VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8541, 15 April 1891, Page 6

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

INFANTRY INSPECTION PARADE, j <A>* inspection parade of the four infantry J garrison corps was held at the Drill-shed last night by Major Goring, the new commanding officer, and there was a better attendance than we have seen for many months past, and the musters on the •whole, considering the roll strength, were in every instance satisfactory. There was also a promptitude in attendance, which •was satisfactory to the officers. The parade states were as follows :—V ictoria Rifles on the right of the line, under the command of Lieutenant Somers, with Lieutenant Singleton, 40 all told (Captain Cooper, commanding officer of this company, was absent on sick leave); City Guards, under Captain Kohn and Lieutenant Dormer, had a muster of 33 ; the Newton Rifles, under Captain Robertson, Lieutenants Taylor and Durham, mustered 34, and the Royal Irish, under Captain Tobin and Lieutenant Caul ton, had a muster of 29. The band, under Bandmaster Hunter, had a full muster. The companies were formed into column by Captain Kohn, and were thus subjected to a most rigid inspection by Major Goring. The outsider as well as the insides of the rifles were examined, and nothing escaped observation, and no doubt the rigidity of the inspection served to make the men as well as the officers uncomfortable. Some idea of the care bestowed on this examination may be gathered from the fact that the examination of each company occupied a quarter of "an hour. The battalion was formed into line, and Major Goring addressed the parade. He said that was his first inspection of the infantry volunteers, and on the whole he found that the rifles were clean. There were individual instances in which they were very dirty. lie reminded them that if a, soldier did nob care for bis rifle, when he wanted it it would nob serve him, and he would be useJess. They should also stand still in the ranks even if they made mistakes, and they should also pick up their dressing quickly. All the" companies that ' night dressed badly, and nothing looked worse on parade than bad dressing. Then with regard to their rifles they kspt their sights at all angles. Proper care was not given to them. The sight wa3 to the rifle what the heart was to the man, for if the sight was out of order they could not shoot straight. The battalion was then put through some movements under Captain Kohn, and they were critically inspected by Major Goring. After the parade Private Neylon, of the Victoria Rifles, was called to the front, and Major Goririgpinned on his breast the medal presented by-Surgeon-Major Dawson for the best attendance. Three members of the company had tied for the honour, but amongst themselves they decided to allot it to Mr? Neylon, one of the senior members of the company. CITY GUARDS ENCAMPMENT. It was intended that the City Guards Company of volunteers should have gone into camp at the North Shore last night immediately after the inspection parade, but arrangements were not quite completed, and the encampment has been postponed until Friday night.