THE VOLUNTEERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1850, 25 May 1888, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEERS

A field day of the South Canterbury Battalion was held at Aahburton yesterday. The following ooipa were on parade : — Temoka Rifles (Lleuten•nt Findlay), 31 ; Geraldlne Rifloa (Captain Pearpoint), 22 ; ABhbarton Guards (Captain Sparrow), 44 ; Walraate Rifles (Captain Stadbolme), 21 ; Timara Rifles (Captain White), 42 ; Ashburton Rifles (Captain Dolman), 41 ; Temuka Cadets (Captain Bryare), 26 ; Timara Gtrrtion Band (Bandmaster Partridge), 21- Colonel Bailey was io command, and there were a ? Bo present Major Douglas, Major Yoong, M»jor Moore, Captain and Adjutant Fooks. SergeantMsjor Jones and Serjeant- Mo jor Hayes. The Ashbutton Riflas, under Captain Dolman, aiid the Ashbarton Guards under Captain Sparrow, paraded at 9.45 a.m., and after being put through some Company drill marched to the railway station to meet the Southern contingents, who came ap by the 10.45 train. On landing the various companies wore dressed up to points on the vacant land on the west tide of the railway line, where arms were piled, and the men dismissed. The officers of the Southern companies, at the invitation of the officers of the Athburton Rifles and Guards, had luncheon together at Henry's Commercial Hotel. The companies paraded again at nooo. The battalion was formed np m line, and a feu de joie was fired, the Garrison band playing the National Anthem during the intervals between the bg. The battalion, headed by the band waß then marched to that portion of the Domain fronting the North Belt, the ground having been kindly lent for the occasion by the lessee, Mr Jas Tasker. The Temuka Cadets were eeDt out to take up a strong position m a plantation round the Domain. Colonel Bailey then retired with the several companies, and formed them op under over to the west of the railway line, where they were extended for the attaok. The junior Major (Major Mocre) was plaoed In front of tbe fighting line, and Major Douglas was left m command of the reserve. In carrying out the movement a during the attack several barbed wire fences had to be negotiated, *B well as tome bretty stiff doubling across a newly-ploughed field, the final charge . being made over a water-race aud up from a gully that had afforded good cover. After the final charge, where the enemy were dislodged, tbe men were gluen a little time to breathe, and were then exercised m some echelon double company aud battalion movements till about 3.30 p.m., when they were marched back to the town and again formed up on the Railway Reserve. Colonel Bailey addreseed the men, Stating that he was fairly well pleased with the work that had been dene. There was a little rawness shown m come things, bat this was only to be expected, aa the battalion had bo few opportunities of working together. He expressed his pleasure at the good muster, and he hoped every man would go home feeling that they had learned something, tie was pleaeed to notice that the whole of the battalion was equipped alike, and he believed tbe South Canterbury battalion was the only one m the colony lhat was uniformly equipped. He said that it had recently been bis painful duty to hold an inquiry into a case of insubordination, the outcome of wbich had been tbe dismissing from the service of a certain volunteer. Colonel Bailey very much regretted the circumstance, and felt it bis duty to re- 1 mind volunteers that insubordination or intemperate language of any kind would hoc be tolerated &s long as he had charge of the district. If a volunteer felt disoatiefied he could eend m his resignation, and his case wou'd be duly enquired into, and, if the circumstances warranted it, the aggrieved party would be granted his discharge ; but, pending the inquiry, he would not be allowed, under nny eircumetancegj'to indulge m intemperate lap* gpage ' He hoped, as long aa he had command of the battalion, be would not have another case come under his notice The Southern men returned home by the 4.45 train, haviog accorded a hearty Tote of thanks to the Ashburton officers for the hospitali y that had been extended to the visitors.