VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5308, 20 November 1878, Page 2

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

The monthly inspection of the Victoria, Hobson, and Scottish Companies was held at the Drill Lfall last night. All the companies were well represented, and were inspected by Major Withers. At the close of the examiuation Major Withers read a circular from Mr. F. Stevens, in reference to the negotiations now in progress with the Government and the forthcoming meeting of the Rifle Association, at Nelson, also regarding arrangements for passages, &c. The battalion was then formed into hollow square, iu front of which was a table holding a handsomely gilt elaborate frame, enclosing iu a shield the photographs of 52 members of the Napier Artillery, Major Withers beingthe central figure. It also included Captain, now Major Koutledge, 2 subalterns, 2 drillinstructors, 13 bandsmen, 11 non-commis-sioned officers, and 22 gunners. Around tho shield was the following inscription, in illuminated letters Presented to Major Edward Withers, by the officers, non-com-missioncd officers, gunners, aud bandsmen of tho Napier Artillery Volunteers, as a mark of the esteem in which he has been held as their commanding officer for the last 13 years.—Napier, N.Z., October, IS7S." In making the presentation, Major Derrom said that ho had been requested by Major Routledge, of the Napier Artillery, to present this shield to Major Withers. He read the letter from Major Iloatledge, and. said : Major Withers, —It gives me great; pleasure, on behalf of the Napier Artillery Volunteers, to hand yon this shield, which is evidently a testimonial of tho feeling held towards you. I do not know that anything I could say could improve upon what is said by the presentation of this shield, which it now gives me great pleasure to ask you, Major Withers, to tako charge of.—Major Wichers, in reply, said that he left them to guess his gratification in receiving this testimonial, and that it should be presented by a veteran like Major Derrom added much to its value. The Auckland volunteers were, so far as he could sco, second to none in the colony. As a body, tho Napier Artillery had never been under fire, but tho members of that company had been, and he was with them when shots were flying. They did their duty well then, but not better than other New Zealand Volunteers would have done ia the same circumstances. Ho then referred to the officers aud members of tbe compauy, and said that a better lot of fellows, eveu when they were short of grub, he never met with. He thanked Major Derrom for the kind manner in which the presentation had been made, and the companies for tlie kind manner in which it was acknowledged. The baud played " He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and the troop responded with a ringing cheer on behalf the Napier Artillery, and another on their own account. The companies, headed by their bands, had then a march out through the principal streets of the city.

TUE HOME NEWS ON THE AUSTHALIAN CUICItETERS.

The Home Ueivs has the following :—'' A perfect preaa of valedictory praise lias bsen sounded by the London Press on the departure of our Australian visitors, who have been teaching lis how to play cricket with such marvellous success. And they fully deserve all the good that is said of them. Not alone by their magniGcent play; the head-work in tho bowling of tho rcdoubtablo Spoffortli, Bannerman's straight-backed batting, the splendid wicket-kceping of Blackham, who dispensed altogether with a long-stop, and held Spofforth's tremendous projectiles with a single haud, —but, by their uniform clieeriness and good humour, their unfailing punctuality, their thorough manliness, and their modesty, they havo won golden opinions over here. Lovers of cricket in England thank them also for giving a new impetus and a new interest to a game which is essentially English in its character. A few jealous souls amongst us may bo disposed to explain away Australian victories, - by declaring that the Australian Eleven was picked and well practised to play together, while the teams they "opposed were often strange to one another. This may or may not be true, but whether or no, the general feeling in this country is one of genuine admiration of the achievements of our cousius. England takes its lesson from Australia much in the spirit that a father accepts a beating at chess from his own sou. He may not exactly like it, but he is intensely proud of the prowess of his own belongings. We iu tho same way may be a little sore at the defeat we have endured at tiie hands of those over whom, as representing a younger

community, \re' might lxavo expectol easy triumph. Yet we may console , selves with the reflection that th« tory is still all our own. It i. TJ* Saxon germ which has tateen root i? A" prospered in far-off climes, and if??: . aDd traliaus aro now cxcellin, 113 ; n fu Aus * we deemed alto-j.-tW our own if f'T'Orta tho are of An£lo-S» x „n a S ♦ b ? ci ® to regions especially suited t .. ra . na P'anted development. That ,ti'l n £ J pre eminence which Austr-il,? r ° V y attaiu in those sports in thU ? encra % Eton and tho Universiti,*, h!° U ?' At tralUu descent are stroke r,j, 1 " us " of boats ;it ia tUa same i-j m. 3 , . ca t tl 'M crack corps. Australians do ..".Wr j? 3 - o£ the hunting field. Australia ~rh hwJ ? ready established the r s r ..i n i„ 11 a J" croquet and lawn tennis."- " nce V 1