The Globe. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1875.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 210, 10 February 1875, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1875.

Not very long ago almost every paper in the colony published a paragraph stating that a farewell dinner had been given to a certain Sergeant-Major of Hussars on his leaving his regiment, to proceed to New Zealand as drill instructor to the Cavalry the Government were about to raise. Various were the comments on this item of news, as it seemed that every one was ignorant of the intentions of the Government in the way of raising Cavalry. It appears, however, that no less than six drill instructors |have lately arrived in New Zealand. Two of these men come from the Eoyal Artillery, two from the Eifle Brigade, and the two remaining are Cavalry soldiers. What use can these two last be to us in this colony ? It will be comparatively easy to find situations in which the first four, of the six newly-imported instructors, may be of some use, and there are many corps in this Island that would be glad of their services. Is this the case with regard to the two cavalry sergeants ? The different bodies of volunteer cavalry which have been formed in some parts of the two islands, are, we think most civilian readers will quite agree with us, neither useful or ornamental. The whole thing, as far as Canterbury is concerned, is a perfect farce. At one time, a few gaily dressed volunteers used to assemble at stated times in Latimer square, and go through a series of evolutions with more or less success, but the number of these gentlemen, never very large, has dwindled down considerably. Also, whenever a distinguished person made his appearance in Canterbury, and it was thought desirable to do him honor, an escort was ordered out to accompany him into Christchurch. We have watched one or two of these displays, and heartily hope we may never be called on to witness another. The thing was badly done, and reflected no credit on the members of the corps which it represented. We have had drill instructors for our Cavalry Corps of more or less ability, but what has been the result of their teaching ? We believe that a few members do still muster occasionally, sufficient in number to keep the Corps together, but of those whose names are down as members how many know anything of cavalry drill ? The whole thing is a palpable sham, and it is too bad that taxpayers’ money should be expended in the attempt to perpetuate such absurdities as these so called Cavalry Corps. We trust that the Government will not be allowed to quarter these cavalry drill instructors on the colony, and to pay them out of the revenue of the country, salaries which we must consider, judging from past results, utterly useless.