THE VOLUNTEERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 245, 15 October 1891, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEERS.

*tik : AontWi. Inspection ;of the Town V^Mtwn aaa'Cferrisda Band took place iftWnigWj mhea. war **ai>taueter. Owing to the unfavourable state of the weather the battalion was usable to leave the Drill Shed, Lieut-Colonel Pitt; was in command, and after the arms had been inspeoted the battalion was formed into line to receive the Defence Minister, the Hon R, Seddon, who was accompanied by His Worship the Mayor. After the formal in* Bpeotion had been made, the battalion was put through the manual and firing exercises by Captain Simpson, the b word-bayonet exercise by Captain Littlejohn, and some movements by Lieut Colonel Pitt, all of which -were well executed. The College Cadets also went through the swordbayonet exercise- in excellent style under Lieut Gibbs, after which two detachments of the H Batyery were put through a course otgun drill by Lieut Topliss, which was creditably performed. The battalion was then formed into a hollow square, when the Defence Minister addressed the Volunteers. He fWji, he was highly pleased at the i effioienoy displayed, which reflected great oredit on both officers and men. He wished to give them the assurance of the Government that the Volunteer movement had its entire confidence. They looked chiefly to the Volunteers for the defence of the Colony should ever an emergency oooor. There were two etrong objeotions to a.. partially paid force~intne first place the colony could not afford it, and in the second it was nol required. The martial spirit ol their forefathers ran in their veins, aniF he was satisfied that Bhould ever the occasion arise, they would be equal to the emergency. With regard to the maintenance of the Voltmteeifl, he wished to- Bay that the Government had decided that they would not reduce the capitation allowance, which at present was as low as it possibly could be if efficiency was to be maintained, and in order thai their future might be secure, the Government had deoided that the capitation allowanoe should beassuxed for three years at a not less rate than it was at present. With -regard to encampments, he might inform them that there would be a ohange next year, for instead of haviDg two large enoampmentß, one in L the North Island and the other in the South, an endeavour would be made to have camps at the four defended port?, when the batteries would be manned and the Permanent Artillery supported by the Volunteers. * It was also anticipated that they would have some of the cruisers ol the Auxiliary Squadron to take part in the operations. The Admiral of the station had been written to aßking.him to allow some of the vessels of ihe Bquadron to be present. In reference to the West Coast of the Middle Island, he had bad the matter under consideration to have an enoampment at some given point, and Nelson, from its central position, would, he thought, be moat convenient for Marlborough and the -West Coast. It had seemed to him that an -eaoftmpmQut could be held in Nelson at the hast 'expense; and with the best chance of 'getting the men together, while there would also bean opportunity for one of the cruisers of the squadron to co-operate. It was hisiintODlion, however, to consult the officers and lay the matter before his colleagues before anything was definitely deoided.— Colonel Pitt thanked the Defence Minister for his complimentary remarks, and said -. that the work done that evening was a fair O sample of the work' usually performed at battalion drills,, but owing to the weather the maßter was not so large as usual . He > could assure him that at whatever time a officer was sent to Kelson to inspect *■ the Volunteers, he would find them iv a state of effioienoy, Colonel Pitt then called for three cheers for Mr Seddon, which were heartily given.

Subsequently Mr Seddon met the offioers in the Orderly Room, when several matters were talked over, With reference to a special train to. convey the oountry Volunteers to town onoe A month, Colonel Pitt . urged the desirableness, of the whole of the - corps drilling, together, occasionally, other . wise: the standard of efficiency could not be maintained. The coat of a special train onoe a month would not exceed £50 or £60 per annum, and he hoped the Government would authorise the expenditure. Mr Seddon said that he had talked the matter over with the Railway Commissioners, who said A ..they. were anxious t to, meet the wishes of the ifrSson* Volunteers as far as possible, but after going into the matter carefully they had decided that they could not run a special train unless some payment was made. If they granted a free train to Nelson, other districts would * want a similar concession. Mr Seddon stated that he had instructed the . Under-Secretary to ascertain the cost, and on his return to Wellington he would give the niatter favourable consideration.— Colonel Pitt said that next year being the Jubilee year the officers wished to hold an • encampment here at Easter, and suggested if permission was granted by the Defence Omoe, that Volunteers from Wanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, and the West Coaßt might be allowed to attend. Mr Beddon said he waa in favour of granting permission to hold an encampment here of the West Coast and Marlborough men, and 'he would consult Major Bonar, commanding the . West Coaßt batalion on the subject.— One or two other matters were touched upon, after whioh Colonel Pitt thanked the Defence Minister for his consideration in meeting the officers that evening. .. The Grey town Rifles have been disbanded and formed into a Rifle Club. The Defence Department has declined the offer of the Southland Mounted Rifles on the ground that it has come too late to be dealt with duriDg the current year. The West Coaßt Volunteers are to have a field day at Kumara, on the 9th November. The Auckland representatives at the ensiling competition in Australia left for Sydney by the Talune yesterday, They are— Pvt. McCarthy, Victoria Rifles; Capt. Tobi%^lrish;/?ifl ca i . Corporal Hazard, ABattery ; Corporal Webster, A Battery. The Colonial. Ammunition Company has' presented ;500 rounds of Snider ball ammunition to the man who is deemed by the . .Committee to have made the best shooting. I I Li^ut-Colonel McDonnell has received a cheque for £170 from the Government, being the arrears of pension due to him with the New Zealand Cross, whioh carries a pension at the rate of 210 a year. The Navals opened their shooting season on Saturday last, when they fired for Mr. Pigby Andrews' cup, The following are the soores of the highest five t— ■ 200 300 Tl. P.O. Barltrop .. .. 28 20 48 ' Seaman Watson.. .. 22 19 41 P.O. Christian .. .. 24 14 38 P.O. Friend „ .. 23 14 37 Seaman Brown „ „ 20 14 34 The Navals held their monthly competition for Surgeon Hudson's trophy yesterday. The four highest scores were :— — 300 600 Hep TI. Seaman Salmond .. 20 19 5 44 Seaman Watson .. 18 16 3 37 Ci P.O. Barltrop .. „ 23 7 scr 80 Seaman G. Johnson .. 13 7 7 27 .->-.'■'- The fifth competition by the City Rifles for Mr Joynt's trophy took plaoe this morn',ing on the mudflat range. There was a strong gusty wind blowing, whioh was rather troublesome to the competitors at the long range. Lance-Corporal Ewait was top scorer, tbis being hiß third win. The ranges were 200 and 600 yds; 7 shots at each. The following are the five highest scores;— hdc'p 200 800 Tl. Lanoe-Corpl Ewart sor ,28 22 50 Lieut Gray* .. Bor 24 20 44 Pvt Kenning* .. scr 25 19 44 Pvt Cooke „2 shots 26 17 43 Sergt Capper .. scr 27 13 40 "Ammunition prizes.