Volunteer Inspection.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7431, 28 November 1892, Page 1

Volunteer Inspection.

0 ♦ On Saturday afternoon the various rifle 1 corps were inspected, as a battalion, by 8 Colonel Fox. The weather wa3 not very 1 favourable, as the rain ceased only a few 1 minutes before the time appointed for the inspection. The companies paraded on ' the drilhhed ground at 3 p.m., and were 3 formed up aa a battalion, Lieutenant- * Colonel Gordon being in command, Major > Eichards acting as senior major, Major 1 Francis as junior major, and Lieutenant " Bay as adjutant. The strength of the » companies was as follows: — City Guards, r Captain Maasey, 27 ; College Rifles, Lieu- ■ tenant Day, 40 ; Christchurch Eiflflß, Cap--1 tain Andrews, 19 j A Company, Captain Whiteside, 33 ; Scottish Rifles, Captain 1 Boss, 23; Richmond Eifles, Captain Bowron, 17; Eaiapoi Riflea, Captain Wilson, 43; total, 202. The Garrison Band mustered eighteen members, under Bandmaster Searell, making a total of 223, including field officers, on parade. The muster, though very small compared with those which used to be seen five or six years ago, was creditable, considering the fact that the Saturday half-holiday has apparently collapsed, and that, accordingly, Volunteers employed in shops could not attend the parade. The appearance of the battalion waß fairly good. The men, aa a rule, bore themselves well, and ware passably steady in their ranks. The Kaiapoi company, in Kharkee uniforms — the parade was ia drill order— attracted attention as being the strongest in numbers, and as being composed of a very good class of men. Colonel Fox, who was attended by Major Slater, inspected the battalion on the drillshed ground, whence it was marched to Hagley Park, where it marched past with very commendable steadiness. Some battalion movements were then gone through in a manner, which muat be deemed satisfactory, conbidering that, owing to the early period of the season, tho companies have, as yet, had very little practice in such work since last year. The battalion wsb then exercised in outpost duty, pickets being thrown out and sentries posted, so as to cover the city from an advance from the direction of Eiccarton. Colonel Fox carefully inspected the various posts, and questioned the men in order to ascertain their knowledge of their dutieß. On the battalion being again formed up, he briefly addressed it, saying that he had been very well pleased with what he had seen, though he regretted the amall attendance, which, however, he believed was not the fault of the men, as owing to the present confusion as to the half-holiday, many of them could not get away from their work. The march past had been good, and the College and Kaiapoi Eifles had done especially well in it. The other drill had also been very well done considering that they had had very little practice at it. The outpost duty had been very satisfactorily done, considering that they had had no practice. The intelligence Bhown by the men in this work had been very commendable, and a little practice and reading would make them well up in it. j