THE VOLUNTEERS.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 92, 26 April 1870, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEERS.

MEETING OF OFFICERS,

A meeting of the officers of the Auckland Eifle Volunteers was held at five o'clock yesterday evening, at the Drill Shed. Present: — Colonel Lyons (in the chair)'; Captains Derrom, Howell, and Batger ; Lieutenants Matthews, Mclntyre, and Ihompson.; Ensigns Battley, Connell, and Hassan. There were a number of non-commissioned officers in atten; dance, as representatives from the various companies. Colonel Lyons explained the object of the meeting, and stated that he had done all he could to bring the Corps into a state of efficiency, but the men had not given bim a chance, as they would not attend parade. In fact, the musters were getting so small, that he was becoming quite .'ashamed of them, and he did hope that something would be done—either in the shape of amalgamation, disbandment, or otherwise —for it was utterly impossible that, things could continue much longer in their' present ' condition. The whole of the men should be; sworn in, for battalion, aud' posted into companies afterwards. That there was something wrong at the bottom of the movement was evident, and the sooner a change-.-was*'* made, the better; - The Colonel then' called upon the officers to give expression to any opinion they might have upon the. subject. A long and desultory discussion then took place,' and a good deal of feeling was expressed in certain quarters, which it would have been quite as well to have kept in the background. Several suggestions were made —one that the whole force* should be at once disbanded, but nothing definite was done, and ultimately it was resolved to call a general meeting of the entire force for Thursday evening; when possibly some determination may be arrived at. .