Volunteer Items

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 98, 11 February 1890, Page 2

Volunteer Items

— • . The Manchester Rifles paraded on Fri- • day night. There was a full muster or officers and men. - Lieut.-Col. Stapp in^ structed the company in the new attack formation which will be a principal feature in the programme 'of events at the Easter encampment to be held in Wellington. After the men were marched back into the barracks, Captain Pleasants spoke some plain home truths to them about an occasional want pf steadiness and good conduct in the ranks, which will not be forgotten in a hurry. Should there be any members who haye not taken the lesson to heart' they will have only themselves to blame if they be made the subject.* of public reproof in the event of any future misconduct. The capitation earned by the corps last year was £73 which, with £7 for the shooting prize, will make £80 — a good credit balance to start with. - - Several very good men have joined lately, but there are still a few vacancies .. for drilled men or recruits. The smoke concert to be given in honor of the winners of the company medals will be held on the 28th instant, in Mrs Hastie's Sample Rooms, Major-General' Sir John M'Neill, who will be remembered by old New Zealanders as having served with great distinction in the Maori war of 1861-62, in which he , won the Victoria Cross, has been retired, from the active list of the army by the operation of what Tb known as the "nonemployment fbr five years" clause. He preferred to regain hiß equerry ship to the Queen to accepting a command. He goes ' out to India this month, and returns to England in the suite of the Duke of Connaught. '