VOLUNTEER INSPECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1156, 24 January 1874, Page 4

VOLUNTEER INSPECTIONS.

Major Gordon, accompanied by Major Atkinson, has lately inspected the Southland, Clutha, Taieri, and Tokomairiro Volunteer Companies.

The first; inspection made was that of the River ton Rifles. Present : Lieut. Casaels, 2 sergeants, and 11 volunteers out of a possible 56. Those that were present were complimented by Major Gordon on their appearance, and the manner in which they went through their drill. It seems that the Company visually muster well, and that the Bmall* ness of the attendance on this occasion was chiefly owing to the day on whioh the parade was held— Saturday, the 3rd January— beiDg the day following the two on which the Caledonian games took place, and was one in fact on which the Company ought not to have been mustered.

The Invercargill Artillery was inspected on Monday, sth mat. There were present — Captain Dalgleish, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub* lieutenant, 4 sergeants, and 34 Volunteerß, out of a strength of 60. The Invercargill Rifles were inspected on the same day by Major Gordon. Present — Captain Wade, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub-lieutenant, 2 sergeants, and 25 Volunteers, out of a total strength of 54. The newly- gazetted Highland Company of Invercargill mustered 16 strong in all. No officers have yet been appointed, nor had the Company been called together since gazetted, the men having leave for the holidays. The members appeared in the ordinary civilian attire, having as yet no uniform, but it i» expected that they will Bhortly don the warlike and festive kilts. The Inspector complimented those present, considering they were the nucleus of what woula form a very good corps ; but they would, he said, require to strengthen their number to be of use. The Company waa drilled by Major Gordon, in company and battalion drill. The Invercargill Cadet* have fallen through on account of no members being present at their annual inspection. The want of the corps had been a staff instructor. It was expected that a staff sergeant should be located there permanently ; whereaß, with the present staff, they could only get their periodical visits like the other corp=<. The Cadet corps could have been kept in an efficient state had an officer of any of the local Companies acted as drill instructor. The office of drill instructor to the oadets would also have been an excellent position of training for officers.

At Clutha only one of the two Companies —namely, the No. 2 — turned out. There was a muater of 13 out of a total of 37. None of the No. 1 put in an appearance. Major Gordon told the No. 2 the best thing they could do would be to recruit their ranks at once, join themselves to some other Company, or disband. He did not know what to say of that Company, none of the members of which were present, as there were none of them there that he could talk to.

Major Gordon, on a subsequent day, inspected the Tokomairiro Rifles. Present — Captain Petitt, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub-lieuten-ant, 3 sergeants, 26 volunteers, and 3 recruits. Major Gordon made each of the officers take command, and put the Company through drill. The parade lasted fully two houro. At its conclusion, Major Gordon stated he had kept the Company longer than usual. He felt a real pleasure in inspecting Buch a well-drilled Company, and had no hesitation in saying they had acquitted themselves better than any he had yet isspected in Otago. Their having been viaited by the Drill Instructor only once last year mado their efficiency all the more creditable to their officers.

Th« East and Went Taieri Volunteer Corp* musoered for parade on Tuesday evening, under the inspection of Major Gordon. Of the former company there were present— 1 Lieutenant, 3 sergeants, and 10 privates; of the latter, 1 Lieutenant, I Sub-lieutenant, 1 sergeant, and 8 privates — total 25, out of a possible 87. The Inspector remarked th« small attendance, and pufc those present through company and skirmishing drill, expressing himself well satisfied with their maneuvering.

The local Inspector of Nuisance* has recently furnished the Wellington Municipal Council with a report on the sanitary condition of that city. The report describes the condition of the north and south ends of the city in fearfully plain language, which makes one wonder that Wellington has not before now been decimated by a pestilence. With regard to two strteta at t»te north end in particular, the Inspector Buma tip by stating that he there found "in general such an accumulation of filth aB should not be tol«« rated in any civilised community."