Volunteer Items

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 126, 30 April 1889, Page 3

Volunteer Items

The Manchester Rifles paraded for inspection cm Friday night. There was a good attendance, Lieut. Kirton in command, the men wore drilled and instructed in the new formations by Sergt. F. Fowles After parade Lieut. Kirton spoke very highly of the valuable services Sergt. Ashworth had rendered to him and the contingent of the corps, at the Nelson Easter Eucauipineut. Arrangements will bo made for a rifle match between the right and left half companies of the corps on the Queen's Birthday. The meu will parade at the Barrack's at 8.30 a.m. and march to the ground so as to commence firing at 9 a.m. and conclude in time for the men to go and see the football match in the afternoon. The following is an extract from a circular issued by the Defence Office : — (1) In future volley firing is to take place in each squad before tho independent firing. (2) That all diagrams muse be made out in ink or inkpencil ou the range at the time of the practice. (3) The original diagrams, and not copies, are to be forwarded to tho Defence Office on the day the practice of each corps is completed. Some of the Auckland Companies of volunteere have brought disgrace upon themselves by bad conduct on their return from their Easter Encampment. The Auckland papers blame the men alone for their misbehaviour, instead of putting the weight of their censures on the officers and non-commissioned officers who are responsible for the descipline of the men. The only way to prevent similar occurrances in the future will be. (1) To allow no passes out of camp, uuless in cases of proved emergency. (2) To provide amusements in camp such as cricket football &c, (3) To have special trains for volunteers only. (4) And lastly, the several corps only to be dismissed from military control on arrival at an end of journey. These ruleu might appear strict to " fine weather" volunteers but to the real soldiers who 'go into camp for instruction, they would be very acceptable, and readily complied with.