VOLUNTEER DRILL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 209, 6 September 1867, Page 2

VOLUNTEER DRILL.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail. Sir — What a pity it is our military authorities are so constantly changing certain portions of our drill, for no sooner do our Volunteers get well accustomed to one way of doing a movement than a totally different one is shown to them. For instance, happening to be passing the drill-ground ou Tuesday evening last, I heard the following orders given — -"Unfix bayonets" while at, the "shoulder;" "Present arms" from the order; " Slope arms'* from "charge bayonets/ and several others quite new to me, and .really they appeared to be so to most of the men, seeing the confusion they were sometimes in. Had the orders been given by the junior Captain I must con 'ess I should have thought they were mistakes, but coming, as tbey* did, from the senior, I was boned to accept them, knowing that all commissioned officers have to go. through a strict examination before receiving their commission^. I think when Volunteers, who, as a mle, have little time on their hands, get well accustomed to one mode of drill it is not wise to alter ifc for another. Yours, etc*, Looker-On. August 5, 1867.

We' are gratified to learn that letters) •were received from Scotland by the Panama Mail, which state that the lawsuit involving, the possession of the Fettercairn and Pitsligo estates, between the Lady Clinton and Sir William Stuart Forbes, Bart., now resident in this province, has been decided, and Sir William has been declared heir-afc-liw to the Fettercaim estate, worth some £3000 or £4000 per annum, while the Pitsligo estate, which is much less valuable, goes to .Lady Clinton. We understand that the Fire Brigade anniversary dinner is fixed to take place on Thursday the L9th iust., at the Trafalgar Hotel. The following is a copy of a despatch received by last mail from his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, to Governor Sir George Grey, K.C.B. : — " Downing-street, 26th June, 1867. Sir — With reference to" my despatch of the Ist of May, apprising you of the probability that H.M.S Galatea, under the command of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, would visit the colony under your Government, I think it desirable that you should receive some instructions for your guidauceas to his Royal Highness's reception. The Duke of Edinburgh, on his first arrival in a British colony or settlement aud on his final departure from it, but uot upon other occasions, should have all the usual aud proper honors paid to him by way of salutes, guards of honor, and other public marks of respect as a member of the royal family. His Royal Highness will receive addresses and make replies to them, and take part in public ceremonies in cases which are suggested or approved by the Governor or Lieutenant-Governor of the colony or settlement." A meeting of the Local Committee of Education for the city of Nelson took place on Tuesday last, at the Ceutral Board Room. The chief business brought before the committee was the selection and appointment of a teacher for tlie second division of the girls' school, in plnce of Miss Darby, who has resigned her appointment. There were six candidates, all of them, without exception, perfectly eligible for the position. A ballot was taken, and the choice fell on Miss Galand.