VOLUNTEERING.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 185, 13 May 1872, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING.

The monthly inspection parade of the Thames Volunteers was held on Saturday afternoon, when about 175 mustered at their respective drill grounds. The Naval Brigade and Thames Scottish in Grahatnslown, and the Rifles at the Volunteer Hall. The following corps were represented on parade as follow : —Thames Scottish, Captain Murray, Lieut. Robertson, Ensign Stewart, and 20 of other ranks. No. 1 Royals H.R.V., Captain Lipsey, Lieut. Lechner; Ensign Quinton, and 29 non-commissioned officers and men. No. 2 11.R.V., Captain Barnett, Lieut. Hazard, Ensign Crick, and 28 men. Thames Rifle Rangers, Captain Williams, Lieut. Rae, Ensign Carnie, and 20 men. The Engineers and No. 3 paraded together, and were represented by their officers and 14 of all ranks. The Naval Brigade, Captain Grant, Lieiits. Basley and Bruce, Secretary Jackson, and 30 rank and fib', together with the hand, mustered 5U strong. The Navals and Si otlisli having repaired to th ■ Volimti er Hall, headed by their drum and fife hand, the w ! ole were marched on to the cricket ground, where, having been drawn tip, the following prizes were presented to the winners at the late contest for district prize firing :

Corporal Somerville, T.S.V., was called to the front, and presented with tlie Provincial medal, having made the highest score in the province, together with a purse containing £B, this being the first prize in the first set. The following prizes in this set were then presented : 2nd. Sere emit Bavldon, No. 3 tI.R.V., £6. Slid. Warrant O.’ficer Thompson, T.N.8., £5. 4th. Captain Murray, T.S.V.. £3. sth. Sergeant Small, No. 2 H.K.V., £3. Gth. Volunteer Wilson, T.E.V., £3. 7th. Volunteer Gell, No. 3 H.U.V., £2 10s. Bth. Corporal Barnett, No. 2 H.R.V., £2 10s. 9th, Captain Barnett, No. 2 H.R.V., £2 10s. 10th. Seaman Thomas, T.N.8., £1 10s. 11th. Volunteer Bennett, No. 2 H. It. V., £1 10s. 12th. Lieutenant Hazard, No. 2 H.R.V., £1 10s.— In the second set the following were the prize-takers : —lst. Seaman Gavan, T.N.8., £5. 2nd. Vol. Gordon, T.R.R., £3. 3rd. Lieutenant Rae, T.R.R., £2 10s. 4th. Volunteer McLeod, T.S.V., £2 10s. sth. Volunteer Stafford, No. 2 H.R.V., £2. Gth. Volunteer Cook, No. 2 H.R.V., £2. 7th. Seaman Thomas, T.N.8., £1 10s. Bth. Ensign Crick, No. 2 H.R.V., £1 10s. From the above list, it will be seen that No. 2 H.R.V. took uo less than eight prizes out of the twenty given—five in the first set, and three in the second. An Imperial service medal was then issued to Seaman Harvey, of the Navals ; and a Colonial service medal to Color-Sergeant Cleary, of the T.E.V.; after which the prizes won by the Thames Scottish at their company firing for second-class shots on Saturday week last were presented:— Corporal Buttle, first prize, a gold pin, the gift of Mrs Laird ; and Volunteer Prendergast, a watch-guard, the gift of Sergeant Maddock. We omitted to mention that most of the money prizes were in purses made and presented by the ladies of the district. Major Cooper informed the Volunteers that he had received a letter from Major Goidon, stating that if 200 Volunteers would attend the review in Auckland, on the 24th, the Government would lay on a steamer, and convey them both ways. The captains of companies met after parade, when it was deemed not possible to get the requisite number to go, ns the Navals have made arrangements to stay down here. The idea of the Thames Volunteers taking part in the review is thus knocked on the head, and a sham fight will beheld down here instead. During the parade on Saturday evening one of the members of No. 1 Royals, H.R.V. was guilty of insubordinate conduct towards Major Cooper, who ordered him out of the ranks and gave Captain Lipsey orders to discharge the man from his company instantly. We consider that if men cannot he kept under proper discipline whilst in the ranks they are not fit to be voluntee~s, and deserve to be discharged ignominionsly. For the good of the volunteer movement iti this distrie t we trust these things will not be allowed to go unpunished.