OUR VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4588, 17 February 1902, Page 7

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

WELLINGTON RIFLE BATTALION. Recent rains having soddened the surface of the Petone show grounds, the officer in charge of the Wellington Battalion deemed it advisable to postpone the departure of tho battalion to that locality for its annual encampment from Saturday till Sunday. There was a largo muster of men of all corps at the Drillshed yesterday afternoon, when the battalion headed by the Garrison Band, marched to the Wellington Railway Station and entrained for their rendezvous, under tho direction of Major Brandon and the staff officers. The battalion reached the ground at 3.30 p.m., and a quarter of an hour later a sonorous lower G on the bugle caused the whole of the specious tents to rise simultaneously from the ground, while the emblem of freedom fluttered brightly in the beams of the smiling sun. At 3.30 tea was served to the men. after which general leave was granted till first post. The camp orders tor Sunday were as follows:—-Captain of the day. Captain W. G. Dnthie; lieutenant. Lieutenant C. B. Hurton. For to-day, Captain Heir and Lieutenant McLeod are detailed for duty. The quartor-guard for yesterday was supplied by the Wellington Engineers, and the camp police were members of the Highland Rifles. For to-day’s duties the Zealandia and College Rifles will be levied upon. The parade states of the various companies in camp were as follows: City Rifles (Captain W. G. Dnthie), 35; Wellington Guards (Captain J. Dnthie and Lieutenant Wheeler), 31; Kelburno Rifles (Captain Davis and Lieutenant Cowles), 40; Civil Service Rifles (Captain ,T. C. Lewis'). 35’; Post and Telegraph Rifles (Captain Morris and Lieutenants Harton and Norris), 38; College Rifles (Captain Turner and Lieutenant H. G. Lewis). 35; Zealandia Rifles (Captain Keir), 38; Highland Rifles (Lieutenants McLeod and Harland), 34; Engineers (Lieutenants Tone and McLachlan), 45; Cycle Corps (Captain Hutson and Lieutenant Slinn), 17; Bearer Corps, 13. Lieutenant Osborne-Lilly, of the Petone Navals, is lent to the Kelburne Rifles for instruction. The staff of the battalion is as follows:—Lient.Colonel Collins, Major Brandon, Captain and Adjutant Harcourt, Quartermaster Henderson, Surgeon-Captain Purdy, Staff-Sergt.-Major Sanderson, and Quarter-master-Sergeant Carmine.