Volunteer News.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 54, 6 August 1891, Page 10

Volunteer News.

[Contributions to this column are invited. All communications should be addressed to “ Torpedo,” and reach this office no 4 later than Tuesday in each week. Notes from country corps will be specially acceptable.] GOVERNMENT INSPECTION PARADES. ALL PARADES AT 8 P.M. August 6—“ A ” Battery Artillery „ 7 —Auckland Naval Artillery 10 —Ponsonbv Naval Artillery „ 18—Victoria Rifles, City Guards, Newton Rifles, Garrison Band 19 —Engineers, Royal Irish Rifles RANGE TIME-TABLE. August 8—“ A”, and “O ” Batteries, Engineers (old Dayy) „ 15—Victoria Rifles, City Guards, Newton Rifles, Royal Irish (old Davy) ~ 22— Auckland Navals (old Davy), Ponsonby Natals Captain Kohn of the City Guards has fully determined to enforce the payment of the fines lately inflicted on some of the members of his corps. The exiled Grenadier Guards, which comprised the second batallion of the Regiment, have returned to England from the Bermudas. I am indebted to Lieut. J. Grant on the staff for his courtesy in bringing me a list of the Government inspection parades for August; also to Lieut. Dormer of the City Guards for the range time-table for the same period. Amongst others, the following well-known volunteers or ex-volunteers have been recommended for grants of land under the Naval and Military Settlers’ and Volunteers’ Land Act, 1889: —W. H. Barriball, A. Henderson, M. Hickey, R. Hamilton, J. Haslett, J. Lepine, F. Morrow, J. Plumley, H.Pycroft, T.Thwaites.

The following are the names of the “A ” Battery team to fire against the Victoria Rifles on Saturday; the Victorias have not yet made a final selection Sergt -Major A. Doughty, Quar.-Master-Sergt. Lipscombe, Sergeants H. Doughty, Parslow, Corp. Webster, Gunners Brown, E. Buchanan, J. G. Buchanan, Greenshields, Hazard, Head, Henderson, Moore, Taylor and Drum-Major Kearsley. With such a strong combination the Battery ought to win by a very substantial majority, notwithstanding the fact that the Vics, have several tiptoppers amongst them. The ” O ” Battery are still in my range timetable, as they are subscribers to the range funds, and have not yet been “ Gazetted out” by the authorities.

There was a splendid muster of the Auckland Naval Artillery on Friday evening last at their weekly parade, under Lieut. Commander Parker, when a variety of useful torpedo drill was gone through. The Ponsonby Naval Artillery, to the niimber of 24, are actively preparing for their examination in 64-pounder gun drill. Hitherto they have had no opportunity to pass, as whefi Lieut. Douglas was in command they mustered on two occasions to meet him, but he failed to put in an appearance. This time they have determined to go through, and there is little doubt but that the Ponsonbys will acquit themselves creditably. Hnnter’s Artillery Band announce that they intend to give a concert at an early date, the particulars of which will be published in a future issue of this paper.

Colonel Stapp, who has just retired from the command of the force in the Wanganui District, has been presented with a splendid illuminated address by the whole of the officers of the District. In his acknowledgements Colonel Stapp said it was a sad moment for him, as he had to sheath his sword for ever through age and infirmity; he had been engaged in New Zealand wars so far back as 1845, and that he had been in the Colonial service 33 years, and concluded with a wish for the future success of the Volunteer force, in which he said he should always continue to take a deep interest. Sergt. M. Fairs, late of the “0” Battery, has thrown in his lot with the Victoria Company. The Victorias had a muster of over forty on last night’s parade, and it is said that they are not now recruiting —they are only now prepared to accept men who have been drilled. Torpedo.