VOLUNTEER REGULATIONS.

Thames Star, Volume VI, Issue 1790, 28 September 1874, Page 2

VOLUNTEER REGULATIONS.

His Excellency the Gorernor has,',by an Order in Council, made certain alterations in the rules and regulations respecting volunteers—their discipline, training, &c. The Volunteer Force is to consist of Light Horse, Artillery, Engineer, "'Stifle and Naval Volunteers; and the establishment of officers and non-commissioned officers will be as follows :—maximum strength. T captain, T lieutenanT," 1 sublieutenant,: r 1 troop sergeant-major or color-sergeant, 5 sergeants, 5 corporals, 1 trumpeter or bugler, and §5 privates; total of all ranksj T iOO • ininintum strength—l, captain, 1 lieutenant, I sublieutenant, 1 color-sergeant;,2 :l sergeants, 2_ corporals* 1 bugler and 21 privates ; total of all ranks 30. Any corps falling below, the minimum to be disbanded. Any corjjs will" be entitled ;*tb an Hono-rary-Assistant Surgeon/; cavalry corps to an Honorary Veterinary , ; Suageon. Four 6r v more rifle companies may be formed into a battalion, and will thealW entitled' to a Major, Surgeon and Assis-tant-Surgeon, Adjutant, Sergeant-Maior, Quartermaster-sergeant and ©rum Major. It is provided that bandsmen may be returned on the strength of any corps •ark^ be in excess of the numbers fixed- as the maximum entitled to receive capitation allowance, providing they are. efficient musicians. Provision is -made for the mode of procedure in forming new corps, and volunteers' rank, for examination, of officers before being commissioned. iToncommisfioned officers are to be appointed by the Officer Coramandiug a. corps,, and may be reduced by such officer for any sufficient cause but; with the consent of the Officer Commanding the District. Persons cannot be enrolled as members of a corps unless they are seventeen years of age, except as bandsmen ; apprentice! are not to be enrolled without the consent in writing of their masters; a volunteermay be transferred from one corps to another on giving a week's notice, delivering; up all property belonging to the corps ne is about to leavein good order and condition, and on presenting himself for admission to a new corps he must produce a certificate showing that he has paid all. monies due under the rules ©fthecompanyor these regulations ; enrolled members are t* be classifiedas efficients, non-efficients and reserves ; and efficients are entitled to wear on the right arm just above the cuff of the sleeve a distinctive badge consisting of a ' ring of silver lace three quarters of an inch wide,. of the pattern worn by the corps; members to be deemed efficient when obtaifed certificate in the form prescribed. r Honorary- * members may be enrolled to an unlimited extent; they are not to be subjected to military dicipline, nor are they allowed to interfere with the military duties ; they may wear the uniform of the corps to which they belong; they are not liable to be as« sembled as volunteers for actual service, but they are not exempt from service in the Militia; in the event of being called out for actual service honorary members may elect to serve as volunteer* with their corps ; arm* are not supplied to honorary members by title Government. Volunteer, corps may make rules for their own management, such rules to hare legal force when approved by the Governor. Provision is made for Courts of Enquiry. Officer Commanding ;the District shall once in each calendar month call a parade for inspection, and any officer or volunteer absenting himself without permission of the officer calling the parade shall be liable to have his commission cancelled, to be dismissed from the corps, or to pay a fine of one pound; absence from the annual parade may be similarly punished by the Inspector .or by a fine of five pounds ; every volunteer whose arms and accoutrements are not clean may be fined two shillings, and for being deficient in ammunition may be also punished by a fine of two shillings. • Officer' Commanding the District or Adjutant of the permanent staff may at any time, under, the authority of the Government, call a parade, and any officer or volunteer absenting himself without leave shall pay a fine of five shillings—provided that> attendance at a ceremonial parade shall exempt officer or voluiiteei! from attendanse at the next Governmen parade. Volunteer* may not assemble under arms for any purpose unconnected with military parade, drill or rifle practice except by consent of the Government; volunteers belonging to different corps under arms at rifle matches considered to be under the command of the senior officer present, hot for the arrangement of the meeting but for the maintenance of due order and discipline; camps may be formed—the consent of the Government and Officers Commanding the Districts being first obtained. Ammunition issued in the following proportions—to artillery and navals for every, year (shot or shell) 24 rounds ball and 24 blank; light horse, engineers and rifiesi 100 rounds ball, 20 blank and 150 caps. Volunteers are expected to salute all officers in unifoiwjand officers to return the compliment. TVolunteers may obtain material from the Government for their uniforms at cost price. The general rules for dress, it is stated, "mnsfc be adhered to. Gold lace net to be worn by any of the Colonial Forces; distinctions in uniform .and appointments prescribed in* Her Majesty's regular army to denote th« rank of the wearer .to be". observed by volunteers of all grades; engineers,, rifles and rifle cadets—jumper gray cloth, (unifor shade fixed by Government) facings according to choice; trousers gray cloth bead quarter inch wide same color as facings; forage cap with French peak, band one and threequarter inches wide same color as facings, and initials or number of corps in front; sword with steel scabbard brown leather belt; navals, same as Her.Majesty's navy, substituting silver for gold l*ce.

Officers commanding corps are to be held responsible for the arms, accoutrements and other stores being kept in good repair; any rifle returned into store; , found to '•have bjeen tampered with to be repaired *at the expense of th« corps. In the regulations for rifle practice, the custom of employing boys as markers is prohibited;., badges denoting efficiency may be worn after; permission obtained. Cadet corps, to consist of lads between the ages of 12 and 17, may be formed; members to receive half capitation money ; not to be attested for sereice;; officers commanding such corps to receive substantive commissions ; ammunition and arms to be issued^to cadets for rifle practice at the discretion of the Officer commanding the District or Adjutant of the Permanent Staff; cadets; not to fire in military formation until inspected and pronounced qualified to do so. • (The remainder of the regulations refer to pay and finance and the duties of adjutants and instructors, with an appendix, set of model rules.