THE J BATTERY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1186, 27 October 1882, Page 2

THE J BATTERY.

The J Battery of Artillery Volunteers met last night at the Drill-shed, Gladstone Road, for parade inspection by Captain TW. Porter the Officer Commanding the District, but owing to that officer being unavoidably absent the inspection devolved npon Captain G. J. Winter. About 40 of the Company were present, including the Baud. The Company then marched through the town headed by their Bund. Before leaving the Drill-shed Sergeant-Major Featonthon read the following circular from the Defence Office, Wellington, dated Uth October, 18801-~ Officer Commanding Poverty Bay District. Sir,—-I am directed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to inform you that certain I changes in the constitution and organisation i of the Volunteer Force will take place from I the Ist of January, 1883, and in order to ; save time and give every opportunity for ! members of Volunteer Corps to discuss and I consider the new legulations under which i they will have to serve, the principal points I will be briefly detailed—(l), Volunteer Corps will be divided into two classes, viz,.; I. Garrison or Head Quarter Corps; 2, Country Corps. (2}. Garrison Corps uro such as form part of the fixed establishment the Government consider necessary for the service of the Colony. (3.) Country Companies and all other Corps whose services are continued but not included in the fixed establishment,

(4). The qualification for capitation for Garrison Corps will be as follows -1. Attendance at 12 Government parades of not less than two hours’ duration, one hour of which must bo devoted absolutely to drill; four of these parades must be held in day - light. 2. To fire in Ist and 2nd periods of target practice, and go through the first and second periods of judging distance drill, 5. For Country Corps, members to qualify for capitation will have to attend one inspection of arms, accoutrements, etc., in each quarter and undergo not less than one hour’s drill, and also fire in the Ist and 2nd periods of target practice and go through the Ist and 2nd periods of judging distance practice. (6.) No parade, drill, or instruction to reckon towards capitation in either Garrison or Country Corps, if less than the minimum strength of the Corps is present. (7) The maximum and minimum strength of Corps of all arms to be as follows:—Garrison Corps : Maximum, 63 ; Minimum, 43. Country Corps: Maximum, 50; Minimum,3o. (8) Every Volunteer to enrol for twelve months' continuous service, and untrained recruits only permitted to enrol for Corps in the months of January and July in each year. (9) These recruits to be formed into squads irrespective of Corps; they will have to attend 30 hours’ recruit drill, and go through the 2st and 2nd periods of target and judging distance practices, when if reported efficient they will be passed in drill and join the ranks of their Corps. (10) Capitation can be claimed for these recruits provided the period under instruction has not exceeded six months, and a free issue of a serge suit will be granted to enable them to attend recruits’ drill in uniform.

(11) Men who have previously received military training can be enrolled at any period during the year, but they will not receive capitation unless they, have qualified for it by attending the requisite number of parades. (12) Officers and Non-commissioned Officers will have to undergo an examination (before their appointments are confirmed) in certain subjects which will be specified in the new regulations. (15). Garrison Bands only will be permitted in stations where there are four Corps or upwards of a strength in proportion of five men to each Corps. (14) They are to be under the immediate control of the Officer in oommand of the district. Capitation will be granted to bandsmen who attend the proper number of parades and Government assistance afforded towards defraying expenses of instruction. (15) At places where there are less than 4 Corps the same proportion of bandsmen will be allowed, but no other assistance will be granted. (16) Volunteer Corps who are at present above the maximum strength laid down in new regulations will be required to reduce their numbers to the fixed establishment before the 31st of January, 1883, and may adopt such means by ballot or otherwise as may be deemed best to carry out the required reduction. (17) Corps failing to do so before the above date will be disbanded and new Corps of the authorised establishment formed in their plane. , (18) Cadet Corps, except those in ouuneotion with schools will be disbanded at the close of the present year. (19) Regulation uniforms will be paid for as heretofore out of capitation, the Government obtaining them on application from the Corps. (20) The question of uniforms for Country Corps will be dealt witli hereafter. (21) Corps at present designated Engineers w;ll cease to be recognized as such after 31st December, 1882.

(22). Naval Volunteers will bp re-CQn-structed as ‘’Naval Artillery Volunteers,” to be trained at the four principal ports in the working of the heavy batteries, about to be erected, for which a special allowance will be granted us specified in forthcoming regulations.

(23). If you require any further informal ticu on the points touched upon in this nt«>

morandum it will at once be furnished to you on application to this office.—l am, etc.,

11. J. Reader, Lieut. Col., Under-Sec. for Defence. Captain W inter in a few appropriate remarks upon the circular said that the maximum and minimum strength of the Corps of all arms was to be as follows:—Garrison Corps : Maximum, 63 ; Minimum, 43. Country Corps: Maximum, 50 ; Minimum, 30. He considered that for a small town like this the minimum was too high, and he thought that if the matter was properly represented to the Government an alteration might be effected. He said the prize firing for the cups would take place on the third Saturday in November. The following are the entries for His Worship the Mayor’s and Mr. W. L. Rees’s Presentation Cups. Captain Winter, Sergeant Piesse, Sergeant Ledger, Corporal O’Meara, Bombadiers W. O’Meara, Cresswell, Ballantyne, Gunners A. Webb, Hansen, Stark, Oatridge, Thelwall, Warren, Beveridge, Boynton, Nasmith, Robb, Bandsmen A. Nash, J. Nash, Taylor, and Morrison.