THE SECOND MANCHESTER (33rd LANCASRIRE) RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 244, 24 August 1864, Page 6

THE SECOND MANCHESTER (33rd LANCASRIRE) RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

I'fiKSENTATIOX TO ADJUTANT UOLTON. To all old colonists of Auckland a reminiscence ot' llic gallant "BluckCutis"—New Zealand's otmi regiment, as it were, will be received with pleasure ; we offer no apology tlieiefore to tlie general reader lor nHoi'ding space for the following report ot'n ])resentation made to Adjutant Bolton, n gentleman well known in the sSthwhen serving in IS'cw.Zealand. A prclinnnary inspection of the 2nd Manchester Ritlo Volunteers l>y C'olontl J. 11. JJeakiii, hon. Colcncl ol tlio i< gimeiit, took ] lacc at Old Tiafloid, on Saturday allt niton. It whs intcndul on this occasitn to pieti-nt to tlie Adji tint a jmrse of one hundred PeAereigns sv.bfciihed for hy the officers in testimony to his chanutor and eilieicncy as a military instructor, but as scniu one hud called attention U> (lie matter an iiitiniiition \v;ih lent treni (]io AVar Oilie.; the intended pefecntution on paiadc as contraiy to military regulations ; and this part of (lie ])iegn lame had to he emitted, hut tlie lei-t uionial was presented to tho gallant tflicer the Mime evening at tlie tlunndon Hotel. It will he seen from tho sj.eeehes lepoited hi low that very stieng distati&l'action was expressed at this interim i.ee and at the meaniK ss of spirit displayed by the anonymous inloimer. 1 licit! were a good many j-peetutors en tho ground to witness I)iu inspection, including a largo in lnlier of ladies, wlio apparently tool; a gieat interest m tbu pioeeedings, 'iho regiment arrived on Ihe ground about half-past four o'clock p.m., and having been drawn up in line in review orih r, tlie lioneiary colonel passed up and 'idown the lanks. 'J lie total number if men prctint was 3711 rani; and lile, (j < Iliecrs, o*l sergeants, '12 band, -R leeiuits ; total, sl'K. (_'(:lon<l Cunlille was In command. 'J lit! rtginicnt was jiut irtiiigli a variely ol evolutions, whieb weie satisfactorily perfoimed. '1 ho n.-.H-ebing both in eoli.mn and in line was stiady. At the don,, of tho inspection the companies weie It-Hi,td into < pen s<|uare. Colonel 1)< akin, altendi d 1-y Jlajor J-'colt and Captain ]iolton, rode into the i nelof-ni'o and addressed the men. lie praist d tlie voly creditable manner in which tliey iiad gone thiough the flillercnt manietivres, and said he was Miy proud of tlie honour of commanding; such a eoips. 1 hi y had inueh imjuoved ; and wilh stiict attintion to drill, ho believed tl.ey would hold a place second to no other volunteer legiment in Lantashiie. lie concluded hy tailing lor three vocilciotis cbecis for Colc-nel Cunlille and tho ollicers of (he regiment, and the appeal was cLeeitully respondtd to. Colonel Ci.nlifo thanked Colonel Dcakin for his attendance, i nil (or the high euet niiums he had passett upon the ivgimcnt. 'J hey fell henoiircd in having him a.'soeiah d with ihem, and he (Col. Cunlille) United that the t omiei lion would long continue.— Three theers then given ior Colonel Peakin. Jhijor frioit, in an emphatic tpeeeli, iiilogited the M'rvins of t aplain Jlollon, as atljtilanl of llio corps. Jt was lo him that the regiment Was mainly indebted for ilf- ] re 11 lit Mute of eilieieiiey ; and hisellblis were uaimly app-reeialcd by all those who had bcuclitcd by his insti in t it,n. JI any ollicers lilling tin- position that Aitjulnnl I;oll( 11 tiitl would have done no inori* < i in 11 the liovoinment ex peeled him lo do; bill he hail devoted his whole energies to the improvi nienl of (lie rcgmniil. (A ]iplaiise.) Jlis genl li manly demeanour and his invariable i niirlisy had won the n.-peel ol ail ; and his desire a I ail limes hud been lo I'l'iiig fonvai d iheollitii.