VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6563, 29 November 1882, Page 5

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

The weekly drill of the Victoria ltiilcs was liald last uight, Captain Mahon being in command. There was a muster. After drill a meeting uf the company was held to consider the new regulations, and the action which the company would take in regard to tliein.—Captain Mahon, on opening the proceedings, said the meeting was called to consider the new regulations, which would be brought into force in the beginning of the year, to see what decision the company would eoine to. Oil calling on Major Withers for a copy of the regulations lie found that he had to take them to Whangarei to read to the volunteers there, but they had all heard them read, or had read them in the daily papers, and were aware of their contents. It was necessary that they should come to some decision before the :ilst of December whether they would accept service under the new regulations, as it was - necessary to forward a return of members, and send for uniforms, so as to have them as early as possible. The cost of the uniform, scarlet tunic, blue cloth trousers, Ac., would be under L'.'i, which would be deducted from the capitation. This was much cheaper than the present uniforms, ami then helmets, according to the new regulations, would be the same as at present, except that the mountings would be plated, instead of being bronze. He had noticed, when South, that some of the corps, including the Wellington Ritles, had the regulation uniform. They were very neat, fitted well, and had the advantage of not showing a white shirt collar. Crossbelts were dispensed with, and he uoticed that some of the companies were getting enamelled belts instead of the ordinary pipeclayed ones. The total cost of the uniform, with enamelled belt, would not exceed 10s. The regulations were strict, but it was ncccssary, if the Government maintained a Volunteer Force at all, that it should be eflicient. Exception had been taken to the twelve parades in the year, on the supposition that they were to be monthly parades ; but this was not so. The whole of the parades might be put in in four months, but four of them must be daylight parades. That was an advantage, as they, would have found when out on review. The Government intended that there should be uo dummy companies or paper men. There must be present on each parade at least two-thirds of the strength of the company. The maximum strength of a company was sixty-three. Exception was taken to this by some companies, who argued that they should be allowed eighty. He did not think it out of the way to ask that two-thirds of the company should be on each parade if they meant to do anything at all. Then, eiliuicut volunteers only were to be allowed to compete for Government prizes. That, he thought, was a very good rule; for, as they knew, a man might be a good shot and carry away the chief prizes, and yet they might very rarely see him on parade. There were a number of rules and regulations which had not been read to them. He saw the rough copy of those when he was in Wellington, but they had not then been sul>tnitted to the Defence Minister, or revised, so he had been unable to obtain a copy of them, but the regulations read to them by Major Withers were the principal ones, and the others referred chiefly to the internal management of the companies. In answer to questions, Captain Mahon explained that it was necessary to attend nine out of the twelve parades annually, to qualify for capitation. A question was raised as to what position a volunteer would be in who might have to go into the country to work, or in the event of his being removed to another j provincial district whether he could put in i his parades there, or be transferred to another company. It appears that the new regulations make 110 provision for this. It may be taken for granted that with the reduced maximum strength, and the compulsory attendance of two-thirds on I parade, the ranks will always be full, so that j a volunteer leaving Auckland, say for Wellington, may not have a chanc to join a company in tile latter place. Captain Mahon said ho saw the importance of the question, and would telegraph for information on the subject. After some further discussion on various questions raised, the matter was adjourned to another meeting to be held next Tuesday, by which time the company would have the regulations before them, and be able to discuss the items before enrolling. The other business of the meeting was :□ regard to arranging for company prizes, but this was also postponed until the adjourned meeting. : -