Our Volunteers.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3956, 2 September 1881, Page 2

Our Volunteers.

By the courtesy of Colonel Header, Under-Secret»ry for Defence, we- are enabled to give Major Murray's report on the Thames Volunteers for the year ending 31st March last, and we hope in a few days to be able to publish that of Colonel Eeader on the Volunteers of the colony. Major Murray's report is dated Thames, 19th May, 1881, and is as follows:— Colonel Ebadeb, Uuder Secretary Defence, i Wellington. Sir, —By authority of your telegram of the 16th inst., number 137, I have the honor to transmit the annexed report on the Volunteers of this district, for the year ending 3lst March, 1881:—Stiff. —The District Staff consists of one Major in command and one drill instructor. The drill instructor also acts as orderly room clerk. . Coeps.—-The number of corps in this command is nine, viz., seven adult and two cadet companies, details of which are as follows :— Hauraki Engineers and Band... 109 Scottish Battalion — . Ho. 1 Company and Band 130 Na. 2 Company ... ... 96 No. 3 Company ... ... 41 -..,•■■ .; —-267 Rifle Rangera and Band ... 115 Naval Brigade and Band ... 163 Native Company ... ... 50 Cadeta — Scottish ... ... ... .39 Naval 57 * ■...■—■■ 96

Total Volunteers all ranks ... 800 No. 3 Company is an out-district Company atPaeroa, Ohinemuri, and has suffered in attendance during the year by the Aroba and Waihi new goldfiolda drawing away some of tbe members. AbSis.—The several Companies are armed as under:—Engineers, first clasa breech loading snider carbine. The Naval Brigade are similarly armed, but not fully, and a further supply is required to completely arm all the Brigade. The Scottish Battalion and Hangers are served with suider rifles which have b«eu cou- I

verted from muzzle loading enfields. The Native Company have oa usue a new short suider of an inferior kind. The Scottish Cadets have a muzzle loading short carbine, and the Naval Cadeta some old breech loading Terry carbine*. The arms for issue to the Cadets are absolutely dangerous in target practice or field work, and the boys have been prohibited from using them. The want of a good weapon has militated against the attendance of the boys at * drill. From the above it will be seen that none of the companies in this district are with a long rifle of precision. The JELifle Volunteers particularly are placed at a disadvantage in not having a better shoot* ing weapon. Had it not been for your kindness last year and the year before in permitting the temporary loan of a few short sniders with Imperial Government stamp, none of the Thames riflemen would have been able to compete at the annual contest at Nelson. In these days of long range warfare, it; is imperatively necessary every volunteer should be armed with the best weapon obtainable, that he may have } full confidence in his rifle at the longest ranges. Clothing.—-The various companies are well and appropriately uniformed :— Hauraki Engineers: Bed tuD^n blue facings, black trousers, broad rl^Mtripe, regulation helmet. Scottish BawStVion: Bed tunics (same pattern as 93rd Highlanders), turtau trousers, regulation bell met. .Rifle Bangers : Scarlet tunic, dark trousers, red cord, regulation helmet. Naval Brigade; Blue jumper with white piping, blue trousers, naval cap, with name of corps. The Maori Company: Blue uniform, scarlet facing, peaked cap. The Cadet Companies are well and neatly dressed..

Dbill HAiiL.~There is no central ciriii hall in this district, nor an inch of parade ground. Each company has to hire, a room for weekly drills or inspections, and when a general muster is called the parade has to be formed in the public street on the sufferance of the police or local municipal authorities. Attendance.~l am glad to be able to state that the attendance at drill in all the companies has been satisfactory during the past year,, and there has been an evident desire on the part of both' officers and men to become more efficient in their respective duties, and to attain to, if possible, a higher standard in this direction. I am pleased also to add that in any of my endeavors to impart instruction, and to foster and encourage the enthusiasm which prevails amongst the volunteers, I have been at all times ably assisted by. the officers of the various companies. Special Uemaeks. Engineebs.—This Company is fairly supplied with tools and appliances suitable for field work, and the men receive instruction from their officers in constructive engineering, and occasional lectures on cognate subjects, all tending to increased efficiency. Naval Brigade.—This v o&e of the most effective companies in the district, and besides the usual drill of Infantry Volunters, the men are put through a regular course of gunnery by their officers. I would draw attention to the necessity for supplying this fine body of men with two light Armstrong guns in lieu of the heavy howitzers at present used by them, which are of an old. type, and too cumbersome for field, work. The ! Brigade is supplied with a a well-found thirteen (13) ton gunboat,' in which the seamen of the Brigade are periodically exercised, j N Encampment.—Under authority from your office, and owing to the excellent railway arrangements made, the volunteers of this district were able to tajte,, advantage of the encampment for four" days, which was held at Te Awamutu '• during Easter, 1881; and the excellent,; opportunity thus .afforded both men and. officers for acquiring some knowledge of the duties of soldiers, was much appreciated in this command, and I would v strongly urge that arrangements be" made for giving the Volunteer* 'a > fortnight's training in the field every year. This would be of > ineaicuU' able value to them, and a means of enabling all ranks to acquire' practical- - lessons in military operations and usages, and specially also for accustoming the younger members to habits of strict dis. cipline. I need hardly indicate how much more could- be learned in. the field by a ' fortnight's daily drill and duty than could be acquired in a whole year, if indeed, ever under the present system of drilling in sheds by gaslight, where the move* '_ ments must necessarily be suited to the limits of the space available, and only an -. outline of field work be possible. . ' 7 Inspections.—Besides the weekly com* pany drills of the various corps, they have / been regularly inspected monthly by . Major Withers, or by me under his authority. In addition there were two-"" special inspections—one by Major Withers ■ » at the Auckland review in November last, ' aud one by Col. Lydn at Te Awamutu.

Alarm.—Should occasion require, the majority of. the volunteers of this district could stand to their arms within a few minutes, on their respective parades, either by day or night. . GfiUEBALLY—I may remark that taking _ into consideration the shifting and migra* tory character of. a goldfied population) and the consequent frequent change of both officers and men, it is matter for "J surprise and congratulation that the different companies have been keptf^lp to their full strength and efficiency. Public SuppoKT.—lt may not be oat of place for me here to inform you of the readiness of the general public of the Thames to support the volunteer move- ■ ment in the district. This they do by giving numerous and valuable prizes for shooting, drill, and regular attendance.' These prizes are a great stimulus to the volunteers, not so much for their actual or intrinsic worth, but as indications of the lively interest taken by the public in the endeavor of the volunteers to become practical soldiers and defenders of the, country. In conclusion, while I have a ' delicacy in making favorable comments on the volunteers of my own district,-1 I would not br> doing my duty were I not to say that I have at all times received the most perfect and willing obedience' from officers and men, and I would close „ this report by reminding you that inspect* ing officers from outside the district have remarked on the fine physique, attention to drill, and steadiness, under command of both officers and men of the Thames district, and I can earnestly assure you■■'-• that in no way has the efficiency of the district lessened during the past year. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, T. L. Muebat, Major Commanding Thames District.