VISIT OF COLONEL WHITMORE.

Kumara Times, Issue 3123, 5 November 1886, Page 3

VISIT OF COLONEL WHITMORE.

VOLUNTEER INSPECTION PARADE Colonel the Hon. Sir G. S. Whitmore, K.C.M.G., accompanied by Majors Baillie, Webb, and Bonar, Lieut. Spence, and Inspector Emerson, a'rrived by last evening's tram from Greymouth. They were met by Oapt. Davies, the officer in charge of the Kumara Rifles. The party took up their quarters at Stewart's Hotel. Id the evening, according to previous notice, the Volunteer Rifles assembled in the Adelphi Hall, and at a few minutes to eight o'clock Col. Whitmore, accompanied by the officers before mentioned, entered the hall, and at once proceeded to inspect the company. There wore 48 Volunteers present out of 50, the other two being out of the district, but with five bandsmen Volunteers, the company numbered 53. Addressing the Volunteers, Colonel Whitm->re said he was pleased to see so many present out of the small company here. It ebowed that they possessed the true Volunteer fpirit. The Gov?rnment woe now about to discontinue the practice of giving prizes for innj. vidunl ririnn;, but would award piiz-s to Volunteers for the best average Shooting of a compauy. The average

shooting of the Colonial Volunteers had hitherto been very inferior, and therefore for military purposes would be better of more attention. It was now proposed to give £IOO to the best company according to the average shooting, £75 for the second, and £SO and less for the rest, according to their average totals. He took some blame to himself for not giving them longer notice of his intended inspection, so that on the one day in the year that the Government insist on their being properly inspected they could be able to turn out by daylight for parade. Thi§, he said, had probably been their first inspection, so that thty probably did not know that they should turn out by daylight, in order to dojustiee to themselves. He had seen no finer company of Volunteers in New Zealand; but at a night parade, it was not possible to see them to advantage. It is intended, the Colonel said, this year-to hold a large camp at New Plymouth; and as they had.so few opportunities of seeing other corps, he trusted he might see them there. It would cost them but litt'e beyond their time, and that would be fi-ooi a Thursday to a Tuesday, of holiday time only, [f they desired to go, he would do his best to make it inexpensive to them. It, would be a pleasant out, and would give them an opportunity of learning a good det-J, and he thought so fine a body of men as their company would compare favourably with any other corps they would meet there. It had been the practice at first starting to run down Volunteers; but now British Volunteers were regarded as the best drilled and finest armies in the world, and the country had good aeason to be proud of its Volunteers. Next year he hoped to see the Kumara Company in daylight at inspection; and he was sure ihat by doing this they would be doing justice to themselves. Major Bonar then called Captain Davies to put the company through, manual and firing exercises. After this the company, headed by the Brass Band, wete marched out to the junction of Seddon and Main streets, where Major Webb put the company through the sword-bayonet exercise, forming company square, and forming battalion square as No. 3 company. After this sevoral company movements were gone through. Colonel Whitmora then called Captain Davies out, and complimented him on the efficiency displayed by the com'pany, especially in the swordbayonet exercise. He again referred to the fine appearance ©i' the company as a whole, and said he would be very proud to tell the Government how well the Kumara Volunteers turned out and looked. The company was then dismissed.Major Bonar afterwards introduced Captain Davies to Col. Wliitmore, and the Captain introduced Lieutenants Borlase and Bain, and Hon. Surgeon M'Brearty.