THE VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4387, 12 April 1875, Page 7

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Volunteers have signalised the decline of the summer season by various events which usually denote a respite from further appearance in public for some considerable time. The Nelson encampment, the incidents of which are fully described below, gave an opportunity to one section of the Wellington ■v Volunteers to display the proficiency attained by our citizen-soldiers, and during the mouth the marksmen of the town and country companies have contrasted their skill in the use of the rifle at a competition held annually under the auspices of tiro AVollington llifle Association. The meeting was held at the rifle-range, Kaiwarra, and though it was not by any means a failure, still the proceedings were not marked by that eclat which characterised the meetings of previous years. The arrangements were under the supervision of the indefatigable Captain Crowe, who blended in a happy maimer the suavitcr in modo with the farther in re. The principal prize of the meeting—the Licensed Victuallers’ Cup—was won by Volunteer Nairn (of Kaiwarra), Prouse (of Wainuiomata), being second. The other prize winners were—Lieutenant Scott, third ; Volunteer Menzies, fourth ; Volunteer Ballinger, fifth ; and Volunteer Bannister, sixth. The Wellington Rifle Association is deserving of every credit for its efforts to maintain the efficiency of the Volunteers as a body, and to maintain the supremacy of the province in rifle contests with neighboring provinces.

THE EASTER ENCAMPMENT. The Easter encampment, which had for a long time been looked forward to by our Volunteers, began on the night of Thursday, the 23th of March, the several companies parading at 8 p.ra. for the purpose of marching to the camping ground at Richmond, (province of Nelson), where they arrived at about 11 p.m. It was expected that the detachment from the Wellington Artillery, which left Wellington by the Ladybird the same night, would arrive during the following day, but as the tide at the French Pass was not favorable before about 4 o’clock, p.m., sho did not arrive till after 8 o'clock. Captain Pitt, of the Nelson Artillery, the Cadet Corps, and a very large section of the public were on the wharf ready to give a hearty welcome to Captain Pearce and the men under his command. As the vessel drew alongside he called for three cheers for Captain Pearce and the Wellington Artillery, which was cordially responded to. Their guns, consisting of one twelve and one six-pounder, were then landed, and after being mounted the whole marched into town. After a short interval the majority of the men proceeded by coach to the camp, where they arrived about midnight. The guns followed, and arrived soon after. The lateness of the hour prevented anything like a demon--stration taking place. The camp now being complete, the work ccmmenced. Saturday (the 27th) was occupied in the morning by the striking and erecting of tents, a work which was very cleverly performed. The artillery were then taken out for practice, being commanded at intervals by Captains Pearce and Pitt. The movements gone through were very numerous, including changing disabled wheels, dismounting and mounting the battery, the Wellington detachment showing themselves to be exceedingly clever, doing the work in about half the time taken by the Nelson detachment. The men were then dismissed, and in the afternoon the snider-carbine match, which had been previously arranged between the two batteries, was proceeded with, the number of men on each side being six, and the ranges 200, 300, and 400 yards, five shots at each range third-class targets as the carbines had not been previously used. By both sides it was feared that the shooting would be somewhat indifferent, but the Wellington men, by great care and judgment, succeeded in maldng some excellent scores and winning by fifty-two points. After a few complimentary remarks by Captain Pitt, and three hearty cheers for the victors and the vanquished, the men returned to camp. An infantry match was then arranged between the City and Stoke Rifles and the Wellington Artillery, the medium Enfield rifles being the weapons used. Intense interest was shown in this match, but only four rounds were fired, owing to the darkness setting in. At this stage the Wellington men were again in advance of their opponents, leading the Stoke Rifles by nine points, and the City Rifles by twenty-one points. The following day being Sunday a church parade was held by the Yen. Archdeacon Thorpe, at ten a.m. The rev. gentleman’s sermon was listened to with deep interest, it being very eloquent and instructive and in every respect fitted to the occasion. Easter Monday was the day fixed for the review, and a large number of people from the city were soon on the ground. Before two o’clock, the time fixed for the review, there must have been considerably over two thousand spectators on the ground. At seven a.m. a preliminary exercise took place, the men being put through skirmishing and bayonet drill, and at 10 o’clock the detachments of Artillery were manceuvered by Captain Pearce. Both did their work very creditably, and were on much more equal terms than on the previous Saturday, the Nelson detachment having evidently profited by the good example set them on that occasion ; the dismounting and mountin" being done almost together, Nelson having a °slight advantage in- the first part of the work by about three seconds, and Wellington, in return, beating them in the second part by about the same time. The Infantry Match, which was commenced on Saturday, was resumed and finished. A"ain the Wellington men were the victors, beating the City Rifles by no less than ninetytwo points, and the Stoke Rifles by fifty-two. The shooting of Gunner Webb, on behalf of the Wellington team, is deserving of special mention, he having scored fifty-two points out of a possible sixty. THE UEVIEW. At one o’clock on Easter Monday the whole of the companies were brought out under the command of Captain Marshall. They were as follows : Wellington Artillery: 1 officer, 5 sergeants, 1 bu"ler, 20 rank and file ; Nelson Artillery ; 3 officers, 4 sergeants, 46 rank and file ; City Rifles; 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 37 rank and file; Waimea Rifles: 3 officers, 4 sergeants, 36 rank . and file; Stoke Rifles; 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 33 rank and file ; Artillery Cadets : 3 officers, 3 sergeants, 25 rank and file ; City Cadets : 2 officers, 5 sergeants, 29 rank and file ; Stoke Cadets : 2 officers, 2 sergeants, 13 rank and file. The whole making a total of 291. After being put through a number of evolutions, the Volunteers were reviewed by the Hon. Major Richmond, after which the detachments of Artillery were put through their gun exercise, and a very close contest between the Nelson and Wellington detachments, having the 12-pounder guns, took place in the dismounting and mounting drill, the Nelson detachment being in advance by about three seconds. There was also the Wellington detachment with the 6-poundcr gun. This useful piece of ordnance was handled by the men in a manner deserving of great praise, it being dismounted and mounted in about one-third of the time taken by the 12-pounders. The disabled battery drill was then gone through, and in this the Wellington detachment gained a decided advantage, beating the Nelson one by between two and three minutes. The other companies were now thrown out into skirmishing order, and advanced to the hills in front of the camp, keeping up the firing with great regularity. The guns were then brought into action, and took up the firing on the right and “* left flanks. The firing was continued in this order for about fifteen minutes, during which time, the scene was much admired by the spectators. On the sound of the bugle to retire, the whole force fell back to the bottom of the hill immediately under the camp, where rallying squares were formed and the firing was again kept up with great rapidity. The Wellington detachment of Artillery here showed to great advantage, firing between two and three shots to one fired by the Nelson detachment. As soon as the cease firing was sounded, the whole were formed into column and addressed by the lion. Major ■Richmond, who said ;—lt will be in the recollection of many who are now present that at the last review I congratulated you upon

