VOLUNTEER GENERAL COMMITTEE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1786, 7 September 1866, Page 2

VOLUNTEER GENERAL COMMITTEE.

A meeting of this committee washpii, evening at the Criterion Hotel, p'ft Blakiston occupied the chair. ' % Enßign Tippets, the Hon. Sec, read lon from Companies No. 5, 6,B,andtheEn[j S appointing certain members as their ttJ sentatires in the general committee n pre ' stated that the two companies of ar'till. *" tend to amalgamate, and until this j/l '"■ they have delayed electing a repre« ent altough they fully concur in tlie" a J UlTe > ments of tlie committee. ,ln S e - The minutes of the previous meeting read and confirmed, having been ennfseriatim. Sl "«ei Some discussion took place with ref. to the calling of a public meeting 0 { j|" Cllce | unteers, in order to receive the report' if V °'" i committee fer the past half-year. l ' le A letter was read'from Captain ft,. enclosing a letter from the Salop as to the terms of the late match between i company and No. 6. The previous letter- F contained some suggestions on the iarr • Captain Steward with, reference to nl,- 0 ' the targets. pa " Ul »8 Sergeant Allison proposed a resoliuirm the effect that it was desirable that a f i should be established by a subscription anioT the volunteers, for the relief of any volui '•'" i * who might sustain any in-jury whilst «!,?' training. He suggested that the subscriwi he only of a limited amount. ' Q Private Baiwes seconded the motion *],■ was put and carried. ' lcll Captain Cook drew the attention of th. committee to rule No. 4, of the general reij tions. n laThe Chairman remarked that the actional rules had to the best of his belief | sanctioned by the Governor, As the cf* 11 panics had all accepted the rules, he t'" 1 " sidered that Captain Cook as Treasurer * authorised to apply to the captains o'i Z different companies for the payment of ii subsciption which had been resolved upon '* After some discussion, it was decided tint the treasurer be requested to write to ti! officers commanding companies for the eatii tation allowance, in all cases where L company has agreed to pay the same to tlie funds of the general committee.

An alteration was made in rule 4, whitf, relates to the subject, the word '* enW ce fee " being struck out.

A letter wag read from Captain Ward containing a memorandum referring tn'the proceedings of a meeting of Volunteer offers held at Wellington to consider the suggestions forwarded by the general committee. The memorandum was as follows :

Memorandum of proceedings of a nicotine of Volunteer officers, held at the House of ](i ; ' re . eentatires, Wellington, on the 13th August, ISOO Present—Lieutenant-Colonels De Quincev m j Cargill, Hon, Major Moive, Captains Ward Burns, and Beswick. '

Tho alterations and amendments in the Volunteer Act and Regulations, as proposed bj the General Volunteer Committee of Canterbury were considered, and the following report was agreed to: —

1. That armouries be provided at the head. quarters in each district, in which the command. ing officer should be able at once to place such arras as maj be called in from the members of their respectire corps, and that they he not responsible for the arms being kept in order while so stored. [See Clause 21, page 15 Volunteer Act.] 2. That it is desirable that regulations should ha issued as to tho conduct of class firing, so that one system he followed throughout the colony such regulations to have regard to the composition of the Volunteor force, in which it is not possible, at all timos, to have an officer with the firing party; that in such case the squad be under the command of a Company Musketry Instructor, while a check might be maintained' by a staff. sergeant or the sergeant of another company keeping the register at the butts. Badge firm" to be under the Adjutant or some one appointed by him. 3. That judging distance shall bo kept separate from musketry instruction, and that iu the primed form in Appendix H, at page 68, the words from "correct" to "instruction" be left out, and alio the columns relating to the judging distance practice, 60 that the register of target practice will be sufficient qualification for the badge. 4. That the capitation allowance he paid in one sum instead of two half-yearly payments as at present.

5. That no limit should be placed to the amount of ammunition allowed to be purchased by efficient Volunteers; but that the issue should be at lie requisition of the commanding officer, who should be held responsible that it is used for that purpose only. 6. That there should be an allowance of Wank cartridge ammunition for artillery and small arms, for use on such festive occasions as may be specified by the Government; also, for tiring salutes on occasion of the arrival or departure of the Governor or other distinguished personages entitled to the eamo. 7. That the books of instruction be supplied to districts annually, as issued from the press. 8. That a supply of nipples, snap-caps, aril stoppers, be kept at the Head Quarters of each district. 9. That brown and black accoutrements be brought into general use in Volunteer corps as soon as convenient, and that the white ones be called in. 10. That the arms and accoutrements belonging to the Provincial Governments be taken over by the General Government. 11. That the cost of transport of arms, stores, &c. (except Enfield ammunition) be a provincial charge. 12. That any Tolunteer feeling aggrieved by any decision of his commanding officer, maj appeal to the Commander-in-Chief to have ha case tried by a Court of Inquiry, half the members of which shall be of the same grade as the appellant. 13. That a resolution be submitted to the House of Kepresentatives, affirming the desirability oi introducing a bill to exempt efficient Volunteers from serving on juries. Johx Cargill, Lieut.-Colonel. Chairman.

Letters were read from the Dunedin and Wanganui Volunteer Match Committees with reference to the proposed inter-proyinciat match. The letters contained suggestions as to the conditions of the match. Captain Moore proposed that the thane of the committee be offered to Captain Ward for the pains lie has taken in furthering the interests of the Volunteers in the General Assembly, and for the valuable suggestions contained in the memorandum which he had forwarded from Wellington. Sergeant-Major Ukqmiart seconded tne resolution, which was carried unanimously. Sergeant Allisox proposed that the nonsecretary be requested to write to Cap M"l" l Ward, and to point out to him that no provision has been made in the present Volnnuer Act for Volunteers wounded on actual service. The motion was seconded and carried. Mr. Folet proposed that Captain Moore should be requested to furnish a list ot tne implements required by the Engineer corp.. and that a copv of the list should he to - warded to the Defence Minister, throii.u'li'" 6 officer commanding in the district, P« U1 * him either to furnish the articles in question or to allow the money value. ~ Mr. Klwis seconded the resolution, wliu," was withdrawn after some discussion. Captain Moore stated, in reference to n subject, that he had written to the Detiw Minister requesting him either to grant - to the Engineer corps for the purpi se ot F viding the required implements, or eK increase the capitation allowance toi<M man. . . |„ Captain Moore proposed a reso u«"' the effect that the Secretary should ue quested to write to Captain Ward, ask"* him to use his influence to procure the „ • of £IOO to procure the necessary imp *' ' or else to increase the capitation alto", to £3 per man. . . : c |, Captain Cook seconded the motion, v" was curried unanimously. rf Captain Cook handed in a list of iie^ 8 articles for encampment purposes. iNO - "'_' he remarked, had resolved to provide w selves with these necessaries, but he"' l)|e that it would be more desirable it <" . t _ companies united in carrying out thepr'J He believed, that the expenses *<>W about £250. , ian ics After some discussion, and a vote oi to the Chairman, the meeting broke up.