Volunteer Items

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 29, 5 September 1891, Page 2

Volunteer Items

The Manchester Eifles paraded on Thursday night in the barracks. Capt. Pleasants, Leiut. Kirton, and a full complement of non-commissioned officers and men was present. After the usual inspection Capt. Pleasants instructed the corps in the sword-bayonet exercise, in which the men made good progress. Leiut. Kirton put them through the manual, and Sergt. Eyans through the firing exercises, Sergt.-Major Macmillan then took the corps in hand and gave them some smart company drill. Before dismissing the parade Capt. Pleasants said that to encourage good attendance all members who have belonged to the corps for three efficient years will have a three years service star, if six years two stars, and if nine years a silyer star. All of the old members should be entitled to the latter decoration. Capt. Pleasants also read the following memorandum from the Defence Office, quoting the prices ol ammunition for small arms, per 100 rounds: — Snider Ball (colonial make), 10s ; Martini Henry (Melbourne), 11s 7d; Martini Henry (English), 8s 4d ; Bemington Lee, 7s 3d ; Spencer, 8s 4d ; Bevolver, 4s ; Morris Tube (short), 23 8d ; Morris Tube (long), 3s. The parade was then dismissed. The next parade will be held on the 10th instant. Volunteers who absent themselves from capitation parades without leave or reasonable excuse, should remember that, to all intents and purposes, they are robbing the corps to which they belong. It is, besides, unfair to those men who attend regularly and learn their drill, to be harassed by the consequent inefficiency of irregular attendants who are behind in their knowledge.