the want of moral support from the public generally, and, in spite of what His Honor said the other night, of that material support which it was in the power of the Government to afford us. However, let us bury the past, and look only to the dawning of a brighter future, which, when we look to the men who are now taking the matter up (and who ought to have done so long ago) we have a right to expect. My principal object in addressing you is to point out the difficulties under which we labour in this district, and draw the attention of those in authority to them. In the first place, at present I fear it would be impossible to raise sixty men here, and if the General' Government confines its grant to companies of that size, we shall have to go without, or resort to a very questionable method of receiving men to make np our number on the distinct understanding that they may withdraw after the first month. 2ndly, The disadvantage we have hitherto labored under of having no Drill Instructor. Christclnuvh has the Adjutant and the Corporal of Militia,—Port the Serjeant. Surely some provision might be made by which we might have the benefit of their services, other than that of paying their travelling expenses, as suggested to us by the Adjutant. I believe, Sir, that Kaiapoi has furnished a greater number of volunteers according to the number of inhabitants, and at a greater sacrifice, than any of the other towns, many of the members having to walk three or four miles to parade : and if wo are to pay for our drill instruction out of the sums which we may receive from the General or Provincial Governments, and which, from our numbers, must be of a trifling amount, I fear that we shall become "so small by degrees and beautifully less," that nothing of the No. 5 Company (hitherto No. 1 in shooting at any rate) of C.R.V. will be left but the commissioned officers and the instruments of the band. My excuse for writing you such a long despatch is, that I got hold of a large Goose Quill "instead of my " Bill-hook," to which I am more accustomed, and it has consequently taken me a long time to endeavour to remove an obstacle to the progress of my company. T , . . , PIONEKK. Kaiapoi, Feb. 26.