OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3279, 23 August 1873, Page 2

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

In accordance with our promise, we submit Ihe following regulations as being likely to meet the requirements of tLie Colony in re-organising the Volunteer force. They are compiled from the New Auxiliary Force regulations adopted in England, and the Victorian and Canadian regulations, and seem to be peculiarly adapted for the Middle island and centres of population in the North Island of New Zealand : REGULATIONS FOR VOLUNTEER FORCE.

1. The members of a Volunteer Corps are either enrolled reserve or honorary. 2. Enrolled members are persons of every grade, whose names are duly entered for service in the muster roll of a corps. 3. Reserve, are members who have served for the periods hereafter named, and entered on the muster roll of corps as reserve. 4. Honorary members are persons who contribute to the funds of a corps, but are not enrolled for service. 5. The Volunteer force is composed of the following arms;— Artillery, engineers, rifles, coast or harbor defence. G. The establishment of officers and non-com-missioned officers for all corps, will be as follows : —1 captain, 1 lieutenant, 1 surgeon, 1 sublieutenant, 1 company sergeant-major, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals, 1 bugler, and 80 rank and tile; total, 94. Four, or more corps, may be formed into brigade for drill purposes, and will be entitled to 1 field officer, 1 adjutant, I quarter-master, 1 sergeant-major, 1 quartermaster sergeant, 1 drum-major, 1 band master, and 25 bandsmen. PRECEDENCE. 7. In the Volunteer force, the different arms rank in the following order Artillery, engineers, rifles, coast or harbor defence. 8. In every district the relative precedence of the different corps of any one arm is determined by the date on which the Governor has accepted the offer of service of each such corps. i). The relative precedence of officers in the entire Volunteer Force is determined solely by the rank and date of their commissions m that The relative precedence of officers of different corps, holding commissions of the same rank and date, is determined by the relative precedence of the corps to which they respectively belong.

11. The relative precedence of officers of the corps bearing commissions of the same rank and date, is determined by the_ order in which the appointments are inserted in the Ga:c‘tc : 12. The relative precedence of medical officers in the Volunteer force is regulated by the same rule as that prescribed for medical officers in her Majesty’s army. FORMATION OF COUPS. 13. Persons wishing to form Volunteer Corps should place themselves in communication with the officer commanding the Militia district, -who will submit the offer of their services for the consideration of the Government. If there he no officer appointed to command the district, they will communicate direct with the Defence Office. 14. In considering the offer of the services of a new corps, regard will be had to the number and description of the corps already existing in the same district. Note.— The gazetting of corps is strictly prohibited (except for internal disturbance) beyond five miles from port or harbors. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 15. The officers commanding Volunteer Corps are commissioned by the Governor; other commissions at the request of the corps. 16. All proposed appointments and promotions of officers are submitted for the approval of the Governor in Council by the officer com Branding the force. 17. Every officer of Volunteers is required, before receiving his commission, to take the oath

of allegiance and sign Form A. 18. All proposed resignations of officers are submitted for the acceptance of the Governor in Council by the officer commanding the force. 19. The appointments, promotions, and resignations of commissioned officers are inserted in the Gazette, such notification to be framed strictly in the terms conveying the Governor’s approval or acceptance of the appointment, promotion, or resignation concerned. ENROLLED MEMBERS. 20. No person below the age of seventeen is to be enrolled in a Volunteer Corps. 21. Boys may, if the authority of the officer commanding the district be first obtained, be enrolled for the purpose of being trained as buglers or bandsmen, and classed as efficient on being reported qualified for the duties. 22. Apprentices arc not to be enrolled without the consent of their masters. 23. No member of a Volunteer Corps is to be enrolled in another corps until he bas legally ceased to be a member of the former corps. 24. Every recruit before enrolment shall take the oath of allegiance, and sign form B, and attend twelve drills of one hour each within four weeks, and pass in squad drill and manual and firing exercises, unless he shall, at some previous time, have been in the army or a member of the Volunteer force, in which case it shall be sufficient to pass inspection by the officer commanding the district, or the adjutant. 25. Enrolled members who do not fulfil the conditions above referred to after three months are struck off the roll of the corps. 26. Supernumerary members are members enrolled beyond the maximum establishment of the corps. They cannot be enrolled without the special authority of the Governor. DEFINITION OF EFFICIENTS. 27. On the Ist of April in each year the following volunteers and no others will be classed as efficients in the Artillery, Engineers, and Rifle Corps [a.) Any Volunteer who was enrolled before the Ist January of the year next preceding, and who has gone through a course of musketry instruction for that year, and has also during that year attended two inspection parades; attended four drills under the Staff; attended eight other parades; attended eight company drills. (b.) Any Volunteer who was enrolled between the Ist January and 30th March of the year next preceding, and who has gone through a course of musketry instruction, and has during that year attended one inspection parade; attended two drills under the Staff; attended four other parades; attended four company drills.

28. At the end of each year, commanding officers of corps will be credited for each efficient member in the following swnis: —LI 15s for every efficient member; 5s for every member who has passed gun drilj, and attended one shot or shell practice ; 5s for every efficient member who has fired through the annual course of target practice. 29. No claim shall be admitted at the commencement of any year if the number of efficients in any corps be below two-thirds of the total strength, and the services of such corps shall be dispensed with. FOHM OF OATH. (a.) I, A. 8., do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and’ bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and that I will faithfully Serve in the Volunteer force for a period of three years, or until I shall be lawfully discharged; that I will obey all orders received frpm superior officers while on duty. ' 1 (b. ) I, A. 8., dp sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and that I Will faithfully serve in the Volunteer force for fl, peripd of three years, or until I shall be lawfully discharged ; and further, that I will obey all legal orders received from commissioned officers or non-commissioned officers of the force while on duty or parade, Provided that any person objecting from conscientious scruples to take an oath, may make a solemn affirmation to the same effect as the oath.