THE VOLUNTEERS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11508, 14 February 1903, Page 8

THE VOLUNTEERS.

INFANTRY BATTALION PARADE. FAREWELL TO COLONEL WEBB. The parade of the North Canterbury Infantry Battalion laet night to take leave of Lieut.-iOol. Webb, officer commanding this district, who ha» been appointed to tihe command of the Wellington district, -was •well attended. All the companies, including the Garrison Band, were represented, as well as the E Battery. All the Battalion staff paraded. On Col. Webb reaching tho parade ground, accompanied Dy Captain , Hobday, district adjutant, a general salute was given. The different companies "were then inspected. 001. Webb, at the conclusion of the inspection, addressed the parade, and said he appreciated! very much the compliment they had paid him in turning out to take farewell of him. J&e iiad only been a few montihe in the district, but during that time everything had' gone most happily. He expressed his thanke to the etaff and to Colonel Day and. the officers and 1 etaff of the battalion for all they had! done in assisting him. He had had no trouble whatever. The battalion was in a very good state of efficiency, and 1 he did not mind how soon General Babington inspected it. The events of the past year—the despatoh and return of contingents, and l the coronation—had followed! each other so rapidly .that he :had been unable to give ac much thne to the battalion ac he would have liked. He had, however, worked for. them all the same, and on the eve of his departure , from the district he was very glad that during his stay the battalion had not gone back. There had been improvement almost in every direction. He tad intended saying in all directions until he turned hie head towards the drill shed, where they all admitted there had' been so improvement. That would be remedied, (however, very soon. He wished to impress on the battalion the necessity for each member of it improving himself in military knowledge. Although he had said they were in an efficient state, etill this -was an age ,of progress, and it wae necessary that they must always ro on improving". With the new drill, new arms of precision, there must be improvement in the individuals. Privates had to recognise that now they nad to act very much on their own initiative, end they should aim at becoming non-commissioned officers. When they had reached that stage they should pass their examinations and improve their military knowledge," because they . were the backbone of tie service, and upon them the instruction ctf the men devolved. He- expressed 'his gratification that a Non-com-misioned Officers' Club bad been formed, and said that had he remained longer in the district the intended taking much interest in it during the winter months. They had, however, most excellent instructors who would instruct them' so iHbab they would become thoroughly efficient, and attain the esteem of their men. In the same way the officers must know more' than the noncommissioned officers. Better discipline would thus be obtained, and the force would become more efficient. ■ He dioi not wish to be understood by these remarks as running down the battalion, because it was really as pood as any in the colony, and he knew New Zealand from one end to the other. His intention was to give them some friendly advice, and to impress on them the necessity of perfecting themselves in military knowledge. Concluding, Colonel Webb thanked the battalion staff for the manner in which, they "had sup-, ported him during the few months he had been in command, and wished all health and prosperity. Colonel Day. in command of the battalion,* called for three cheers for* Colonel Webb, which, were given very heartily. ■The parade was Q*en dismissed, the band playing "Auld Lang Syne." About forty volunteer officers assembled at the Garrison Library for the purpose of making a farewell presentation to Lieutenant-Colonel Webb. LieutenantColonel Slater was in the chair. . The presentation took, the form of a purse, or sovereigns. The toaete of "The King," "Colonel Webb," and "Colonel Slater' were honomed during the evening. Lieutenant-Colonel Webb leaves by tonight's steamer for the North, to take over the command of the Wellington Militia and Volunteer district. Hβ returns towards the end of the' month to finally fix up matters here. Regarding Colonel Webb's successor to the command of the Canterbury district, no official announcement' has yet been made, but in usually well-informed circles it is said that Lieutenant-Colonel Chaytor will be appointed to the position. Colonel Chapter saw service in the recent South African" war, first as officer commanding No. 6 - Company of the Third (Rough Riders) Contingent, and then as commander of the Eighth Contingent.

A fifteen-pounder breech-loading Armstrong gun nas arrived, in. this cfty, and has been added to the equipment of the E Battery. The gun is a Mark 1., and is not of very recent manufacture, having been in Wellington for the past four or fire years.

Captain Hume inspected the Naval Cadete in camp at Heathcote on Thursday night. He complimented them on the progress they were making, but took the opportunity to impress upon them the absolute necessity for strict discipline. He also urged upon the non-commissioned officers how much depended upon them to ensure the success of a very promising corps.