OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 278, 10 November 1862, Page 6

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

(To the Editor of the Daily Times J ■Sir,—Some weeks since, I was permitted to enquire, through y.ur columns, what had become of our local corps'. I am now happy to see that, after a lengthened slumber over the responsibilities of his position, the gentleman who holds the office of Adjutant has found nerve enough to issue a notice calling the members together for an inspection of arms and accoutrements. But still this gentleman appears to me to try all he can '• how not to do it." The hour fixed is 8 p.m. on Monday, the 10th instant. Is thegallauV officer ignorant of the preparations that are. being made for pic-nics, boaiimr, and cricket? Can he possibly expect a mustei 1 Hal the Rifle Corps of this town been in the hands of energetic officers, who would have exhibited same interest ia its success and reputation, our Volunteers would have made an appearance on Monday, creditable to themselves and their commander. Tliey would have mustered in full force on parade at, say 10 a.m., (of course in uniform), and after exhibiting to their follow-townsmen their proficiency in the drill, they had undergone during the past four months, nj'isrht' have fired a salute in honor-of the Prince, and then have been, dismissed to their pleasure parties for the day. • ■■-' •

| As an old -volunteer desirous of seeing a well- [ managed corps and 'joining it, I protest against this spasmodic and injudicious arrangement, and sineere'y hope that those-whose- duty it is to see the public money properly expended, will cast their eyes in the direction of the item for sustaining the Volunteer Rifle Corps of Dunedin, and unless they are more satisfied than I am, put " tiie right man in the right place." Yours obediently, Fir, ■•■-•■■■ .': PuncussioN. [Our correspondent will see that the day is altered to Tuesday. Ed. D. T.] Tiie > Arguntixb Republic—The Senate of the Argentine Republic have resolved to postpone the choice of a Federal-capital for three-years. For this period the national authorities will continue to reside at Buenos Ayres,"which, with the province of which it is the capital. Avill be regulated and administered by Federal autliorities'in the'" same manner as the districts of Columbia in the United States. — Sydney Morning Herald, Oct. 46.

Colonial Woods;— The collection of woods which Dr. Pappe^ the colonial botanist, has made in this colony, already consists of fifty-six varieties, twentyfour of which are from the -.-district of Franchehock alone. "'The blocks' in this collection are beautifully polished on one side,, and they .are to be handed over to the Government with a recommendation that tiiey: be forwarded to !Kew Gardens, with a request that they be sent to the International Exhibition of -1882.— Cape Argiis. , ~ A Scotch cattle dealer, at Clones fair, was asked by a countryman to do him. a favor. "Yon see that woman," said he, "on the sidewalk. Well, I've offered her five pound ten for her cow, but she won't sell. Now, if you, a stranger, should offer her five pound fifteen, she would sell/but would not sell to me for that. Will you be kind enough to take this halfcrown and bind the bargain withifc; and I will then pay the money and take the cow." The goodnatured cattle dealer effected the purchase as requested, and then turned to find the countryman; but the latter was gone , He was forced to take, the cow himself, aad pay for her, though she.was not worth half the money He* had thus bid to'oblige the missing countryman.' It was afterward ascertained that the woman: was the countryman's wife, and they had thus managed to jsell their cow to good advantage. . ' A Frenchman, near the Canada line, in Vermont; sold a horse to his Yankee neighbor, which" he re-: commended as^ being a very sound, serviceable, animal, | ■mal, in spite, of his unprepossessing appearance. To every inquiry of ihe buyer respecting the qualities of the horse the Frenchman gave a ifavorable reply ; out always commenced his commendation with the deprecatory .remark, "He's not look ver good*? The Yankee, caring little for the looks of the horse, of which he could judge for himself without the: seller's assistance, "and being fully persuaded, after minute examination, that the beast was worth the moderate sum asked for him, made his purchase and took him. A few days afterwards, he returned to the seller in high duugeon, and declared ihat he had been cheated in the quality of fhe horse. '■' Vat is de mattaire V said the Frenchman. ;♦ Matter " said the Yankee, " matter enough—the horse can't see! He 13 as blind as a bat!'' " Ah," said the Frenchman, " vat I vas tell you ? I vas tell you he vas not look ver good -be gar, I don't know if he look- at ail!" The Musical Worldr states that the--"Limited Liability Opera Company" .will,probably encamp in Drury Lane Theatre.