- niiil ii.cn 'i'he lesidt ol ihe h'gh i r-tiui-'isi'.'il in u hit h llio i.djulant M as held was u ilesiii' to pun-lit 1 inll "iiilha Itstimenial ol their ;ij>] ni iution, anil sui'teilptii ns Wire, leadily given lor (hut ] lupose with beany good will. £100 hail been Mil seiibtd ; anil it was regretted that the seivices of Adjutant- Bolton had not been earlier recognised. (Applause.) lie (Major ibcott) had hoped to have bull able to pletent tho testimonial then. Tlieie was the money (holding up the purse of soveieigns)—(chews)—but tunic malicious person, 1.0 was soiry tosav, had put himself in communication with the AV.ir Ulliee authorities, and the result was an older which pieveiiled him irom handing over tlie testimonial to Adjutant Bolton on thatOccasion. (Oiuans and bithes, which were suppressed by oidcr.) Accompanying the purse was a handsome signet ring ol putt-gold—tit representative ol the licipieiit's stalling qualities, and bearing on it n proud ciest, indiealivt! ct his moral worlh. (Cheers.) Ha was .-oi i v ll.nt they i mild not present it to him then, publicly, in the presejiee of the regiment anil of the ladies" who were pucsent—(hear, hear, and Cheers)—but it would be handed to him by and bye —(applause) ; and he felt ceitain that although the War Oiiice had prohibited the public presentation, they must despise the person who had requested their intervention. (Cheers and laughter.) He did not know who it could be, but he felt certain that it wis no one in that regiment. (I.oud shouts of "Ko, no.") 'Whoever it was ho had done a most dastardly act. (Applause.) It was by no means unusual to make such piesentations; and not king would have been done to pieVcnt this had not. attention been called to it. AfU r some fnilher personal eulogy of the adjutant, he ;.aiil the pur.-e avid ring would find its way to his hands before many bonis were uver (prolonged cheering); and be might, add that "directly the ollicers licatd of (his infamous trick several ol' them waited npon him and tillered to increase their subscriptions. 'J he regulations, lie believed, forbade any oilicer to receive a testimonial from those under his command. Captain Bolton, however, was not in command. There was no one. under bis authority, lie was simply the paid adjutant and instructor; and tho regulation had been stretched a point against him unjustifiably. Had there been time the ollicers would have conferic-d with the War Ulliee authorities, and. no doubt flie matter would bavo been- rectiiicd; but discipline waß ncccssary, and this order must bo obeyed, however unwillingly. It would tend, however, to increase, if possible, the respect and esteem felt for Adjutant Bolton ; and tho manner in which tlie testimonial would be presented to him before that night closed, would make the informer, it was to be hoped, heartily ashamed of his infamous and-dirty work. (Cheers.) Adjutant Bolton said he had had some proud days in his life. One of those was when he returned from abroad after eighteen years' service, anil, on his promotion, hail tho honour of kissing the hand of his sovereign. (Cliccrs.) That was a happy day. This was another one. (Hear, hear.) He could not lind woid.s to thank Major Scott sulliciontly for what he bad said. Whether lie deserved it must bo for the regiment lo decide ; but during tho three and a half years in which lie hud held his present position he had ever received the cordial support and co-operation of every officer of the regiment, lie might well be proud,"therefore, of being the adjutant ol this corps, and of the handsome testimonial which was intended to be given to him. It would certainly have come with more satisfaction had it been presented in the presence of his eoniradeii; but lie, liko his superior ofliccrs, must bow to tho will of those in authority,

and he respectfully submitted to the order of the War Office. Jn conclusion, he said that the drill liadbeen "very goodj especially considering that the, ground was so much out of order ; and he had no doubt that if they attended to their duty on j arade they would paEs the forthcoming official inspection with credit to themselves- and the tfiiceis who commanded them. He knew that lie was sometimes very strict, and spoke lather harshbut the words came only from tlio hps, and spiung the desire to see the efficiency of the col j. s kept up j for his enlyaim was the wejiaio and prosperity oi tho 2nd Manchester. Three cheers .were then, given, and the men dispersed to partake of the refreshment provided by the liberality of Colonel Hcakin. A dinner took place at the Cb rciidoii Hotel, in the evening, when the presentation was foimally made to the respected adjutant, amidst much applause. .Spveial,toasts .were given and responded to, and a pleasant evening was spent.—Manchester Courier, June 20.