The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1875.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 249, 20 February 1875, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLES ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1875.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.”

So far the esprit de-corps of our Volunteers has not been without its reward. They have emulated the patriotism of their Southern compeers, by a persistent sacrifice of time and personal convenience, in a manner calculated to bring upon them the admiration, as it must have done the notice, of those whose particular attention has been directed towards theirmovements. Conspicuously, however, in the general clang of military ardour, stands forth the unswerving exactitude of the Poverty Bay Mounted Rifle Volunteers. The members of this troop have yielded to the necessities which their position naturally entails, with a willing spirit, and a hearty desire to maintain the prestige gained in past times and hard struggles. Responding to an invitation to that effect, we have had an opportunity afforded us during the past week of witnessing the demeanor of this Troop in camp life, and we gladly bear testimony to the discipline and orderly bearing manifested by all grades. The unanimity and cheerfulness with which each man does his duty arc among the most noticeable features of its formation, as they are, also, among lhe most potent elements of its success. There is an entire absence of that individual petulance, and small-minded irritation and discontent which, unfortunately, too often prevail in the ranks of our Volunteers—the democratic power of “election” tending largely to fail the flame t >, almost, overt insubordination, or covert disrega d for, if not contempt of, proper authority. Under the able instruction of Sergeant Armstrong, the Troop has attained to a very satisfactory degree of efficiency, the various evolutions being executed with as much precision as is possible, when it is considered that the horses are not specially

trained, and kept solely for military work. The arrangements, too, are so planned, that the call of duty for a week once a year, presses in reality less hard upon the members individually than did the day’s parade once a quarter under the old. system. There are four hours’ drill daily, namely, in the morning and evening from 5 to 7 o’clock, two hours each. After mess in the morning a guard is told off, in command of an orderly officer for the day, sufficient for the protection of the camp, when “ passes” are given to all the rest until evening parade, thus giving the members an opportunity of attending to their private affairs during the day. At 7 o’clock after evening parade the mess tent is again filled, when the utmost sociability and good feeling prevail. There is no classification here, because it is found to be unnecessary ; the officers have their own quarters it is true, but, except when actually out under arms, there is not the slightest distinction in the domestic economy of the camp. Mess being over the force pass the rest of the evening with such amusements as are congenial to, and inseparable from, life in the field. Guards are again mounted and all hands remain in camp for the night. The spot selected for this year’s campaign is on the Patutahi Flats, the tents —nine in number—being pitched under the willow trees which afford pleasant relief from the sun and weather ; altogether the work may be considered as a military pic-nie, so happily is duty blended with pleasure, and so nicely is the “ science of life ” adjusted, that neither is performed at the expense of the other.

There is a peculiar appropriateness in drawiug attention to our local defenders at this season ; for it is not unreasonable to suppose that with the withdrawal of the Militia from an active service footing, the Volunteers will look upon their self-imposed service as an irksome duty, whose incubus will sit more heavily by the contrast. A favorable expression of public appreciation will, we trust, avert this, for so sure as discontent crops up, personal interest—a most necessary ingredient of success—will be lost, and a general decadence will follow. We repeat, then, a hope that our Volunteers will keep up their strength and effectiveness, especially the cavalry, for it is to them we should look for more immediate support in the hour of danger. There is no visible sign that their services will be required again ; but in view of the liberal manner in which they are treated by the Government, and the good opiuion entertained towards them by the public, they should not yield to temptation, and so undo the work they have labored so zealously to achieve.