THE VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5521, 6 December 1878, Page 3

THE VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

(per press agency.) Dunedin, November 9.

The volunteer review which took place today was the most successful and largely attended affair of the kind which ever took place in Otago. At 10.30 the various companies began to muster at Custom Housesquare. Among the first to arrive was the Invercargill contingent, whose band attracted a great deal of attention. The Christchurch, Timnru, and country corps next foil in. Noticeable among the companies, by reason of their uniform, were the Christchurch City Guards and Waikari Rifles. The tou t ensemble when all the corps had taken up their positions was very striking. There were the light grey tunics of the Tokoraairiro men, the darker greys of the East Taieri men, and tho blue jackets of the naval brigades, the scarlet and white facings of the Dunedin City Guards, and the white dresses of the artillery companies. An interesting feature was the number of cadet corps engaged, nearly every company having its youthful auxiliaries. There were five companies’ bauds present, besides several minor bands. After waiting in the square for about an hour the force marched away via Prinoos-street to Eorbnry Park. The sham fight then took place. Tho plan of action was, —the naval force having previously taken up position in the south-western corner of the Park, where six gnus were in position,—the infantry were marched to the attack in three columns, Major Wales' battalion forming right attack, No. 2 (Major Maororie’s) loft attack, and Major Steward's centre attack. Major Wales' batallion extended for attack to tho right, Major Maororie’s to tho left, and Major Steward commanded the centre. Having advanced until close on the supposed enemy, the fire from the defending force was supposed to be getting so severe that the reserves reinforced the fighting line, and the attacking force was then driven back temporarily, and the defending army threatened tho right flank of Major Wales’ battalion, which extended one company to the right flank to repel tho flank attack, advancing and retiring in turn. Skirmishing then took place, when No. 1 and 2 Battalions formed square to receive cavalry, and No. 3 Battalion (in the centre) not having time to form square, deployed, and prepared to receive cavalry in line on both flanks. With this tho sham fight terminated, and parade movements followed. There was a general salute and a few more parade movements. The brigade marched past in column and returned past the saluting point in a mass of quarter-column, and the manoeuvres were over. The men were then formed into squares for tho purpose of receiving cavalry, after which they formed mass of quarter-column, facing towards the grand-stand. The Hon. the Defence Minister, Colonel Whitmore, now camo upon tho ground, and was received with a general salute. Next tho men wheeled into mass of quartercolumn, which movement was_ very well executed, and then formed into lines to the left. The total strength of rank and file on the ground was ;—No. X Battalion, under the command of Major Wales—City Guards, 62; North Dnnodin rifles, 40 ; South District Rifles, 34 ; No. 1 Waikari, 62 : Portobello, 32 j Waikouaiti, 19 ; City Guards Band, 20 ; total, 269. No. 2 Battalion, Major Maororie in command —lnvercargill Baud, 25 ; Artillery, 41 ; Rifles, 45 ; Riverton Rifles, 10 ; Queenstown Rifles, 12 ; Arrow Rifles, 15; Bruce Rifles, 3i ; East Taiori, 27 ; total, 21S. The West Taieri men, though on parade at the Custom-house, did not fall in on tho ground. No. 3 Batallion, in charge of Major Steward, Oamaru—Oamaru Artillery, 21 ; Oamaru Rifles, 42 ; Hampden Rifles, 36 ; Christchurch Artillery, 31 ; Otopopo Rifles, 33; Christchurch Engineers, 30; Timaru Artillery, 27 ; No. 5 Kaiapoi Rifles, 29 ; Temuka Rifles, 25 ; Head-quarters Band, 20 J total, 293. No. 4 Battalion, Cadets, in command of Captain Murray—High School Artillery, 42 ; No. 1 City Guards, 42 ; North District, 42 ; South District, 28 ; Normal, 47 ; Christchurch, 29 ; Oamaru, 43 ; Oamaru Citizens, 37 ; Waikouaiti. 37; Timaru, 22; total, 369 Dunedin Artillery, under the command of Lieutenant Muir, 20 men, two 121 b. Armstrong guns ; Timaru Artillery, one 241 b. howitzer; Oamaru Artillery, one 121 b. howitzer ; Christchurch Artillery, oue 121 b. Armstrong gun ; High School Artillery Cadets, one 61b. Armstrong guns. Tho defending force consisted of Captain Goldie, P.0.N.8., in command ; Dunedin Naval Brigade, Captain Smith and 65 men ; Port Chalmers Naval Brigade, Lieutenant Taylor and 60 men; Dunedin Naval z

