CANTERBURY RIFLE CORPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 707, 17 August 1859, Page 4

CANTERBURY RIFLE CORPS.

; To the.Jsditof of the Lj/Ueltm Times: Sin,—As the formation, of the. Canterbury Riffe '■ Corps is beginning to attract a little attention, and t appearing that in the absence, of authentic informa;ition concerning it;B6me,;misapprehension naturally exists,;! am; directed:■> by the commander, Captain 'H. A. Scott, to request you : kindly to. make the following information public:—.,':■•■.-' The men. will be, enrolled, for one year, but are not to/be called put for;drill: for more than 168 hours duving that period: .; ; ,--. : ; : ...'■. : . The adjutant; upon whom rests the chief labor of making soldiers of.the.men> is chosen and paid-by the Crown. ; The inferior officers* whose services will be gratuitous, iwill be. chosen by the men from among themselves. ■ 'r" Under no circumstances can tbe men be compelled^ to go above fifteen miles from Christchurch. The,punishment for absence.vor inattention will consist of a slight fine,,but in no way whatever will the men be subject to martial law; except ia war time they may volunteer to assist the militia, in which case of course they must : be made amenable to the same laws.. i : / : ; Some anxiety is felt about the uniform, lest it may be too expensive; -but the cost, and even the design, is left to the.decision of the men ; and, as far as the feelings of theYmajority can be ascertained, there is-a desire to have, it neat, soldierlike, and serviceable:; obtainable, i£ possible, in Sydney, and of a better, cloth than that supplied to her Majesty's troops 'in general.; .;The cost may probably be from^BS.to £7* according to quality. : A gentleman, .now settled among us, who recently her'Majesty'scommisswn in the .Crimea, and who is eminently qualified %to fill, the office of adjutant,.has,; <I aki..happy :: tp say, expressed his willingness vto^undertake that responsibility; and :it is apprehended. that;there will be.no'difiiculty ia an equallyVwell.qualified^drill sergeant. •As respects,;• the times and ;places for drill, the commandexvrwill endeavour: to'study, as far as possible, the iuterests/of the members of the corps. • The corps is to consist of 100 men, but is not limited to, thatinumber.,: .'..-.. , ;, ........ ' ... -The : arms,ammunition, and equipments will be 'found by theJCrpwn.. : The next meeting for the enrolment of the men wiilibe held at-jhe Golden fleece, Hotel, on Friday night next; at'i7.p.m. After which Captain Scott will .appoint certain times and places for enrolling ;those<whp cannot attend the meeting. I:havettlie^honqr tp "be,-Sir, ; .-.;■•..,■.■'•■ Yours most obediently, : ; r J. ?. BALLAED, .■. > ■" '■> .:.:.'•.•■■•■■■;,■.•■■-.:;■■•:■..■■. :••-. Hon. SeC. >Christchurdh,-August 13, ISo^