VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8960, 18 August 1892, Page 6

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

THE AUCKLAND ENGINEERS. COLONEL FOX'S INSPECTION. PRESENTATION TO MAJOR ANDERSON. Colonel Fox, Commandant of the New Zealand defence forces, commenced his inspection of the Auckland volunteers last night, when . the engineer volunteers mustered at the Drillshed for the purpose of inspection. There was a fine muster of 43 out of a possible 4S, under the command of Major Anderson, and very well indeed the company looked in the new uniforms imported from England and just released out of bond. It is true that some of the tunics did not fib well, and the services of the colonial tailors will be required in many instances, but on the whole the men presented a smart soldier-like appearance. The company was first put through some preliminary formations by Lieutenant-Adju-tant Grant and Lieutenant-Colonel Goring, the officer commanding the district, after which the column formed open order and received Colonel Fox with a general salute. The commandant then inspected the ranks and showed that with him this was no perfunctory work, for his quick eye detected the slightest disarrangement or fault, or even the smallest superfluities in the dress of the men. The company was put through marching and company movement's by Major Anderson, after which the parade was taken over by Lieutenant Grant, and ' subsequenty by Sergeant-Major Stewart. They were then put through firing exercise by Major Anderson, who gave the order to fire a volley at 400 yards. The quick eyes of Colonel Fox observed' that some of the men did not adjust their sights, and he deliberately went round and counted twenty-two men on the parade who had failed to do so, expressing surprise that so many of the company did not know how to fire. The company being re-formed Colonel Fox addressed the parade. He said ho understood that many of them had been irregular in their attendance on parades recently, but now that they had procured their new uniforms he hoped they would be more regular in their attendance in future. He was fairly satisfied with what he had seen that night, but he reminded them that there was still much room for improvement. Those members who had not yet been drilled in the use of tools were then ordered to fall out, and the remainder, 22 in the ranks, were formed into working and covering parties by feergeant-Major Gunn, of the defence force, and drilled with picks and shovels, relieving each other at intervals, the working party taking the position of the skirmishers, and vice versa. \ After Colonel Fox and Lieutenant-Colonel Goring had retired, a very interesting ceremony took place. It was the presentation of a major's sword, shoulder and sword belts, silver sword knot and epaulettes, by the company to Major Anderson. The sword is encased in a brass scabbard, the hilt being gold plated, and the blade itself is beautifully chased. In diagonal lines across the blade it bears the following inscription :"Presented to Major W. Anderson by the officers and members of the Auckland Engineer Volunteers as a token of respect and esteem." The belts are of Russian leather interwoven with silver wirework, and the pouch, which is of black leather, mounted with the Royal arms in silver, contains a handsome field glass. In making the presentation, SergeantMajor Stewart said he had been requested on behalf of the company to present to their commanding officer this sword, shoulder knots, and set of belts. It was needless for him so say anything to testify to the respect and esteem in which Major Anderson was held by all the men of the company or their appreciation of the great interest which he had taken in them, and they offered him this present as a slight token of their respect for him, and hoped he would live long to wear them. Major Anderson retired to don the belts and sword, and on reappearing on the parade, ho was greeted with applause. He said he was very much pleased and exceedingly gratified to receive such a handsome present from the corps. Apart from its intrinsic value* which was considerable, he valued the present as the spontaneous expression of the feelings of the corps towards him. Since the corps was started, in 1871, he did not know a single instance of a difference of opinion between the officers and men. They had always worked harmoniously together, and he believed the existence of a corps depended on the sympathy existing between men and officers. They had proved their confidence in him by retaining him as their commanding officer so long, and he thanked them for that confidence as well as for their handsome present, and he trusted he would continue to be worthy of their confidence, for he would continue to do as he had done, his best for the interests of the corps. (Applause.) He again thanked them for their handsome present. The parade was then dismissed.