VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 87, 8 April 1903, Page 2

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

EASTER ENGAMPMISNT, The Eaeter Encampment of the local battalion tak-:s place this year at Hawsra on thaS excellent c imping ground at the likes - just outside Hawera. hawera has beea chiasn for thin camp so that nil the Companies in tbe battalion can attend with aa little inconvenience as possible. It is to be hoped th it the muster of the headquarters companies and tha Garrison Band will ba a good one so that New Plymouth may be well represe&t-d. There is a rumour that somi of the man employed in N«w Plymouth are finding difficulty in getting leave. We hop) them is no truth iu this roport and that every business man who has a member of the local corps ia his employ will not only givo the necessary leave, bui use his influence to urge him to attend. The Easter camp is without exception the best twining cauip o? tho volunteer year and the one si/. Hawera promises to be, if auffl :i riitly wed attended, tec piiona'ly valuable to those who attend is. The Gorernmai.t have sent up 10,000 rounds of blank cartridge and a good deal of field work will bo done and both officers and men wiil profit by movements part in by a large bidy of men. Those who want to avou the evil of a standing army should aid and encourage out' citizen soldiers in every possible way.

The Taranaki R fles paraded on Monday evening under Captain Wrston and Lieu'enaut Okey. There was a fair | muster. Lieutenant Hellier, cf the Wuitara R fliß, was putf through his practical examination, Ojl ioel Ellis and Major Okey acting as examiners. Tha Hawera Rifles have s-nt thTaraniki ill Baa a challenge to tire a match, 10 men afide, on the 22itd ins:. The Taranaki Guards paiaded on Tuesday evauiug uader Captiin Onok and Lteu eoiiut Holme.', ami, t iking advantage of the moonlight, held au outdoor drill. At bith pa. ados the orders fir the camp at Hawor.i were raad, and th-_< various derails wore told off.

The Ha vvera Star, referring to the Easter encampment, says: —Eight companies will be represanted, and there will be some 300 men under canvas. The Northern companies will arrive by special train on Thursday night, b - tween 9 and 10 o'clock it is expected, and march to camp. The staff officials will come on Thuisday morning and attend to the fixing up of the camp. All preliminary arrangements are completed, and tents and other material are already to hand. We have been requested to state thit any me.a unable to gun away by the special train on Thursday evening, but who can get mvay on P. id ay or Saturday, and hivo to pay railway far* 1 , the samn will be refunded to them by thencompany. Considering the difficulty soin-. of '.himen have to git leave, tha Railway Department allow Voluntas m uniform to travel frt.-e on a pass to or from the camp.