THE VOLUNTEERS.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12459, 8 February 1909, Page 4

THE VOLUNTEERS.

Sergeant' P^ttersonj, of the . Permanent staff, has signified his; willingness to give instruction ' to the local Volunter officers in -sketching work. There is a general lack of kriowlpdgo in this 'work among dfiic'eTs, and -it "is' hoped the offer will betaken' advant-age-of. '''"".':".'.,;■'■■'' ■■'.'" > ,i* >: ; The Volunteer, year > • terminates this -month. -It is rumoufejd in Wellington that several changes arc- to take-place at an early date in district' commands. ' ■' - ' .■ •> - The battalion parade on Friday evening was ' riot as, well attended as usual, although the country, men were well represented. Colonel -Harkness instructed the battalion in field movements. ' • ./' . , -„i. The monotony bf ! the 1 ordinary rpu.tine drill wa^ varied by the Nelson Rifles on Saturday evening, when a goodly muster of men marched several miles up the Maitai : Valley under Captain Stewart and Lieut Johnson,' and bivouacked all night till the, -early part of yesterday morning!- An /excellent programme of work suggested and arranged by Staff Sergt.Major Colclough was carried out. An outpost lino was - established and maintained -throughout the night, arid at five o'clock yesterday morning' judging distances practice: was , engaged "'in," with very fair results. The distances ranged were 230, 446, 610 and 770 yards. At, the conclusion of this work 'field '.'firing took place "at an unknown range, which proved by testing shots to be about 1000' yards. The targets ; were very small, consequently "the., ..hits were equally so. The corps' is'.' to, be congratulated on its enterprise and endeavour to get in a little useful and necessary training..' The^Maitai had' twice to be forded by all'fariks. The men snatched what ' sleep^they could while not doing duty," v : aiid. , one and all entered into the wo'j^ with: much zeal and interest: The corps, will again carry but a similar programme in the near "future. Lieut.-Oolpnel , Harkness, Captain \Stiles' and .Captain Ching, Adjt. Ist Regiment Mounted Rifles, were present during the whole time. Before marching into town, Colonel Harkness complimented the, company on the work itf had accomplished. -...-.", :. • ■ .- Similarly at Motueka, .the; Motueka Mounted Rifles carried but outpost work on the hills, near Whakarewa,. when 33 men paraded under Lieut. Batchelor. Staff . Sergeant-Major Redmond has worked most assiduously in arranging all night schemes of work for the mounted' branch of the district, arid with Serge&at-Maior Colclough, the infantry iilsrtuctor, is to be congratulated on the results so far obtained. They have evidently solved one way of producing interest in a class of work thajb', nowadays seems too often neglectpd in the training of the citizen, soldier. _ Lieut.-Colonel .Joyces-was, present at , Motueka, and expressed himself pleased with the work. „' l: . ,