OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5884, 21 April 1886, Page 2

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

On Saturday last the Bulls Mounted Rifles brought their three days' drill to a oloao. The attendance had not been at all Bathfaotory, 37 out of 58 on Saturday being the best muster, Colonel Stapp gave the members pretty plainly to understand that if they wanted to be recommended for capitation a closer attendance to drill woald be absolutely necessary. Captain Stevens was not at all pleased with the results, and no wonder. If Wanganui can maintain one of the best and most efficient troops in the colony, Riingltikei, with its eveu greater faoilitiea in the way of securing young men of the right Btamp, should not be behindhand. Here the cavalry is one of the most popular of our companies, its ranks are always full, and candidates are always waiting for admission. Of course it may \be argued that the Mounted Rifles have not an incentive in the way of capitation, but when the troop was formed the members knew that there would bo none. It would look now, if greater interest is not evinced in it,' as though the troop had been formed merely to allow certain individuals to escape the Militia roll, If there are many such in its ranks the sooner they are struck off the better for the troop. If some interest Is Bhown by the membera in the matter of acquiring proficiency steps might possibly be taken by the Defence Minister to assist them, but unless they take the initiative and help themselves, no one else is likely to do anything. It is understood that the title of the Ran* gitikei Mounted Rifles will shortly be changed to Cavalry ; the members desiring, as they are equipped in the same fashion as cavalry that this alteration shonld be made, It is the intention of Captain Stevens to present a cup for competition, in which points for sword exeroise and shooting will count ; this will have to be* won twice running, or three times at intervals, before ft becomes the property of any one individual. Whjls in Dunedin Colonel Sargood. was ehown over the defence works by Major Goring, who must (oays the Star) have been » trifle disconcerted at hearing Colonel Sargood express a very emphatic opinion that the 64-pounders ought to be dismantled, as no man could possibly serve them. Colonel Sargood is Apparently disposed to agree with Rear-Admiral Scott, that the guns mounted at the Headn are obsolete* To that we may add Colonel Sargood's experience has been gained as a volunteer officer. After the Battalion Parade last night the City Bifles had read out to them a letter from the Under-Seoretary for Defence, to the effect that the department approved of dismissal of Private Oamea McDonnell for repeated absences without leave. Captain Purnell informed the men that when it waa so easy to obtain leave, he expected them to secure it if they could not attend parades, Sergeant J. Johnston, of the City Rifles, has been promoted to the rank of ColourSergeant. At a meeting of the W.R.V. Council on Monday it was deolded to insure tbo lives of all the members of the oorp who attended the encampment. This will be done at Is per head, aeouring £2 per week for 13 weeks in case of acoident, or £100 in case of death 1 . A successful Battalion Parade was held last night. The men fell in at the Drill Hall, where they were divided into companies before being marched to the ground, Colonel Stapp put the battalion through oae or two of the brigade moments they will have at Easter, and then handed over the command to Major Watt, who drilled them for some time ia Cook's Gardens. The Brigade states were -.—Garrison Bond 17, Navals 43, Wanganui Rifles 51, and City Rifles 36. Captain Commandant Abbot and Capt.and Adjutant Hutchison were present at the parades A word to the band re the appearance of their instruments. It was notioeable last night that they were anything but bright, a condition of things we hope to see remedied to-morrow night. • At <y social re-union of the Navals last night, Captain Commandant Abbot asked the members who had been in either of the two teams formed some time back for bayonet exeroise, to attend at the Hall to-night for .drill. It is his intention to have a squad from this company ready to meet any other squad, on the. ground in sword bayonet exercise. Several of the visitors are eaid to have very good teams; The Alexandra Cavalry are progressing quietly with their week's drill, there being some 55 men on the ground. On Monday they could not get through much work, bat yesterday they were more successful. This morning they were to have foot drill, and in the afternoon mounted exercise. " Tea in pannikins" Is to be the order of the day with visitors this afternoon, several lady friends having consented to patronise the " tented field. I? The City Rifles decided a fortnight ago to insure the corps against accidents, the funds of the company bearing the expense. RASTER ENCAMPMENT. As the Encampment will now be on us in a few days— in faot^wlll commence, bo far as the local men are concerned, to-morrow night— a few particulars as to the duties, &0., may be appropriate, The following programme has been arranged— Troop, battery, and company parades each morning at 7 ; battalion parades, 10 a<m. and 2 p.m. on Friday ; cavalry and artillery will parade at the same hours, and go through such drill as the officers in command consider most desirable. On Saturday there will be brigade drill for all the troops in camp at 10 a.m and 2 p.m. Divine service will he held on Sunday (in the camp), at 10 aim., the senior chaplain in the district (Rev. T. L, Tudor) having been aßkcd to officiate, or provide for the service. On Monday the whole force In camp will parade at 8.30 and also at 1, and will be served with blank ammunition. Dinner is to take place place at noon on Monday, but at one on the other days. The following staff officers have been appointed under Lieutenant-Colonel' Stapp :—: — Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton (N.Z.M.), Umpire-in-Chief; Major Noake (N.Z.M.), to command the right of Cavalry ; Major Webb (N.Z.M*), Nelson, Brigade • Major ; Lieutenant Jones, Deputy Assistant Quarter-master-General ; A.D.C., Trooper Lomax has been asked to act ; Surgeon-Major Tripe, principal medical officer 5 Sergeant Drill Instructor Henry, Brigade Sergeant-Major ; Private Brookman, Brigade Clerk. Major Watt will command the West Coast battalion, to whom all complaints must be made ; Majors Pitt and Butts will have the Nelson and Wellington battalions ; and, in the event of a fourth battalion being formed, Major Baillie of Pioton will receive the command. In the West Coaßt battalion the following officers will act in the positions assigned them : — Acting Major, Captain Skerman, Marton Royals ; Lieutenant Pollard, Aoting Quartermaster ; Colour-Sergeant Aamodt, Acting Sergeant-Major ; and Private Manning, Aoting Quartermaster Sergeant. The three local corps and band will parade on Thursday 22nd, at 8 p.m., and proceed to Balgownie. ' A telegram has been received by Colonel Stapp from Major Garner to the effect that 00 men were coming from Napier, and 26 from Woodville, The former will include the Garrison Band and 10 officers. There is some probability of a small attendance from Feilding, as the racea there will cause several to stay at home, As to the landing, we are assured that all the " foreigners " will be brought up to the town on account of the inoresned facilities at the town wharf. Altogether some 1200 men may be looked for, and now that the tents are all to hand, there is seen to be ample accommodation for all. Captain Stevens assures ub that he expects to have at least 40 of the Rangitikei Mounted Rifles at the Encampment, the promises of attendance being numerous. A programme for Easter Monday'a review has been drawn up, in which the most important features are as follows: — Brigade in line ; general salute ; quarter column on right of battalions 1 mass on saluting base for marching past in column of double companies ; form column on the march (No. 1 Battalion) ; quarter column on leading company ; brigade close to mass ; maroh paßt "in mass ;" line of quarter column and march past again ; change front half right on right battalion ; ditto half left on centre battalion ; advance and retire ; mass on centre battalion ; line of quarter column to the left ; open to deploying distanpo from gentre battalion ; advance in echelon of battalionß from centre; battalion squares; line on centre battalion ; deploy to left of battalions ;

