INSPECTION OF VOLUNTEERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3151, 3 September 1892, Page 2

INSPECTION OF VOLUNTEERS.

Col. Fox, t.he new Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, held an inspection of the Te Awamutu Mounted Rifles and the Hamiton Light Infantry Volunteers, on Sydney Square, an Thursday la«t. There was a fine muster of both companies, the parad 3 states being Mounted Infantry 28, Light Infantry 54. the full strength being 61. A halt holiday was observed during the forenoon by common consent, and in spite of the threatening state of the weather there was a good attendance of the public. The companies were inspected separately, the Hamilton Lif,ht lufantry, under Capt. Reid and Lieuts. Kirk and Dyer, being taken first. Punctually at eleven o'clock, Col. Fox, accompanied #by Col. Goring and Lieut. Grant, DistrictAdjutant, rode on to the parade and was received with the general salute. He then proceeded to inspect the mens' arms and accoutrements after which the ranks were closed and the parade taken over by Capt. Reid. The company was then put through a number of movements including forming from column into line and from line into column, advancing and retiring in line and fours, and skirmishing. Lieuts. Kirk and Dyer were each called to the front and directed to exercise the men in company movements and the manual and firing exercises ; Colour Sergeant Connolly also put the men through a number of movements. At the conclusion of the inspection, Col. Fox shortly addressed the company. He said there was room for considerable improvement in the officers and non-commissioned officers, and he recommended that they should pay greater attention to the details of their duties. He expressed himself very pleased with the appearance of the men. The manual and firing exercises were remarkably good and so was the marching. The skirmishing was very fair and the men showed by their general bearing that they had been carefully instructed, and on the whole he (001. Fox) was satisfied. The band, under Bandmaster Meachem, was in attendance and on marching t > and returning from parade, played a number of selections in a highly creditable manner.

The Te Awatnutu Mounted Rifles came on parade at noon, under Oapt. Bruce and Lieut. Rigg, and were exercised in a number of evolutions for upwards of an hour, such as advancing and retiring in sections and in line, and in mounting and dismounting. Col. Fox said he was glad to see so man) of th» men on parade, considering the distance some of them had to como and he considered the colony ought to be proud of Volunteers such as these who not only gave up their own time, but also provided their own horses and equipments. The parade was very creditable, moat of the horses were fair, and some very good indeed. The mounting and dismounting was not what it should be, and lie recommended that they should give more attention to this in future. Speaking of the Kharkee uniform, he said he did not care for the appearanco of the slouch bats, and suggested, that they jh >uld get the proper Kharkee helmets, which would afford them splendid protection from sun and rain, and would not get out of shape like the soft hats.

After the parade a meeting of the members of the Te Asvamutu Mounted Rifles was held for the purpose of electing a Lieutenant in place of Mr Somerset resigned. Captain Bruce presided. Corporal Picken, of Raglan, waa unanimously elected to the position. The following other appointments were made : —Sereeant VVeatherall was elected Sergeant Major vice \V. Bond ; Corporal Goodwin was promoted to Sergeant; and Privates Wallis and Ferguson were made corporals. The total strength of the corpß now reaches 58. and had the weather been more favourable the muster would have been considerably