THE NELSON VOLUNTEERS. COL. PACKE'S REPORT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 229, 8 October 1879, Page 4

THE NELSON VOLUNTEERS. COL. PACKE' S REPORT.

Militia and Volunteer Offioe, Christcharch, 21st April, 1879. Sir^MHAoeordiftg to ioelr actions contains., io yoar letter No. 49, of tbe 6th March last, I have the honor to state, for the information of the Hon Colonel Whitojore, that, Immediately after the conclusion of the meeting df the New Zdaiaad Bifl* Association, I commenced inspecting the Nelson Volunteers. fc I beg to repdrt on each corps io detail, and bi*e placed a number witb each oorps, corresponding with a like number oo tbe <fß»ade slates, the whole of which I attach hereto. (1.) Stoke Rifles.—This company paraded _t Richmond, sis miles from Nelson, the head-quarters of the corps, on Satarday, tbe 15th March. I foond the arms and accoootremeots in excellent order. They were practised in company drill and skirmishing, and both officers and men acquitted themselves to my satisfaction. I may mention that Lieut. Paynter, tbe ex-rifle champion, is ao officer in this corps. (2.) AS Battery of New Zealand Artillery; (3.) Artillery Cadets.—l inspected this battery on Monday, the 17th Marcb, together with tbe cadets. There was a good master of each corps. The gons, arm., aod accoutrements were in excellent order. The goo. drill was very steady and good. I was much pleased with tbe way tbe cadets wofked the 6-lb. Armstrong. I bad to find fault witb both oorps for unsteadiness in tbe ranks wben at marching drill. This battery are dreeaed in the regulation artillery uniform, wiih helmets instead of busbies. It is a smart-looking serviceable dress. (4.) tfelson City Rifles; (5.) City Cadets. — ihese two companies were inapeoted by me on Wednesday, the 18th Marcb. Their arms and accoun. tremeots were in good order, but I discovered tbat one or two rifles had been cleaned with emery powder, and I would suggest tbat a circular sbould be sent to each district warning Volunteers against using this, for I feel sure that it is only ignorance of the bad effect opon the weapon that induced tbe men I speak of to use it. Tbe drill was very creditable. (6.) Nelson Naval Volunteers.— Oi this corps tbere was a remarkably good •ttendaoge considering it was a very wet night. Their arms were io very good order, and on parade their appearance is most smart-looking and effective. The drill tbey went through was well done, but owing to tbe noise of tbe rain on the roof of the shed it was impossible to hear aoything. I went oat one afternoon in the boat belonging to tbis corps, when tbe crew appeared to be well ap in their work. (7) Nelson College Cadets.-At noon on Thursday, the 20th Marcb, I inspected the College Cadets. Tbey bave no uniform at present. Their carbines were in very fair order, but a great deficiency of snap-caps and stoppers. Captain Mackay, tbe commanding officer of this corps and second master, suggested to me that wben the new carbines arrived, if he were allowed twelve, he would be personally responsible for their being kept in good order, and that tbey should be kept only for a \ squad of boys for the purpose of rifle practice, as no more than that number would be allowed to go out at once. Tbe boys were drilled for some time by Staff Sergeant-Major Alborougb, and acquitted themselves very well. This ended my inspection in Nelson. And. in conclusion, I beg; to report to the Hon. Colonel Whitm ire most favorably upon tbe general efficiency of Major Pitt, commanding the district, and the officers under his command; also upon the good feeling existing between tbe officers and volunteers of the different corps, and upon the general interest in the Volunteer movement taken by the public of Nelson. Whilst in Nelson I .inspected |in numbers as follows :—

«—■*■■—»■—^— H. __■ i ._■ The Rev Arthur Robin., vicar of Holly Trinity. Windsor, writes lo lhe Pail Mall Gazette .—"The ascendeacy of Oxford mea in a'l directions is so sigoitio.nt a fact that I ask leave to record it. In Lnrd Beacoofield'. Cabinet there are siz Oxford m.n and only two from Cambridge. Ia Mr Gladstone*. Administration Oxford men were in a great majority; and it i_ evident that in any possible Liberal , Cabinet Oxford mea would a jata com mand a like superiority. Io the Hou9e of Lords there are 164 pserß, ioclulioii lbe Jvo archbishops, wh . w_r« ed jcaled £i Oxford, to 109 from C.m bridge ; .vhile io tha House of Ciramons the proportion is about 150 fron Oxford to 100 iro_n Cambri g . Thus it would seem that Oxford does not draw her strength exclusively from any One particular sphere. And p.ither has Cambridge of later years, with b.r phalanx of wranglers, cut a better figure in finance; inasmuch as from the <jLys of air Robert P.- el the offi.e ol Chancellor of the Exchequer has beeD almost always beld by Oxford men. Tbe riie competition is tbe ouiy athletic contest in which Cambridge kadi. Tbie woold be noteworthy were

Oxford and Cambridge of a like site; bat I ask yoar permission to call attention to it as something tbat is very significant, because of the two universities Cambridge is much the larger."

_.. . _„. Officers. Volunteerß. Stoke Rifles ... 2 ... 44 H Battery ... 3 ... 58 City Eifl-s ... 3 ... 41 Naval Brigade ... 3 .. 39 Total ... 11 ... 182 Artillery Cadets ... 1 ... 29 City " ... 2 ... 33 College " ... 3 ... 48 6 110