Cadets, Lieutenant Cut ten aud 75 men; Dunedin Naval Dram and Lite Band, 20 ; Port Naval Cadets, 30 ; total, 250. There were also connected with the defending force Surgeon Hocken (Dunedin Naval Brigade), and As-sistant-Surgeon Murphy (Dunedin Artillery). The staff of officers present were LieutenantColonel Staveley (in command), Major Lean (Christchurch Brigade), major. Captains Reid (Waikari), Pillans (Olutha), and Stanley (Dunedin Naval Cadets), aide-de-camp; Staff-Surgeons Stevenson, Harrison, MolCay, Smith, Fowler (Invercargill), McPherson (Oamaru), andSoully (Queenstown); storekeeper, Sergeant Paxton ; armorer, Sergeant Mills ; staff-bugler, Black. The total number on parade was about 1450. After the men had received the Defence Minister, the following movements amongst others were gone through :—Deploying into line of quarter column and to the left; quarter columns on right of battalion; lino of quarter columns on the centre; the battalion changiug front, forming mass, and marching in full marching order. The movements of the Naval Brigade came in for a large share of praise. After the review two races took place. The Handicap Hurdle Race, for which there were seven entries, was won by Lieutenant-Colonel Staveley’s Camellia. The Officers’ Trotting Race, 10 entries, was won by Sub-Lieutenant Matthews’ Tommy.

November 10.

At the Forbury Park on Saturday a young girl, Mary Powell, picked up a loaded carbiue and sliot her school mate, Edith Evans, in the cheek. The wound is not dangerous. The officers of the Otago volunteers gave a dinner on Saturday night in honor of the Defence Minister (Hon. Colonel Whitmore) and the Native Minister (Hon. Mr. Sheehan). All the companies were represented ; Lieut.Colonel Staveley occupied the chair. The various speakers strongly urged that greater facilities should be given by the Government for successfully organising volunteer forces. Colonel Whitmore promised to endeavor to get a larger grant next year, but held that no volunteer company should be allowed to exist which could not turn out to parade with fifty welldisciplined men. During the evening he intimated that Colonel Gordon had been appointed inspector of volunteers. The Hon. Mr. Sheehan delivered a humorous speech, detailing how for mauy years the members of the present Ministry had lived on the cold side of the house, where the sun does not shine, and whore there was no warmth nor circulating medium. A year ago Plevna fell into their hands, and now the Turks were in opposition, and Colonel Whitmore, who represented Russia, was in charge. Great amusement was here created by a gentleman singing, “ But you won’t be there lung.” Mr. Sheehau replied that then it would take a long and hard fight to get them out, as they had had too much trouble in getting iu to bo easily turned out. He also said that at a festive gathering it would not be well to introduce the disturbing element of politics, aud as to the intentions of the Ministry he would just leave them as wise as before be rose. , November 11. The dismounting competition between the Dunedin and Christchurch batteries, which it was found impossible to go through at Forbury Park on Saturday last, took place this morning at the high school grounds. The conditions were as follows;—At the word “ action,” roar to come into action, fire three rounds and dismount the battery, change both wheels, limher up, and the detachment at the rear stand at ease. The visitors were victorious, finishing in three minutes exactly. The time of the others was not taken, as they did not finish. They were unfortunate in smashing their handspike, aud lost some time iu consequence of havi gto use the sponge staff instead. The visiting detachment are no novices, and have evidently been well drilled.