VOLUNTEER INSPECTION.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1351, 13 June 1878, Page 2

VOLUNTEER INSPECTION.

An inspection parade of the headquarters’ companies of Volunteers took place last night at. the drill-shed. Additional interest was attached to this parade from the fact that his Excellency the Governor had intimated his intention of being present on the occasion. Major Lean, the officer commanding the district, had also invited the members of the Legislative Council and the members of the House of Representatives. The corps on parade were the Christchurch Artillery, under Cap'ain Craig and Lieutenants Stansell and Strange, numbering thirty-seven of all ranks ; City Guards, under Captain Hawk* s and Lieutenants Wolfe and Radcliffe, numbering thirty-five; the Engineers, under Captain Warner and Lieutenant Anderson, numbering thirty-four, thus giving a total of 106 on parade, exclusive of the O.Y.C. band, which was in attendance. Punctual to eight o’clock, the hour fixed for his Excellency to arrive, he entered the drillshed, accompanied by Lord Hervey Phipps, A.D.C., Messrs C. C. Bowen and W. Rolieston, the Hon. J. T. Peacock, Hon. Cd. Brett, Messrs E. C. J. Stevens, M.H.R, H. P. Murray-Aynsley, M.H.R., and Hon. E. Richardson, M.H.R., were also present. His Excellency was received by the battalion in line with the general salute, the corps presenting arms and the band playing the National Anthem. The ranks were then opened for inspection by His Excellency apd the Major commanding. This being completed several battalion movements were executed with commendable precision, the Christchurch Artillery especially being notice-

able for the steadiness with which the various evolutions were gone through. The next portion of the parade was gun drill by a detachment of the C.A.Y., which took place in the gun shed. This was one of the most interesting parts of the whole affair, tho men exhibiting a smartness and knowledge of their drill which would be hard to excel. The detachment had to unlimber the gun, fire three rounds, change the right and left wheels of the gun and replace them with those of the limber, dismount the gun itself, dismount tho limber, remount the gun, limber, rear limber up and form the order of march in front of the gun. WTien we say that this was executed in a little over five minutes, it shows that the detachment were not only thoroughly posted in their drill, but also exceedingly smart. Indeed the time would be hard to beat even by regulars. Qr.-Master Sergeant Raven acted as No. 1, and the other members of the detachment also deserve credit for the way in which the work was done. His Excellency and party then returned to the Drillshed, and the battalion was formed into a hollow square. His Excellency said— Officers and members of the Christchurch volunteers : I thank you for the opportunity you have given me of witnessing your drill. I have been much impressed with what I have seen, and I trust you will continue to exhibit the same amount of proficiency as you have done this evening. I have had some little experience—though a short one—in Her Majesty’s service, and also have had a good deal to do, in a previous Government held by me, with volunteers. In Nova Scotia, where I was Governor, I instituted volunteering—not entirely, because there existed a volunteer corps in Halifax—to a large extent. What I saw there convinces me that in a colony much can be done with volunteers. In those times volunteering in the colony was not popular. The people did not seem to care about it at first, but fortunately for me the volunteer system became exceedingly popular in England. I asked for 3000 stand of arms and got them. The result was that in twelve months I had 3000 effective volunteers in the colony, and that too in a colony which for thirty years had had no military force of its own, I then applied for 1500 additional stand of arms, which on arrival were also taken up, and I had 1500 additional effective volunteers at my disposal. Then came the Trent affair, of which doubtles you have heard, which caused a fear lest war should break out "between England and the United States, and under this spur a fresh militia law was enacted, leaving the whole responsibility of the defence of the colony, in case of war breaking out, on me. To whom then did I look for my officers and non-com-missioned officers when that Militia Act came into force P Why, to the volunteers. The result was that before I left Nova Scotia the colony had some 32,000 men rendered effective by drill to defend their country should the necessity arise for their doing so. I have heard a good deal said about the duty of _ the Mother country to protect her colonies. Well, I freely admit that it is the duty of the Mother country to lend the prestige of her great name to protect her colonies, and I admit also that it is her duty to let the world know that any attack on her colonies will be regarded as an attack on herself, but to say that the Mother country should protect every inch of the soil of her vast dominions is absurd. It is the duty of every colony to take such steps as to fit its residents to protect its shores, so that every man shall be able to defend bis own home if necessary. I have every confidence in the people of New Zealand, that should such an emergency arise, they will be both able and willing to protect themselves. Tho Government, I may say, have ordered arms and guns for batteries to supply and protect the four principal towns oft he colony, which I think will be found sufficient in case of emergency. I do not think that if war were to be declared between England and Russia it is likely a fleet would bo sent by the latter to these shores, but it is possible that a privateer might slip into our ports and that some morning we may find a vessel quietly anchored in one of them, the commander of which would say “ If you do not pay me £30,000 or whatnot, I will burn your town.” This is what we have to fear. But I am confident that the people of New Zealand, when they have the material wherewith to defend themselves will not be wanting when the time comes. Other countries are preparing and it is only right that wo should do the same, and X have great confidence in the volunteers of New Zealand if they are worked properly. I have not had many opportunities of seeing |;hem because I hold a different position here to what I did in Nova Scotia. There I had the entire control and supervision of them, but here it is vested in other hands. Still I have seen sullicient of them to be sure that tho spirit and daring which they displayed in the Native War still exists. Gentlemen, I am glad of tho opportunity you have afforded me of witnessing your drill this evening, and trust that you will continue to exhibit the same efficiency. Major Lean then called for three cheers for hjs Excellency, which were heartily responded to. His Excellency acknowledged the compliment and retired. Major Lean was in command, having Lieutenant Slater, C. Y. 0., as his aide-de-camp, A considerable number of tho pubhc had congregated at the southern gate, but, owing to the battalion movements necessitating the occupancy of the whole of the floor of the shed, it was impossible to admit them—a fact which had been notified in an advertisement by Major Lean.