OAMARU RIFLE RANGERS.

North Otago Times, Volume VII, Issue 137, 14 September 1866, Page 2

OAMARU RIFLE RANGERS.

As wo intimated in Tuesday's issue, a general meeting of the members of the above Volunteer Company was held on Monday evening last, in the Star and Garter Hotel. Capt. O'Meagher presided. The object, of the meeting, as annoimced in the advertisement, was to arrange for resuming drill, and transact other business. The Captain stated that although the advertisement did not say bo, the meeting would require to consider the propriety of continuing the services of the Company. In the past, they had had many difficulties to contend against, and he was sorry to say, they had for a time at least been obliged to succumb to those difficulties. The Company was formed on 30th September, 1865, under the Volunteer Act of that year. Section 24 of that Act provides for an annual allowance of L2 10s. (to be paid out of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly for the benefit of volunteer corps) for every officer and efficient volunteer, to be appropriated in such manner as the regulations issued under the authority of said Act may direct. Section 19 entitles the Governor in Council to make and alter regulations, said re, ulatious not to be repugnant to the provisions of the Act, but at the same time to regulate the enrolment, discipline, training, exercise, and accoutrements, clothing, equipment, &c, ic, of the I <orce, to state what is requisite to entitle a volunteer to b« deemed an efficient volunteer, &c. Now, these resolutions were isiiiod, but tWy had not bppn rp. ccivod hero till long after the establishment of the corps, and after the uniforms were purchased, and it was now found that it would be virtually impossible for any member, not a commissioned officer, to qualify himself as an efficient volunteer, or to become entitled to the capitation, allowance provided by the Act. By the Regulations referred to, to bo declared efficient he must have attended the last semi-annual inspection of the corps, and his certificate, which also refers to battalion drill, musketry drill, &c, required to be signed by the commanding officer, the adjutant, and the inspector. They had had no visit from the adjutant, and they had had no proper instructor, and they could not come under the proviso contained in the 43rd clause, which states that " every volunteer who had been enrolled for a period of at least eighteen months prior to 31st December, 1865, and whose services are continued, the ' Volunteer Act, 1865,' shall, for the purposes of said Act, and of these regulations, be deemed to be an efficient volunteer up to 30th June, 1866 without the aforesaid certificate." The Captain then read the copy of a letter he had forwarded by that night's post to Adjutant Atkinson, setting forth the exact position of the company, and how it was that they were prevented from qualifying as efficient volunteers ; at same time, requesting his ideas on the matter. He would not wish the members to abandon the movement ; at all events, till his reply was received, as he (the adjutant) might point out a way whereby their position might be altered. In the opinion of some, it was thought better to drop the movement altogether, if no assistance were rendered by the Government. There was no chance of conforming to the regulations, so as to be effective. As there was no inducement offered, there was no use wasting time over tho matter. Members here

required to attend battalion drill before an efficiency certificate could bo granted ; and this drill it was impossible to attend, uuless they went to Dunedin for the purpose. It waa eventually resolved that no further action bo taken till Adjutant Atkinson's reply came to hand. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.