The Machester Rifles

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 148, 30 May 1885, Page 3

The Machester Rifles

.Pursuant to notice from the officer commanding the district, Colonel Stapp, the members of the Manchester Bifle corps mustered at the Public flajl on Thursday evening for inspection. Thfcre was a muster of 54 men, but as there- was one man below the required number to constitute a legal parade, the corps will have to meet again on .Wednesday, next,. the 3rd of June. We do not blame the Absentees altogether as the weather was' very threatening which enabled the "featherbed soldiers," which are to tie found even in the Manchester Bifles,, to take advantage of the wording', of ; fte District Order which said ** if w«t,> on June 3rd." We underitahd that'this phraseology is purely official, and in strict accordance with the orders from Wellington. The sooner it is altered, the better for all parties, because it is not well defined as to what wet weather is. Some meja-in the corps (i:e. 54) looked upon a shower of rain with contempt, while another seitiom — fortunately a small one— thought the floodgates of heaven were about to open, just because the sky was a little overcast, and for this reason absented themselves. Another point is, that it niay be wet in one part of the district, yet ojiite fine in another. We all know that it may be raining heavily in Makino while it is fine in Feilding, and so on with the whole of the large district from,, whence the corps is recruited. If an absolute order were given that the men were to muster, wet or dry, we firmly: believe that not one would be absent, unless on leave or incapacitated by illness. The order for the parade on Wednesday next is of this nature, and by absence from it a volunteer Tenders himself liable to a fine of £3; besides losing the capitation lor the year to the corps. This also applies to the inspection parade which will be held on Thursday, the 25th of June 1 . - : •'-' n - Colonel Stapp here exercised the corps smartly for an hour, and when he had concluded lieuts Blackmore and Pleasants respectively drilled for i, tiie, Se-rgt Bilderbeck was then called to the front and- directed to prove and drill the company,' which 10 did in good style. Colonel Stapp then said he was much pleased with the appearance and steadiness of the corps, and' congratulated them on the •rogrgoa, -made in their drill and •specially on the silence maintained in the ranks. He expected to find the number of recruits would have been ia hindrance, but he was glad to; say that they appeared to have paid so much attention to their instructors Mince they had joined, that their knowledge fit their duties was very, creditable, from the highest to the lowest they all, seemed to be thoroughly in earnest and 'that was what he liked to see. The "green hands" at the conclusion of the Colonel's very complimen a y addreafgaVe loud applause by beating the butts of their rifles on the floor. This drew down on their devoted heads a sharp reproof from, him, and the offence is not likely to be repeated. Captain Macaithur followed, and urged on th* men the necessity for close attentiontoidrilL He requested that 'during his absence in Wellington, the ,^ea ;: irpuld regularly attend the • parades oa Tuesday nights, and stated thai any member, who was ignorant pf his drill: from neglecting these, ' would, be requested to hand in his : arms and. accoutrements and withdraw from the corps. .As the men have to attend a parade on Wednesday there would, be no drill oh Tuesday next. The corps, was then dismissed. The band under the leadership of Bandmaster Paw was in attendance and at / theTeonclusion of the parade played ~ aifhe lively pieces with good taste and : 4xedution. -