VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5638, 11 December 1879, Page 5

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

ENGINEER COMPANY. There was an unusually large muster of tha j Engineer Company at the weekly drill yes- 1 terday eveuing, there being GO in the ranks, j under the command of Captain Anderson ! and Sub-Lieutenant Saunders. The chief reason why the attendance was so numerous was no doubt the fact that the election of a lirst lieutenant for company was on the (apis. There were two candidates for the otfice—Sub-Lieutenant Saunders and Mr. Edward Shillington, who had beeu duly nominated*on the previous Wednesday evening. Mr. Shillington was a comparative stranger, but it was known to several that he had served in the Royal Engineers, licM the rank of color-sergeant, and retired recently on a pension. In order to allow the i company to ascert:>. :, i in some degree his qualifications, he attended by invitation to drill, and from the manner in which he handled the parade, it was evident that he was a competent drill-master. He exercised them in a variety of movements, iuc'udiug some , battalion drill, and created a very favourable impression. After the roll-call, the com- i pany was addressed by the captain, who explained the stepa that had been taken regarding the nomination. As the company were aware, there were two candidates. Mr. . Shillinnton was a total stranger to him and ! thej- all knew Sub-Lieutenant Sauuders.— Sab-Lieutenant Saunders then addressed the parade. He said that while in the company he had done his best, and did his duty as well as he could. He took a great interest in the company, and would try to get it as efficient ai possible. He reminded them that until two years ago, when he hurt his leg, he hat been a constant attendant at the pa-ade, aod, when a sergeant, he had hardly ever j missed a parade. If elected, he would do his utmost to keep the company together. (Cheers.) Printed voting paper*, with the names of the candidates in the usual form of ballot papers, were then handed rouod to the members, who, after erasing the name of the candidate for whom they did not intend to deposited them iu the ballot* box. Mes3's. Fo'«.h a rmgham and Robinson were appointed scrutineers to open the box and couut the votes, which they did, and handed the rc3nlfc to the captain commanding, as follows: —Shillington, 31; Saunders, 2S: majority for ShiliiogtoD, 3. The result was received with some demonstration of applause on one hand, and disappointment on the other. The captain declared Mr. Shillington duly elected first lieutenant of the company, and the parade 1 was then dismissed. THE NEW ARTILLERY COMP ANY. We are iuformed that intimation ha* been received from the Government that they decline for the present to accept tho services of the proposed new Artillery company. Tho announcement will prove a great disappointment to a large number, for about 120 members had been. cnrolleJ, in the full expectation that the Government would accept their services, especially aa the project bad received the approval of Major Burns, the officer ia command of the Artillery in this district, and there was a sort of implied promise from the. Government to that effect.