VOLUNTEERING-WHOLESOME CRITICISM.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4213, 3 July 1882, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING-WHOLESOME CRITICISM.

•-.(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.) Sib,— It is very amusing to read the reports in the Advertiser relative to the inspection of our Volunteers. But when one knows that these reports are furnished by the officers themselves one can understand it, although the public may not be aware of the fact. No wonder members are disgusted with the present organisation. The report furnished to the Advertiser-re Engineers is not a very modest one, considering that the senior captain furnished it himself. There were only two officers and thirty-five non« commissioned officers and men present, out of a supposed total of 165. " Crown and Anchor," in yonr issue of Monday, refers to the three-company business, also to the senior Captain's pamphlet. Let him but wait a little longer, and if be does, hit patience will be rewarded. Most, if not all, the M.H.R.'s in Wellington have by this time received a copy. The report on the Rifle Rangers is another rotten report. It is all very well to read these reports, but to witness the movements and then read about them, you can not be gulled. Adjutant Grant was exercising the men when the major entered the room; he then opened the ranks, rushed, up, and saluted the commanding, officer, Major Murray, after which Captain Douglas gave the command to; present arms. Now, there it a great difference in doing things. * Adjutant Grant, with all his knowledge, exceeded his duty in taking command of that bat-' talion without being instructed to do so by the, major, and Captain Douglas ought to have presented arms before being told to do so. We are told that the adjutant put the column through some smart battalion, movements. Goodness gracious ! Fancy' a Maori company and. a badly drilled volunteer company doing smart battalion movements, and at the same time the adjutant.giving wrong words of command. The attendance was 27 men and 2 officers, out of a foil of 100. I have not read any report re " our boys in blue."": I must compliment Captain Wild* man for the manner in which he exercised his brigade on the night of his inspection. He was very correct in his words of com* mand, and the men very steady.—l am, &C.,r- f ,,. • EXPEBIENCB.