THE VOLUNTEERS.

Evening Star, Issue 2838, 23 March 1872, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The First Battalion, Artillery, and Dunedin Naval Company paraded this morning, under command of Colonel Cargill, for battalion drill and inspection by Colonel Harington. The inspecting officer was received with a general salute. After riding round the rank, the line formed quarter column on the right company, and marched past, first a wheeling distance in quarter column, at the double, deployed on the rear company; advanced in direct eschelon of companies from the right, line on the right company facing to the left ; line advanced, covered by No. 1 skiimishing ; alarm of cavalry from the left; skirmishers forming square; file-firing from the right of companies, re-form line, recall skirmishers; two tired volleys from right to left; line fired volley, fixed bayonets, and prepared to charge, charge. Passed by fours from right of companies to the rear; quarter column on the leading company ; line to the left; square on the two centre companies; re-form uue; advance in double cMumu of companies from the centre; hue on the right half battalion; retired in lino. Colonel Harington now took command, and manoeuvred the battalion.

ij. load Harington then addressed the parade, thanking them for their attendance. He observed a great improvement in the battalion drill since his inspection last year. He wished to impress on the corps the necessity of attending company drill more regularly and punctually, as that drill was the basis of all other drills. Ho particularly urged the officers and noncommissioned officers to attend skeleton drill under the adjutant, so that when they took command of their companies they would have confidence in themselues. He was not finding fault with what he had seen on that parade, but was anxious for further improvements. The hour being late, the parade having lasted from 5.45 a.m. till 11.40 a. in , the men were dismissed without distributing the prizes. The following is the strength of the corps :—Staff—1 Lieut.-Col., I major, 1 surgeon, 1 adjutant, 2 sergeants, 22 band; total, 28. Artillery--1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub-lieutenant, 2 sergeants, 25 men ; total, 30. Naval Brigade—l captain, 1 surgeon, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 33 men ; total, 40. City Guards—--1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub-lieuleuaut ; 3 sergeants, 1 bugler, 26 men ; total, 33. Scottish—! captain, 1 lieutenant, I sub-lieute-nant, 3 sergeants, 1 bugler, 38 men ; total, 45. North Dunedin—l captain, 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 30 men ; total, 35. South District and Waikari—l lieutenant, 3 sergeants, 34 men ; total, 38. Cadets—l captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 sub-lieutenant, 4 sergeants, 50 tile; total 57. Total parade strength, 306.