The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1867.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 117, 21 May 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1867.

In ancient times, the whole population of the British Isles were trained iv t'.e use of the long bow, and prizes were offered at annual gatherings for the best shots. It was thus that our forefathers prepaied themselves to defend their liberties against domestic tyrants and foreign invaders. In later days, firearms have replaced the more peculiarly English weapon, but the annual gatherings of marksmen were still kept up. The world grew more peaceful, however, and these warlike sports were given up, bat still later days have brought round scenes of strife almost as widespread and general as those of the Middle Ages, and it would seem to be now as necessary a part of the duty of a citizen to be prepared to defend his home and country, as it was in the days of the Wars of the Eoses. Twenty years ago we could not have imagined a war on behalf of slavery in America, nor a military empire in France, as possible events ; yet we have beaeld them, and amidst the turmoils of the nations, we cannot say that even we, apart from our relations with our Maori friends, in this out-of-the-way part of the world, will for ever be free from civil strife or foreign invasion. No one, certainly, will be sorry, while the world remains as it is, that the colonists of New Zealand should know how to handle their weapons — if occasion should call for their use. It would, perhaps, be going too far to say that the absolute safety of the colony depends upon our proficiency in the use of the rifle ; but we may assert, without much fear of contradiction, that if every colonist in New Zealand between the ages of, say, 15 to 45, could put a bullet through a target at 600 yards, a long step would be taken towards safety. The whole art militaire is not summed up in this one accomplishment ; but it is conceded that from a population accustomed to the use of arms, an army can be created with speed and certainty. Eifle-shooting is not merely an accomplishment of importance in time of war : it is a manly and invigorating sport, capable of being pursued at no very great expense. It affords what almost all men need, and particularly those who live in cities — a pleasant stimulus to exertion in the open air. There is just enough of employment of the intellect to interest without wearying. It is one, too, in which almost everybody can engage. Even very shortsighted men shoot with the rifle, though not, perhaps, with the success of their more acute-eyed brethren. Corpulent men, who would be "guys" in a cricketfield, may render themselves dignified and statuesque opposite a target at .600 yards. The eye, the hand, the body, and the legs, all receive wholesome exercise in the work at the butts, and there is constant need lor the exercise of two or three rather valuable mental qualities, which suffice to keep the brain in action. Speaking phrenologically, the bumps of comparison, size, and weight are never idle in " shootiDg at the butts." The rapid formation of so many rifle corps, not only in England, but also in her colonies, has shown that she, . or indeed any free people who could be trusted with arms, possesses the power of raising indefinitely large armies, and that wars of invasion must be hopeless, unless" the aggressors are out of all proportion to their victims in numbers and resources. This lesson had been long since taught by the other European nations, and it could not be lost. If every rifle corps in the British Empire were disbanded to-day, and every rifle returned

to the Government store?, it w ould st'iW be known throughout the world that, ia case of war, we could raise and arm hundreds of thousands of young men willing to fight for no recompense, and capable of becoming in a few months as good soldiers as the average of European armies. But we ought not to be content with such an ; exhibition of spasmodic patriotism. It is not enough to show that we cau defend; ourselves — that civilisation aud the pur-: suit of wealth have not ..made us depen- ; dent for safety on a^er'ceuai.y anny.| The world soon forgets wh^tit no- longer | sees. The maintenance of a moderate j Volunteer force, well drilled and disci- \ plined, and ready for immediate action; ' not only gives us a more commanding! 1 position at this epoch of convulsion^nd j change, but it furnishes the young\ men j of the colony with a school in which they j may acquire those elements of military; knowledge which used to be looked as part of the education of every geritieK man. To let the Volunteer system decay) would be to sacrifice a noble institution, just when it had been brought to com{ pleteness by infinite exertions and self^ denial. Such a contingency, however, if we may judge from present appearances, is altogether improbable, at all events in this province; for Volunteering is decidedly in/, fashion, and the force which will be mar-| shalled on Victory-square on Friday next,* j if not so numerous as those which can be| brought into the field in larger or morel, thickly populated provinces of this colony } \ will not be found inferior to them in any j of those requisites that go to make up the sum of military proficiency, and still less j in that esprit de corps which constitutes such a powerful bond of union and permanency in such institutions. The first public occasion on, which all the Volunteer Corps at present enrolled in the province were brought together, will be justly regarded as an epoch to which we may hereafter look back with pride and satisfaction, and which will, we feel confident, prove an additional stimulus to a movement which has gained such marvellous hold upon "all sorts and conditions of men," both old and young, rich and poor.