having thrown off the apathy it was evident you had labored under for several previous years. The large. attendance here to-day, the state of your anus, the creditable way in which you have gone through the several manoeuvres, and the knowledge you have shown of Light Infantry drill prove that that apathy is a thing of the past, as this improvement could not have been attained without considerable zeal on your part and without constant attendance and attention at your parades and drill. It is due to the Artillery to notice the.good and serviceable state of their guns and the manner they have executed their part of the manoeuvres, which has tended so greatly to the success of the day. In these remarks I include the detachment of Artillery from Wellington ; they have shown us they have been well instructed, and that they have profited by the instruction. lam sure I express the feelings of the Nelson Volunteers in stating the satisfaction it has given them to welcome this detachment to their camp, and in thanking our visitors for the assistance they have rendered in carrying out the movements of this day’s review. I was glad to find that the remarks I made at the last review have been borne out by the report of the Inspecting Officer of Volunteers (Major Gordon). I will read an extract from that report on- the companies I was then reviewing ;—“ The Artillery Company is a new one, and unlike many other companies of a similar arm, it has not neglected its infantry duties by confining itself exclusively to gun drill. The City Rifles and the City Cadet Company are in as good order as the Artillery Company, and besides performing well and steadily ordinary company movements, all these companies requested me to manoeuvre them in battalion drill, in which they acquitted themselves in every way to my satisfaction.” This is the opinion of an officer well qualified to give a correct one, and I will venture to assert that whoever the inspecting officer may be this year, he will agree in the opinion I have now expressed upon your discipline and efficiency. In addition to your able drill-instructor Sergeant-Major Alborough, you have now a commanding officer thoroughly competent and willing to instruct you, and under his command you cannot fail to make further progress, provided (and I ask you to bear this in mind) that on your part you continue the same zeal and attention which you have lately given to your duties. Captain Marshall, I congratulate you upon the state the Volunteers are in, and iqxm the success of your first review. At the conclusion of the hon. Major’s address, the men were dismissed, and about half-past seven started for the city. Luncheon and refreshments were provided for the Volunteers and the public; but the less said about the quality of the food, or the price charged for it, the better. An amusing incident occurred during the day. An elderly lady, of the “ Sairey Gamp ” style, was ordered to “ keep back” by a cadet, but she did not seem to appreciate the zeal of the juvenile soldier, for she seized him by the neck, shook him, and threw his rifle away. The Wakefield and Artillery band# were in attendance.

They arrived in town about half-past ten o’clock, a number of spectators turning out to witness their return. Before being dismissed, the men were complimented by Captain Marshall on their good conduct in every respect, and the cheerfulness displayed by them in performing every duty imposed upon them. He thanked the Nelson Artillery Band for their successful efforts to enliven the encampment. On the following day Captain Pearce, with his detachments and their guns, embarked on board the Phoebe, for Wellington. They were accompanied by Captain Marshall and other officers of the city corps and the Artillery company, with their band, under Captain Pitt. After three cheers had been given for the Wellington Artillery, the Nelson Artillery, Captain Marshall, and others, the Phcebe moved off and arrived at Wellington at 7.30 on Wednesday morning. Before dismissing his men Captain Pearce took the opportunity of thanking them for their exemplary conduct and for maintaining their reputation in efficiency of drill.