GENERAL DAVIDSON'S REPORT ON THE NELSON VOLUNTEERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 173, 22 July 1880, Page 2

GENERAL DAVIDSON'S REPORT ON THE NELSON VOLUNTEERS.

I 1 [From a correspondent.] r Wellington, Wednesday evening. , In General Davidson's report on the 3 Volunteers of the South Island just pre--3 sented to Parliament, he alludes to bi3 ius Bpection of the Nelson Corps as follows : — „ " The H Battery, City, Stoke, and Waitnea b Rifles, and Naval Brigade assembled on the evening of the 19th Juue in the Drill-shed, r and were inspected in column. The arms b and accoutrements were clean and in good b order. After inspection, they left the Drilla sbed and were drawn up outside as a bate talion in line. Capt, Webb, the adjutant, i put tbem through the manual exercise, which was very fairly done. I then desired the commanding officer to put tbem through the ] bttttnlion movements, but these were not a success, partly owing to the moon having j become clouded, as men cannot work well in the dark. This officer's words of command I also were not sufficiently audible, nor, in many instances, were the commands given correctly, hence confusion and mistakes occurred. The attendance of the Stoke and Waimea Rifles ard of the Navals was very t good, the Battery and City Rifles not show- ) ing up so well. At noon on the 17th, the t College Cadets were inspected. They bad A no uniforms, but I was informed that these were beiug made. The lieutenant, who partly drilled tbem, was far too rapid in his . commands, as before one movement could be i completed another was directed. The 3 Artillery and City Cadets were inspected at j night in the Drill-shed. The drill of both > was decidedly bad, but the Artillery Cadets i went through their gun drill iv a very smart I* and satisfactory manner" The General, in other. portions of his rer port, speaks upon the drill and efficiency of other corps in a much more severe marjner/,