PRACTICAL VOLUNTEERING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7068, 9 April 1901, Page 2

PRACTICAL VOLUNTEERING.

When the Government decided to abandon for the time being the military camps Usually held at Easter, -the various volunteer districts were left to 'their own devices. Some accepted .the fiat of 'the milit.cy authorities, but a few determined that th-.}- should not be deprived of the opportunity which the Easter holidays afford of gaining some practical experience in field exercises, and set about devising means for themselves to supply the want created by the Government. Among these enterprising districts North Canterbury took a prominent place. The infantry section of the local volunteer forces, it is true, contented themselves with • doing very little more than grumble ab the decision of the authorities which robbed them of their annual outing, but the mounted companies and artillery arranged an encampment on their own account. Details of this encampment have been published, and there is no need to discuss them here. Itis enough to note that the experiment of aflying column operating on the Port Hillwas a complete success. The idea was happily conceived, and in many respects it was curried out- in a manner which -reflected the greatest credit on • those officers on whom the work of conducting the operations devolved. The rank and file, too, are deserving of the highest -praise. They performed their duties wit- enthusiasm, and they bore the mild discomforts inseparable frcm even such a brief campaign with the greatest possible cheerfulness and good temper. It is not within the province of laymen to criticise the work of a military column in the field, but we may be allowed to say that there is a general consensus of opinion among the expert critics that most of it was done creditably. Perhaps the sphere of the operations was a little too confined, but this is a defect which can hardly be said to have detracted from the value of the lessons taught by the manoeuvres. In any case, it is a defect which can easily be remedied when the experiment is repealed. We hope that occasion will be on the very first oportunity.