Volunteer Gossip.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 623, 6 December 1890, Page 11

Volunteer Gossip.

By Eipi bman,

— It has now been decided tltat neither the. Auckland nor Ponaonby Navals will go into camp for gnn drill. v —Captain Geddes makes the A Battery's annual firing take the form of a picnic, and he always sees that good things are provided. — Major Goring, the new officer to take command of the Permanent Force stationed in Auckland, has not yet arrived, but is expected shortly. — Lieutenant Dormer, of the City Guards, has a squad in hand for the bayonet competition at the forthcoming Military Sporte. A team is a 1 so drilling' up for the dumb drill exhibition. — Lieutenant J. Haultain did not accompany the A. Battery on its journey to Narrow Neck for shot and shell practice. He seemed to prefer the races. Very bad example. — In order to complete their volley and independent firing the Newton Rifles have gone into camp at Mt. .Eden. The idea is a novel one so far as infantry are concerned. — Now that electioneering meetings are so prevalent, I am surprised to notice that a number oi volunteers attend in uniform. At JDr. Wallis's meeting a number were present. They must surely know this is directly against the regulations. — At the last inspection parade of the Infantry, great surprise wag caused by the splendid muster of the City Guards, and various reasons were attributed. Is it the payment system Captain Kohn has adopted? — Captain Morrison, of the Permanent Force, has gone South at last, and in the meantime Major Douglas is looking after the Forts at North -.hore. During his stay in Auckland, the departing officer haß been anything but popular, either with his men or the general public, and it is to be hoped that his successor will not be so strait-laced. — * Volunteer;' I am not aware whether there are any vacancies in the Permanent Force at the present time, but if there should be, you ought to get in without much trouble. The best way is to apply to Colonel Shepherd, through your own \ captain, and the application would then go onto Wellington. If successful you wouid be required to join the dep6t at Wellington. —Last Saturday afternoon the A Battery Artillery proceeded to the Narrow Necfc at North Shore for shot and shell practice. There was an excellent muster, but although the shooting was highly creditable, it did not come up to last year's performance. However, several bull's eyes were made, and the men are the makings of good marksmen. Whilst on this question I cannot help calling attention to the absurd idea that individual gunners are expected to become marksmen with one shot per annum. Of course the shells I cost money, but it's no use spoiling the ship for a penn'orth of tar. — The U Battery have been making another prolonged stay under canvas outside Fort ' Useless,' and it remains to be seen whether they have profited any by their lengthened sojourn. The Battery went through a course of shot and shell practice la3t Saturday, but very little has been heard of the result. They also held a very toney concert, which, very singularly, was blazoned abroad in the dailies. Why don't they let us know something about their shooting ? — The Permanent Force stationed at North Shore seem to be a hard-worked body of men for they could not spare time to ereot a target for the A Battery's shell practice. It seems all their efforts were exhausted in mooring a target for the O Battery. The A Battery men could not see the force of postponing their firing as requested, but set to work and moored their own buoy. The funny ptirt of the thing is, that when the firing did take place, there were present as spectators, two non-commissioned officers, and at least half-a-dozen gunners, besides a couple of Torpedo men. What they do all day is a mystery, and now that all stranger.-; are prohibited from entering the forts, they can kill time as they deem fit.

_ — A mai-veilou-s performance on a bicycle haa bcs«n accomplished on the great .North fioad, B:ij?land, by Mr A, Holbein, who rode 100 miles in shr 54inin 2seo. It is quite probable that before the season is over Holbein will ride 350 mites in 24 hours. — ' Tell you what it is,' said a weilknown American sporD a few weeks back to a colonial, ' those infernal countrymen of yours seem to be having 1 things all their own way just now. 'Pears tome that if wo don't get in and do something pretty soon, the blarsted Kangaroo will have all the Eagle's tail feathers pulled out.' j Thia was in reference to Frank Siavin's brilliant victory over big Joe McAuliffe. He now says he can knock Peter Jaokaon out 'in one bloir,' but thia I think is only a piece of tall talk whilst fluebed with victory.