Our Volunteers.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1664, 22 March 1886, Page 4

Our Volunteers.

. .; . ; " (Cdmuiuuicated.) :. I": ,^. The Inspection dt r Volunteers at Marton, by Colonel the Hon. Sir George. Whifmoiv, K.C.M.G.; took place on Saturdaj',:«'hen the weather, was all that could be desired. % The 6i40 a.m train took away over 30 of the Palmerston Rifles, and on the tjiain arriving at. feildinjjr, they were joined by i about 50 of the Manchester Rifles* together with the Feilding v Town Band, which rendered i«ivcral : selections' 1 aYbng: the. line: On arriving, at the Marton - station the men fell m,. and, headed by -the. Band, marched to the Drill Shed which was reached about 9.30 a.m. Ihe men were then dismissed till 11 o'clock. On again falling m they \vere marched to Thurs ton's paddock which is situated at the rear of the Drill. Shed, when they were drawn up m line. At this time, Sir George Whitmore, accompanied by Corporal Leyett, of the Alexandra Cavalry, as orderly, arrived on the ground. He was received with a general salute, after which, together with CoLStapp, be passed down the line inspecting the men's amis and accoutrements as he went. He then took up his position at the saluting point, the infantry beiug marched past m column, m which our local men ac quitted theniselvesiwell; after this came -the march past, m .quarter-column- and at the double: -The men were then put through some 1 skirmishing drill, which was very creditably, performed; The Rangitikei Mounted Rifles then marched past, and were afterwards put through several field tnoVvmcnts. The infantry were again brought forward, and the Marton Royal Rifles put through the "sword-bayonet exercise by Captain Skerman. A three sided square was then formed, with the officers m front, and Colonel Whitmore addressed the men, thanking them for being present, especially as he learned that aoraeof them had come as far as 30 miles. He_»could say, without trying to flatter the men, that the Marton parade was the most successful country inspection he had held m New Zealand ; he also remarked that this was the first occasion where he found every man belonging to a company present. Such he was pleased to say was the case with the Marton Rifles. After once more complimenting the men on their drill, he. expressed a wish lhat'they would all be present at the Approaching Easier Encampmeut m Wanganui. The men were then marched down to the ~d?illjißued and dismissed till 5 o'clock. Ar first-class lunch was provided for .the'v visitors by Captain Skerman of the Marton Rifles, to which full justice was s dono. On the men again falling in,' they wer« uiarchel to Hie Railway Station, headed by the Marton and feilding bands. On passing Captflin Skerman's residence the men were halted,and three hearty cheers given for the gallant Captain and the Marton Royal Rifles. On arrival at the Feilding Station the fc MancJiesten. Itiflt-a gave the usual cheeVs for the Palmerston m.en, who returned tho compliment with interest ; our men arrived home by the 8.30 pan. train, having thoroughly, enjoyed the day's outins.JJlhe following" is a list of the members present belonging to each corps '.—Manchester Rifle.*,GViptain Mscarlhnr, Lieutenants Blackmore and Pleasfints, 40 rank and file ; Marton Royal Rifles, Captain Skeipißn. Lieutenants Sutcliffe and Mar^ 60 rank arid file ', Palmcrstou North Rifles, Gaptain Carroll and. Lientennnc Johnston, 35 rank and file ; Rangitikei Mounted Rifles, Captain Stevens, Lieutenants Lark worthy and MoKenzie, 46 troopers. Feilding Tjowr Band numbering 1.8 under Bandmaster- Daw, Martbn; Band of 12, under. Bandmaster Smith. .