VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1387, 25 May 1883, Page 2

VOLUNTEER REVIEW.

The; Anniversary;-; 6ff;He£ Majesty's opened withydtfytMng but every• 'indication .of rain/but towards eleven o'clock the clouds clewed back off the hills, and the day turned out fair and sultry. The Masterton Volunteers arrived at Clareville at 10.30, whence they could be seen at the Carterton'station by the local Volunteers, who'had arrived there some ten minutes previously. CaptiTully, with : his contingent, should.have'arrived at Carterton at 10.30, but) as a matter of : fact, they did riot arrive until twenty minutes later. But a short delay ensued in getting the Carterton men into the train, and a start, was' made for Clareville, -which was reached some 7 minutes later, where it was found the Masterton men were drawn up in time to receive their'comrades. As soon as the debarkation took place, the men were formed four deep, Greytown, Masterton, and Carterton.corps being one, two, and three companies respectively, the Greytown Cadets No. four, and the sturdy and efficient little band of-the Masterton boys bringing up in the rear. The muster of the corps then stood aB follows:—Greytown— Capt. Tully, Lieuts. Cameron, and Webster, 30 rank and file. Masterton—Capt, Donald, Lieuts. Hill and Williams, 40 rank and, file, (including band). Carterton—Capt. Bennett, Lieuts, Crawford and Keid,' 24 rank and file. Cadots—Masterton, Capt, Grundy, Lieuts, Thompson arid Lowes, 36 rank and file. Grey town—Capt, Porritt, Lieuts. Tully and Porritt, 31 rand and file. The Masterton Band, headed by their drum-major, led the way. to the Taratahi' racecourse, and a short dismissal was given after their arrival on the ground, Bugler Rising, of the Carterton corps, acting as staff bugler'throughout the day. On.the men again falling in they were formed into ..open column and subsequently wheeled into line. In tho execution of .this manceuvre the first place must undoubtedly be given to tho Masterton cadets, who came round like a board, while the dressing of the other corps was- anything but soldier liko and regular. The movement had to be repeated two or three times before it was executed to the satisfaction of the commanding officer. The feu da joie was then fired most irregularly, one of tlie men in coming to the order doing his best, to make' <t vacancy in the captaincy of- the Masterton Corps. Here we must give a well merited mede of praise to the Masterton Band for the excellent way in which they rendered the National Anthem: in no small measure attributable to their leader, Mr Papworfch. A royal salute was then given at the command of Major Bunny, and three cheers given for Her Most Gracious Majesty in such a manner as British subjects can alone give when, they render the tribute of their allegianao to. their Queen. The line'then .broke into column on the right, intending on the left, and after alternating the movement for half an hour were brought to the half and deployed on No. 1 (Greytown) Com pany, The dressing in wheeling to the left by companies was again defective, but the: advance in column fair. The retirement by foip was done well and the piling of arms prior to dismissal for lunch effected without a hitoh. An interval of a hour here elapsed to refresh the inner man, and most ably had Mr Whyte catered, and full justice donoto the oxcellent meal he had spread. The Corps were then reformed into line, and then numbered off under their respective captains; this, as the men, spread, over the ground in various directions, being undoubtedly to tho mn cogniswuli the most, attractive venture of the day. The Masterton and Groytown men were then thrown out for skirmish; Carterton and the Cadets being held in reserve, and subsequently relieving them. Bayonet exercise next ensued under the "direction of Sergeant-Major Bezar, and was creditably gone through In the first forming of a hollow square some of the men failed to pay. attention to orders and the consequence was a bit of a muddle, which, however, was rectified on a second attempt. On the marchpast no comment is necessary. No fault could be found with the evolution, but Lieut. Thompson of the Masterton Cadets here again showed himself in the salute record second to no commissioned officer in the Valley Corps. A square was then formed, and Majpr Bunny addressed the men. He Was glad to see so many present, and thanked them for their attendance, .and.congratulated them on the man-, ner in which they had gone through the manoeuvres of the day. He should fix the next inspection parade for June, when the moon would. be 'Bright; and leave it to the men to-ar-range with their officers when they would have such meetings as this. In the drill sheds or halls they could not have such a practice as they had had -there' to-day, and which really conduced to their turning out efficient if their services w«re required. He would address a word to the boys. They were a credit to the valley, and he hoped to see two more cadet corps present, equally efficient, at their next meeting. He thought thafc.the.corps were, from what he had seen, that day, deserving more substantial support from the Government than they had bo far received. The dismissal then took place/ the men subsequently- reforming; the GrnytownCo'rps'defiling to,the Clareville station, and the Masterton: and Carterton men marching to the head of the Belvidere road, where they werei dismissed. .;;, In conclusion we cannot but think that a gathering of this nature should take place at least once a quarter in the valley sirtce tho merest tyro in military matters could not but have remarked the'difference in the'manner in which the movements in the earlier and latter portion of the day were carried out, the efficiency being most prominent in the afternoon,. Too muchpraise cannot be given to the Masterton Cadetsj they''are a nice set of lads, they know ; their ; .drill, and show tlibiSougb-'subordination to : their officers,