MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 277, 14 March 1879, Page 2

MILITARY DISCIPLINE.

{Weekly Dispatch.) ''■ : A strange episode occurred at Nottingham recently during tlie Royal visit, whk'h tends to show on what a slender reed the military discipline of our troops rest. The 84th Regiment were sent from the Sheffield Barracks to act as a guard of honor. They were marshalled in Chapel-bar, taking up positions three paces apart on each side of the street. There was a tedious delay when waiting for the return of royalty from the castle. Everyone, was weary with waiting about an hour beyond the expected time, and the soldiers, though "standing at ease," seemed specially plagued with heat and ennui. Suddenly an inspired mischief-maker on the roof of one of the crowded houses dropped a penny into the cleared roadway, and the mon«y was instantly picked up by one of the gallant 84th. Before a minute had elapsed several shillings-worth of coppers must have been thrown into the street from roofs and windows, and a most undignified scramble ensued amongst the soldiers, who unhesitatingly broke their ranks, amid the laughter and applause of the people. The two officers in charge at Chapel-bar were naturally indignant, but were quite powerless, for the copper shower continued, and the red-coated gleaners reaped the fruits almost under the officers' legs. Atlastloud wordsof threatened "courtmartial " were heard, and some half dozen men were ordered to fall out'and despatched on sentry duty up and down the street. But their position only amused the spectators all the more, and as the sentries marched the coppers fell thick in front and rear. Even then the copper shower proved too seductive for their martial spirits, and many coins were hastily picked up as they walked, while others were thrust into their hands by children, who ran forward and picked them up for the Sentries amid the cheere of the crowd. Seeing the failure of this device the officers ordered" the sentries back into line, and called out a corporal to take down the names of every man who left the ranks. Bui now the roars of laughter were redoubled, for the corporal, standing well out in the centre of the street, became himself the target of the metallic rain, and it was better than any farce, on the the boards to see how adroitly the corporal darted out a hand to catch and pocket the coppers whenever the officers' eyes were off him. It was all in vain ; officers and non-commissioned officers were powerless to oheek the greed of coppers, J3» game continued fitfully for nearly an hour, and on one of the officers showing bis indignation actively, by turning one of the soldier's pockets inside out, the crowd hooted, and began to pelt him with orange-peel, and other more unpleasant though soft substances. Matters were looking nasty, and more than a lark was beginning to be apprehended by some of the spectators, when fortunately their Royal Highnesses came in sight at the top of the street, when instantly the 84th were at attention, and the crowd fouud another occupation in gazing and cheering. If such ap incident as this had occurred among the troops at the opening of the French Exhibition, what a supply of moral *' copy " would have been furnished by the specials, but as it happened only in England this instructive incident was passed over in silence, so far as we know, by all the metropolitan Press.