OUR VOLUNTEERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4317, 28 March 1901, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS

THE EASTER MANOEUVRES. Captains Turner ailti Henderson, who have gone to the Wairarapa to make arrangements for carrying out the manoeuvres of the Wellington Rifle Battalion at Easter time, yesterday telegraphed to Lieutenant-Colonel Collins that they had been courteously receiived at all places and that domains and show grounds in the principal towns had been cheerfully placed at the disposal of the Volunteers. The modus operand! will be as follows: —The camp of the Wellington Rifle Battalion will be pitched on the domain at Feutherston as soon as the men are detrained the Wairarapa forces camping at Greytown the same night. Next morning the invaders (Wellington) will move on Greytown, the Wairarapa men moving up to intercept them. Tlie Wellington battalion will that night drive back the defenders and camp at Greytown. the Wairarapa force pitching tents two miles off. On the succeeding night the Wellington men will go to Carterton and pitch camp on the show grounds, moving from thence to Alasterton next day (Sunday) anil re-erecting tents in the show grounds of that town. On Easter Monday a general review and sham fight will take place .on the conclusion of which the manoeuvres will be terminated.

Major Owen will he present at the review and sham fight, which will be under the guidance of Lieutenant-Colonel Collins and nis staff.

INSPECTION PARADE. The Wellington Navals paraTTed at the Central Drillshed last night for Government inspection. There were present Lieut.-Commander Bell, Lieutenants Cooper, Biss, Handyside and Alenzies, and 108 non-coms and men. Tlie parade was inspected by Captain Duncan and Lieut.Commander Campbell. The company was taken through the streets of the city for marching exercise and then returned to the drillshed, where Bugle-drill was obtained. It was announced that on Tuesday of next week the Petone Navals would come to the city, and that a parade of the whole Naval Brigade would be on that night held in the Central Drillshed. A feature of last night’s parade of the Wellington Navals was the excellent time of the march music played by the company’s fife and drum. band. The volume of the strains leaves a little to be desired, but this defect is one likely to disappear as the members of the band become more experienced. The annual meeting of the Wellington Navals has been postponed until the 10th of April next. The recently-formed Engineers Corps has obtained permission to accompany the First Wellington Rifle Battalion on its Easter movements in the Wairarapa dis trict.

Lieutenants-Colonel Newall and Porter were present at the parade of the Wellington Navels last night. Lieutenant-Colonel Porter addressed a few farewell remarks to the corps in view of his early departure from New Zealand in charge of the Seventh Contingent. The Town Clerk of Featherslon has written to the officer commanding the Wellington Rifle Battalion stating that the Chairman, and members of the Feutherston Town Board would like to ascertain definitely the time at which the battalion will reach Featherston, in order that the board might extend an official welcome to tho officers and men. ’ , The Highland Rifles paraded last night under Captain Mclntosh, there being 40 I tank and file present. At a meeting held afterwords a letter received from a Southtern firm which is contracting to supply the corps -with kilts, etc., was diseussed.The conditions therein laid down were agreed to. and it was resolved that the members parade to-morrow night to be measured for the uniforms.