advanoe and retire ; advance in echelon of companies from right of battalions ; form company squares ; line on right companies ; quarter column on right companies ; line of quarter oolumn on centre battalion ; deploy on right companies ; and advanoe in review order. A visit to the Encampment thia morning found everything proceeding most satisfactorily. The tents nave been divided into 4 blocks of 30 eaob, the Wellington, Wanganui, and Nelson Battalions having the first three squares, and the Artillery and Cavalry companies and troops the fourth, All are now up, and the 10x12 tents are being erected along the inside for the officers. The HobpitaUnd Brigade-Ma j or '• tents are up, and by this evening the Brigade guard tent and commanding officer's will be placed in po«ition, Carpenters are busy erecting the meaa rooms for- officers and tergeants, both of whioh are well suited for the requirements. At present it ia not necessary to give a full description of the ground, that can be done at a later period, suffice it for the present to jsay that the arrangements are in every respect very satisfactory. _ j The following has beenistued by Col. Stapp: —Officers commanding garrisons, camps, or stations, under the rank of a general officer, will be received by the troops under their command with the complimentary honour*, not however extending to a salute of guns due to the rank one degree higher than chat whioh they actually hold. Relations betwjbbn Offiokbh, Nok-Com-missioned Offiobbs, &0., in Uhifobm.— - By the organisation peculiar to a Volunteer Force it may frequently happen that officers have relatives and personal friends serving in the ranks as non-commissioned officers and privates, &o. Whatever may be the relations existing between officers and non-com-missioned officers, &c, in private life, it ehould nevertheless be distinctly understood and appreciated by all concerned that when in uniform (especially in the streets and publio places) the relative military positions of the parties are, in the interest 01 diioipline and example, to be striotly maintained, and the customary observances of the service from subordinate towards superior in all resneots strictly carried out. Appjcabino Impropebi,? Dressed in Poblio,— • Officers of ail grades cannot too forcibly point out to those under their command the great impropriety of appearing in the streets' or other public places partially dressed in uniform and partially in plain clothes. All ranks are striotly prohibited from appearing in public otherwise than completely dressed in uniform or entirely in plain clothes. The officer commanding the district holds officers commanding corps responsible that this is explained to and forcibly impressed on all under their command. This most unmilitary habit is calculated in the extreme to bring discredit on and to lower the respectability of the Volunteer (Force) service. Mounted officers are likewise forbidden, when riding in plain clothes, under any oiroumstancea whatever, to use any portion or article of their regimental horse furniture. Military great coats are never to be worn in plain clothes. Old uniform clothing may be kept and used at rifle ranges ; it is, however, on no account whatever to be worn off the ranges. Smoking in Unuobm. — Nothing haa a more unmilitary appearance, or shows a greater want of attention to the first rules of military service, than for officers, non-com-mitsioned officers, or men to smoke when in uniform in the streets or other public- places.