VOLUNTEERS ON THE LOOSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 9, 23 April 1879, Page 4

VOLUNTEERS ON THE LOOSE.

The Southland Times says : — " After thy review the companies piled arms, ond tho men wero allowed to disport themselves in eny morner they thought proper. The proceedings here became tinged with fomo touches of unmilitary conduct. The members of tbeDoDedin Naral Brigade cemmitted some vagfiri's. Ir» addition to taking possession of an exprtss belonging ton roan on the ground,' ond robbing pn unfortunate horse c.rry about a dozen of them in the machine and one or tv*o on its back, they mtwd a raid upon Mr Wild's booth, ctrrying away a cask of liquor ou ODe Deration aud sundry bottles on another, but the raotler was afterwards compromised. Othpr tactics on the part of the Volunteers we?e also iodu'ged in, and were of a class one would hardly expect lo see on b reviewground. However, the boisterous conduct of the men m-iy be excused after the really hnrd woik they went through. The Naval Bfiga.lc-s cappe ! all their previous efforts at practical jf king on Sund.y evening, when two of the members took possession of aud rooouted r,n aged cow, oo which they rode through the town, guarded on either side by an escort of four of their comrades. As this grotpgque proceesion petroled tbe eireets they lus-tiiy song 'In the Sweet Bye-an-bye.' Any accompaniment required was supplied by the cow." The Otago Daily Times aleo Bays some of tbe juoior members of tho Volunteer companies from the Northern towns conducted themselves in Dunedin in such a manner that the law-abiding citizens will be anxious to "speed the pai tifg guests." One of their achievements, over which they cheered vociferously, will form the subject of a prosecution in the Police Court. It was not a very gallant or creditable aflT-ir. A large number of them, headed by a lad of color, made ao attack upou a house whore, it is said, their leader had been previously illtreateii, and demanded the restoration of a sum of money. Acting upon the advice cf a police officer, the money demanded was paid under protest, and the lade, who had pone so far as to take down one of the -hatters of the house, retired. The part of their conduct which i fleets the public is that a crowd of roughs should rush wildly about ihe streets, some of them wearing bayonets. As showing tbe disposition tb.y dieplayed, a gentleman lust eveniug remonstrated with ooe of the lads for having hia bayonet drawn, and the reply be got waa anything but a graceful one, for what he intended as a friendly warning. If such scenes are repeated, strong measures will havo to be ttken to maintain order, and larrikins in uniform dealt with in a summary and cot very military, fashion by being placed in the dock and punished. It i_ a great pity that a few roughs, by misconduct, should bring discredit ou so reputable a body of men as Volunteers are throughout tho ColoDy, and it is to ibe interest of volunteering tbat each conduct should not pass without comment, censure, or punishment.