THE VOLUNTEERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3829, 2 June 1875, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEERS.

To the Editor. Sir, —Could you inform me what has become of our new Adjutant, who left Taranaki some month or six weeks ago to take charge of the volunteer force in Otago? We heard of his arrival in Wellington about that time, and I am afraid they must have kidnapped him there: or was it the weighty letters that appeared in our City papers of what the officers were going to do when the Governor arrived here ? One, I think, proposed that the whole of the officers should send in their resignations on his Excellency the Governor’s arrival (what a pity they did not). Perhaps the threat frightened the new Adjutant. lam quite convinced, Mr Editor, if you were a volunteer (and I don’t see why you should not join us) you would agree with me that they ought to have sent in their resignations long ago. If yon would only take a walk up to that most dismal of all places—the Head-quarter’s Drill-shed—any night appointed for drill by the different companies, you would see that it is a rarity to find any officer of a company present on his company’s night of drilL lam only sorry that it should be so, for we have the making of some first-rate men amongst them. If they would exert themselves a little more they would find tne men come more regularly to drill, for if the officers don’t turn up at the weekly drills they cannot expect the men to do so. What can be more disheartening to the men than to go there night after night and find not a single officer of their company resent ? I trust that when the new Adjutant does arrive he will strictly carry out the new regulations, and in doing so he will find himself backed up by the majority of the force, and eventually at the head of as fine a body of volunteers as there is in the Colonies, It will also be the means of bringing our young men to the front, for I contend that there is nothing more beneficial to the health of young and old than a good hour or two’s drill once or twice a week, more especially for those who are confined to business the whole day. One point I should like to see cleared up is this: what became of the splendid shield the ladies of Otago kindly subscribed for and presented to the volunteers of Otago? Perhaps you or some one of your correspondents could throw soma light upon the matter.—l am, &c., Nolens. Dunedin, June 2.