Volunteer Notes

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2071, 27 January 1898, Page 2

Volunteer Notes

A meeting of the T.R.V. Shooting Committee was held on Tuesday evening last. It was agreed to have a practice match, of the team picked to represent Te Aroha against the Thames , Navals, this afternoon at the range. A short discussion ensued as to the best way of entertaining the visitors, when it was resolved the team be entertained as on prei®|ws occasions. Considerable discuSsion ensued je.latiy© to the advisability of sending a representative teaiA^to. the N.Z. Rifle Association’s affeal meeting, which will be held at Camaru in March next. Nothing definite was decided, but there is every probability a strong team will be despatched to hold up the honour of the Te Aroha Rifles. It is quite possible the Naval Band will accompany the shootists on Saturday next, if such should be the- case a Church Parade will .be held the following morning. The first parade of the Waikato- \ Mounted Infantry took place on Satur-. ' day afternoon last, when the new uuiforms where worn for the first time. Some 50 men where on parade, and the appearance presented by the corps was a very neat one,, and the style ofunifonn appears to be favourably received by the men generally.. . Colonel Banks was in command and the company repaired to the rifle range for volley firing. There is some talk of a Rifle Club being formed in the Waikato., It i& hoped that this movement will not in any way be detrimental to the newly ; formed company. Colonel Pole Penton, Commander of the New Zealand Forces, together with Colonel Banks, officer commanding theAuckland district, visited Whakatane fon Wednesday last, for the purpose of making inquiries into the raising of the proposed mounted rifle corps in that, distric t. A deputation waited on the Commander, when: the matter was fully discussed. About 56 names have been taken of those willing to join ; a good site for a range has been secured on Mr White’s property, and othernecessary formalities have been fully entered into.. Colonel Pole Pentofis expressed his approval of the district as? a volunteer centre, at the time stating that tho great difficulty' lay. in. the providing qualified instructors for drill purposes, there being only one-, drill instructor provided by the Governmet for the Auckland district; It ■ was pointed out that Colonel Bankfe himself had to undertake the duties of drill instructor in the Waikato dis- • trict, showing plainly how undermanned- the department was imthis. matter. It was explained that therewere men in the district competent, to, ; give instruction, and it is hoped that: . the difficulty may be--overcome iu. this, manner. The uniform for the,..proposed. corps is to be of a serviceable, kind, both for military and other purposes, viz., Kharkee or blue aerg& ! jacket, Bedford cord pants, leggings,, and a soft felt hat. of al selected! pattern.. -