VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1404, 26 January 1899, Page 23

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE NOTES.

The city corps parade as follows : DBILLSHED. City Rifles Monday Zealandia Rifles Monday Kelburne Rifles Tuesday College Rifles Tuesday l’o-t Office Rifle Wednesday Ktar Club Aitillery Wednesday Guards Rifles Thursday Cycle Corps Thursday Civil Service Rifles Friday MOUNT COOK. DBatteiy Artillery Tuesday Naval Ar'illerv Wednesday MAXIM SQUADS. Guards Monday C’ty Itifl's Tuesday Keiboume Rifles ... ... Friday CAMP AT NEWTOWN. The annual inspection of the Wellington Rifle Battalion, now in camp at Newtown Park, by the Commandant of the Forces, took place last week. The parade state was as follows:—City Rifles, 65 ; Guards, 43 ; Kelburne Rifles, 54 ; Civil Service Rifles, 55 ; Post and Telegraph Rifles, 58 ; College Rifles, 53 ; Zealandias, 57; Cycle Corps, 24 ; band, 22 ; staff, 10 : total. 444 The battalion was drawn up in line, and received the Commandant as he came on to the ground, accompanied by Lhiitena-.t-Coloml Newall. Major Collins then put the men through an hour’s battalion drill and attack formation, the various movements being watched with great interest by the public, who were present in large numbers. Excellent order was kept, and the movements of the troops were not interfered with in the slightest degree. At the conclusion of the parade the Commandant briefly addressed the officers. He was, he said, very pleased with the work that had been done by the battalion. The varied uniforms were a difficulty that would be got over in time, but there was no doubt, after a drill such as that conducted after nightfall, as to which was the

best uniform. The parade was then dismis* ed.

The camp of instruction held by the Rifle Battalion at Newtown Park broke up on Saturday afternoon, camp being struck at 3 o’clock, and the men marched back to town headed by the Garrison and Bugle Bands playing alternately. The march of the men into town attracted much attention, and large crowds of the public followed them to the place of dismissal. In spite of the bad weather experienced, the camp was a complete success, excellent work was done, and the week’s sojourn under canvas will be a pleasant remembrance to all who were there. The work performed consisted of battalion drill, outpost duty, forming advance and rear guards, attack and defence, skirmishing, guard mounting and relieving sentries. T!.e men were aroused by the reveille every morning at 4.30 and were at drill at 5. After an hour’s instruction breakfast was served, and the men left camp to attend to their daily work; dinner was ready at 6.30 p.m., and tho men were on parade by 7.30, the instruction lasting till 9 p.m., guards mounted at 7.15 and sentries posted. Tattoo at 9.45, last post at 10.15, lights out at 10.30/ Such was the daily routine of the camp, the result of which has been the means of giving increased knowledge to the officers and men of their duties as soldiers. Many practical lessons were learnt, and no time was lost in drillshed movements. The total number of men who went through the camp was 458, the average daily attendance being about 375. The new companks were well represented throughout, and it was pleasing to see the friendly rivalry that existed between the Zealandia and Post and Telegraph Corps, who vied with each other to put the most men on parade, with the result that both corps had excellent musters throughout, in fact all corps except the Guards kept up a good average. The attack on the camp came off on Saturday morning, and was not as anticipated made by an outside corps, but by one of the corps in camp. At 3 o’clock the Zealandias, v ho were selected for the purpose, stole quietly out of camp and took up their positions on the hills surrounding. At 4 a.m. they opened a heavy fire on the camp, the alarm sounded, and within five minutes over 350 men were present under arms at the alarm post. The Guards, under Captain John Duthie, were the first out. Tho corps were told off to their posts to protect the camp. The Ci\t Service Rifles, on whom tho rear defence devolved, allowed the attacking force to pass their right flank without seeing them. The close sounded and the men returned to camp, and were then engaged clearing up and preparing for striking camp in the afternoon. The behaviour of the men in the camp on the whole was good. This speaks well for the men themselves, and the tact and administrat ion of discipline by the Commanding Office, Major Collins. Valuable services were rendered in their respective duties by Captain Duthie as major. Lieutenant Harcourt as camp adjutant, Lieutenant Henderson as quarter-master, and Staff-Sergeant- Major Finn as drill instructor and camp sergeant-major.