TARANAKI GUARDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 144, 27 September 1910, Page 8

TARANAKI GUARDS

' HDMOROUS proceedings: The Tnramiki Guards paraded last night 47 strong, undler Lieutenant) Boon, ostensibly for a march out. Tffl* men were nrastc ed in the drilLshed' ait 7.50, and' from that time till 9.16" they were examined as to their reasons-. for not attending the battalion paradtes celled for 22 and September 14. Tlie proceeding were of a humorous nature for everybody (except the men), for a file visit by non-coms., with red note-books gavo the impression that the corps was "under arrest."

The reasons given were varied and interesting, and inchiidicd stateme nta that the absentee was "ill," "working," had been imdlulging in "medicine," and so on. Some of tne reasons given were not accepted as sufficient, ami those men whose excuses were not valid' were fallen out and asked to explain in the orderly room. In the meantime the Rifles were cooling their heels owtsi'de, together with the band and spectators. It is not known whether tilve reasons for the non-attend-ance of t'hu Rifles at the parades indicated were satisfactory or not. At any rate the teld notebooks not requisitioned for blieji. At. 9.15 the Guards left the dlrillshed for their mftrcfeout, which was short and sharp, and without utility. Outside the drilMWf, the crowd of citizens gave "t'hwe cheers for Captain Mills 1" in which tne troops joined. Thr> tnwps we-re not under good control, a,n<l leapfrog was indulged in during itihe inquisition. W!hen the troops joined in the cheers for Captain Mills—a quite irregular proceeding—they were not ebecJced. The Guards will undergo their firing on Tlmreday, and trophies. -will "be given.