VOLUNTEERING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 21 June 1907, Page 2

VOLUNTEERING.

«. A FIELD DAY. Six companies of the Taraimki battalion held a Held day on Thursday afternoon. Hawera and Pal en were not represented. There were wretchedly poor musters. The staff-ollicers present were:—Colonel Dimes, C.8., Inspect-jr-General of the Forces; Colonel Bauchope, C.M.G., ollicer commanding the district; Captain Chesney, aide to Col. Davies; Captain Sandford, unattached; Lieut-Colonel Okcy, in command of the northern part of the district; Oapt.Adjutant Weston; ex-Capt.-Quart ermaster Cock, V.D. The companies on parade were: Taranaki Rifles, under command of C'apt. Bellringer, and Licuts. Lever and Humphries; Taranaki Guards, Captain Mills, and Lieutenants Boon and Beadle; Waitara littles, Lieutenant Wilkes. The attacking portion under Major Malone; Inglewood Ritles, Captain Leech, and Lieut. Thomson; Stratford Rifles, Lieut. Anderson; Eltham Rifles, Captain Carter, Licuts. Clarke and Whiting. The defending portion took up Sentry Hill as the main position, throwing out outpost groups to the south, After a considerable wait a small portion of the enemy was discerned approaching the right ilank, but this was only a feint attack; the real attack being developed from the east. The attack was being pressed home, and was being well replied to, when the whistles went for "cease fire."

the Inspector - General, addressing officers and men, said he was pleased io see those that were present. It was of no use to growl at them about those who had stayed away, but he hoped on a liiturc occasion to see a larger muster. It was impossible for a man to earn the whole of his work in a hallhe must fake the field, and for this reason the pay for these grades and at Easter camps had been increased. Hi' pointed out the various mistakes »'«'l''. ami implied that the attackers had earned out their work very fairly ;-M at the defenders had bee^S: d b> being lt I.ttlo too much diaperlong. He emphasised the need for " discipline, an d at tllis st , ess was cut short by the Sr.ival of <"•* 1' ' i t h„ nf,a " re ' T,ws « who much Vn Icn w fb t T° ou ™" »«« so '"* anxio,, f „, ° Work that «««v ap pParpi , to R ' . ■ ™,m,unication , )c t,vcc, ,„„ , n -• Jhe tendency „ 1,,,,,,.,, t , , "n, 00, was not ceabl.-. tlongh ir, , -** thne was a shght improvement on > ~ ~ "V" •'', S . P ' ;, - VS .;. Mi "V of the men 1 •»«'d a. deposition to expose «,„„. f "'ws on the skyline, ma i tillJ , sxooll „ nt 1

lav-ets. Hiey learned sometliing and with more practice outside they should T,,,n i'l Tt v Mtcll for should the battalion contest be •irranged. Many old Taranaki war veterans were interested spectators of tlie operations.