INSPECTION PARADE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 237, 7 October 1870, Page 2

INSPECTION PARADE.

The monthly Inspection Parade of the City Companies of Volunteers was held in the Botanical Gardens yesterday evening. There was but a poor attendance, the two companies numbering some 32 men be sides officers. With the exception of the I bayonet exercise which was most creditably performed by the Anillery, the various evolutions were not gone through with that correctness and precision that characterised the movements of these two companies in the more palmy days of volunteering. After the skirmishing was over, the men were drawn up in line, and, sonae little misuuderstandiug that arose in the mind of the officer who was drilling them as to whether the front or rear rank should kneel in firing having been satisfactorily removed, three volleys were fired and they were then addressed hy Major Morse, who said that he was sorry to have to remark then, as he had had occasion to do before, on the thinness of the muster. He had expected to find more interest taken in the matter, now, as the General Assembly had shown their desire to encourage the movement, and had increased the capitation allowance to the original amount of SOs per man. He should have to make a return of the day's muster exactly as ho found it, aud was exceedingly sorry that he could not send in a more favorable report. It would be necessary to insist upon the fines heinj*enforced, as it was unfair to those who attended regularly to allow others who by their negligence retarded the of the company to absent themselves with impunity, and he thought that, rather than keep their names on the roil and yet continue to neglect their duties it would be far better if tbey were to give up altogether. He had not seen 40 men in No. 1 Company for six months at least, and he was sure tbat not more than 13 or 14 were entitled to the capitation allowance. Lieut. Percy : There are only 32 ou the roll. Captain Pitt : The Artillery muster over 40 but it is impossible to get tbem to attend every time. Major Morse: The Government have appointed an Inspector who will shortly be here and will look into the returns. I must now give orders to the captains to enforce the fiaes for absence to-d.-iy. Captain Pitt : It is not in the power of the Captains to enforce thero. Major Morse : But you mast if I order you to do so. I should advise the companies to hold meetings and to come to some clear understanding whether they will continue to go on as they are, or whether they will disband. Captain Pitt : We have held a meeting and decided to go on. Lieut. Percy : As the summer is approaching, no doubt the musters will be larger. Major Morse : But the men have not been called out in winter, they have always been able to drill iv the Oddfellows' Hall if they wished it. Lieut Percy : But, Sir, you yourself bave not been present at the last three inspections, and it is rather hard to blame the men for staying away if the officers do cot attend. Major Morse : I am not bound to attend every time. If I choose to give up my commission in the Volunteers I can do so to-morrow, and still retain my command in the Militia.

This closed the parade, aud the volunteers then marched back to town headed by the band, who are certainly deserving i of the greatest credit for the great proficiency they have attained within the short time that has elapsed sinco the breaking up of the old band and the formation of the present one.