Volunteer Items

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 62, 12 November 1892, Page 2

Volunteer Items

». . ; Colonel Fox, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, says 'there is too much dress and no drill with it,' and he announces bis intention of bringing about an altered and more satisfactory state of affairs. The muster parade Held by the Manchester Rifles last eight was attended by Lieuts. Kirton and Bray and thirty-nine non • commissioned officers and men. Lieut.-Col. Newall having /inspected the men and examined all government property in the possession of the corps, the men were marched out and drilled by Lieut. Bray. Col. Newall expressed much satisfaction with the corps, and said that Col. Fox had also formed a very good opinion of them, and he (Col. Newall) hoped they would do their best to main-, tain it by regular attendance at drill, and thus acquire proficiency. As they had to meet at 5.30 this morning at the range for volley and independent firing the drill j was not prolonged. Punctually at the hour named Col. Newall arrived on the ground and the men fell in» There were twenty men in the first squad under Color-Sergeant Milson, and eleven men in the second under Sergeant Bellve. Lieutenant Kirton in command. There were thirty-seven of all| ranks present. The following is a statement of the firing by the Manchester Eifles :— Volley firing— No. 1 squad, 20 men, 212 points, average 10"60; No. 2 squad, 11 men, 162 points, average 14-72. Independent firmg — No. 1 squad, 240 points, average 12*00 ; No. 2 squad, 150 points, average 13*63. Figures of merit of the corps— Volley firing, 8*69 ; independent firing, 9*06. Last night Dr Sorley, surgeon to the corps, consulted Lieut. Col. Newall anent the requirements for an Ambulance Corps tor the Manchester Rifles, and all necessary information having been given, Dr Sorley will commence a series of lectures at an early date.