Volunteer Gossip.

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 543, 25 May 1889, Page 20

Volunteer Gossip.

By Rifleman.

— Major Kemp is seriously ill. — The rifle companies are getting very poor musters lately. — Colonel Mahon is, I believe, at present over in Melbourne. — Lieutenant Parker, of the Auckland Navals, who was thinking of resigning, has changed his j mind. — The new boat shed for the Waitemata Navals is now completed, and the cutter is in a forward state. — Tom Morrow, an erstwhile member of the A Battery, is expected back from Fiji by next trip of the steamer. — Wanganui men are taking time by the forelock, and are already making arrangements for the next meeting of the N.Z.R.A. at Dunedin. —A general parade of the whole of the volunteer forces in Auckland has been called for Friday next to fire a salute in honour of the ' Queen's Birthday. — A gentleman passing through Remuera, a few days ago, noticed a volunteer raking hay, in his full dress Artillery trousers. No wonder the capitation will not cover expenses. — The Defence Officer is very dilatory in furnishing the Infantry Drill Book to volunteer corps in the colony. It was in the handa of some sent from Home in February last. — Mr Porter, of the Mercer Hotel, from whom the volunteers are alleged to have stolen goods, stated in court that it had never been his wish to prosecute, but the police pressed the case on. — An old volunteer is greatly put about because a Sergeant-Ma jor is allowed to inspect; . certain volunteer corps. If this is so, then the commanding officers who permit it are a lot of chumps. — Several old volunteers have taken exception ' to '• Lance Corporal's " remarks which appeared in last issue, and claim that the A Battery of Artillery is the oldest volunteer corps in New Zealand. They can bring documentary evidence in support of this. —Colonel Wales, of Dunedin, . who has been trying to secure control of the next N.Z.K.A. meeting, has been checkmated, and volunteers will be glad to learn that' Captain Joe Somerville is still at the helm. • — The charges preferred against several volunteers for alleged theft of property at Mercer haye, as I anticipated, fallen through. Ido not wish to infer that nothing was stolen, but unfortunately the police arrested the wrong men. — Seaman Thornton of the Waitemata Naval Artillery, who was arrested for stealing the jar of brandy at Mercer, was acquitted, and left the Court, fully cleared of such misconduct. Six others came forward and swore that he never entered the hotel in question. — In last week's issue there appeared a letter from an " Artillery officer " in reference to a long service medal. I have just a word to say in connection with this. Without going into the subject at any length, I think the officer should, if he does not wish to be considered invidious, put the medal on one side. -T. P. Fraser, recently bugler of the South Wairoa Rifles, writes as follows : "In your last issue I noticed that Lieut. Creighton was elected . Captain of the corps, vice Captain Crawford resigned. You must have been misinformed, as no such election has taken place to my knowledge. I think it will be a difficult matter to find a captain." —The Te Awamutu Cavalry were refused their capitation for having been below the minimum at last inspection. On the representation of Major Jackson, however, the Defence Department granted a vote of £35. A Waikato paper says that the musketry returns — volley and independent firmg — which took' place in November last under the personal supervision of Captain Coleman (the Government Inspector), show that but for being two men below the minimum strength, theTe Awamutu Cavalry would have been entitled to the QovernmeoiriMdgM&^i)j,their shooting .average being tb^£H|^^^^Hß|JßgjUn. the colony (s rm ?d;^d|^^^^H[^HHßHHßt -<• . ! \ ' ■