QUEENSTOWN AND SOUTHLAND VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1162, 7 March 1874, Page 13

QUEENSTOWN AND SOUTHLAND VOLUNTEERS.

Major Atkinson has just concluded an inspection of the Queenstown and Southland Volunteers. He devoted eight days to the Queenstown corps. This corps has been in existence about twelve months, and now numbers 40 members. During Major Atkinson's stay in Queenstown he drilled the corps five times, the average attendance being 23. He also drilled the officers three times in sword and other drill necessary for them ; and the boys of the school once. He would have drilled the boys of the school of tener had it not been that Mr Macklin, the master, is a thoroughly- competent drill instructor. All the men appeared in their uniform — a very neat one ; their arms and accoutrements were clean, and considering that they had never seen a staff instructor, they drilled very well. There seems to be quite a mania for volunteering in the Queenstown district. Captain Malaghan is an energetic officer, and appears to be working up the Company very well ; and he is actively and efficiently assisted by Lieuts. Powell and Worthington. At lnvercargill, the Invercargill Rifles paraded on Thursday week, Captain Wade commanding. The attendance was 22, all told, out of a possible 50. After the usual inspection of arms, they had a good drill. Major Atkinson spoke pretty strongly about the absentees. The Invercargill Artillery paraded on Friday, but the weather was very wet, and the attendance small — 2S out of a possible 67, Captain Dalgliesh, commander. This was a postponed parade. At the parade on the previous Eriday there were present 58 of all ranks for inspection. The inspection did not take place on that occasion, the steamer by which Major Atkinson was coming being delayed by bad weather. The uniforms of the invercargill companies are really neat, and the men look well in them. The volunteering spirit is very active in Southland. At Piverbon the local company mustered 2 lieutenants and 22 volunteers, Oapt. Daniels commanding, out of a possible 37. There is at this season great excuse for the members of these companies not attending drill, owing to harvesting operations. Even in Queenstown, a goldfields town, many of the members were busily engaged hari vesting.