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Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 406, 29 April 1871, Page 2

The Band of the Auckland Eifle Volunteer^ has been disbanded, and very properly so. JNJot the slightest public sympathy is due to the members, and a breach of discipline, and an impertinence such as that of which they were yesterday guilty deserve something more than disgrace. They had been directed to play in the usual manner in saluting their superior' officer, and they stood like big school-boys in a sulk. There is no doubt that the Auckland Volunteer JRifle Band has a grievance, but petty mutiny on parade is not a soldierly way to correct a grievance. A room has not been provided for the practice of the band. Major Oordonhad applied to Major Tisdall for the use of one of the empty rooms in the Albert Barracks, and "the latter officer, for some reason or another declined. The ostensible reason was that boys would gain admittance to the grounds at night; though with a sentry at the gate it would be difficult to see the force of Major Tisdall's objection. A roomjiad been offered at Eort Britomart, but with three Volunteer bands all occupying adjacent rooms for practice, the result would,be something of the nature of a Dutch concert, and as others would be under the necessity of passing through the room offered to the Eifle band, of course there was no security for the instruments against mischievous tricks. All :.this constituted a grievance, and would have rectified itself with a little patience; but as the men have taken into their

heads to express their sentiment' in such a very unsoldierly way, the officers have very properly met theiianifestation of insubordination promptly, and taken the instruments. At the same time, it should W known that all the members of- the band are not equally blameabl'- One apologised, and most of t>e others have expressed their regret. But they are deserving of censure ibrallowing themselves to be lei by bad advisers. We understand that iwo or three mis-chief-makers in the band have been the cause of this disagreeable occurrence ; ard it would be well if the ringleaders could be singled out, and, without unduly blaming tbe others, that these should be_druinmed out of the regiment, their brother bandsmen playing the ' Rogue's March" as an accompaniment. If the Volunteer movement £ ever to become efficient, there shbrid be no spmpathy with any form of insubordination,