Volunteer Items

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 106, 25 February 1893, Page 2

Volunteer Items

The Manchester Rifles paraded for inspection on Thursday last, when, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was a good muster. Sergt.-Major McMillan instructed the men in position drill, and the progress made was really creditable. Parades for March are published in our advertising columns. The Captain of the Manawatu Rifle Club has sent a challenge to the officer commanding the Manchester Rifles to tire a team match of ten men aside on St. Patrick's Day. It is needless to say the challenge will be accepted. Colonel Fox's report on the defences, «fee, is not to be published in full, being partly confidential. The Government will probably allow a precis only to be circulated, containing those portions which the Commandant considers there is no objection iv making known. Every volunteer on this Coast will learn with regret that Captain Skerman has resigned the command of the Marton Royal Rifles. Lieutenant Foster, of the Wanganui Rifles, has also intimated his intention of resigning his commission. He is a smart officer, and the company will find it hard to replace him. } It has just been decided that during Easter separate Volunteer encampments shall be held at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin. Nelson and Westland, or if tho volunteers of the last two named districts prefer they may combine to form one encampment. At j any rate the volunteer forces of Auckland, Canterbury and Otago will assemble at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin respectively, while the volunteers of Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, Manawatu and the Wairarapa will all converge upon the metropolis and join with the local corps in investing the forts and engaging with them io resisting the attempts of the imaginary hostile force to land. In each centre the operations will proceed upon the same theory, viz., that the cruiser of the anxiliary squadron, has had to run for the shelter ot the forts, that the foe has appeared aud is about to attempt a landing in force, and that he must be repelled, the local authorities being left to work out tho details of the plan of attack and dofenco. For the cavalry of the North Island (exclusive of Auckland) there will be a special encampment at Palmerston North, which offers great advantage for the purpose by reason of its central situation.— N Z. Times.