SENSATIONAL REPORT ON THE MASTERTON RIFLE VOLUNTEERS AND SCHOOL CADETS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4459, 1 July 1893, Page 3

SENSATIONAL REPORT ON THE MASTERTON RIFLE VOLUNTEERS AND SCHOOL CADETS.

UEUTMONEL FOX FIRtS h imi Disbandmnt Recommended 1 (By Telegraph.—Press Aswciation.)

Wellington, Saturday, ■ In his report on the Colonial Forces, i Lieut-Co.onel Fox recommends tho ilishandment of tin; Mastcrtoii Riflos. ', Referring to ibis company, he says; ' ' The uniforms are, in lumy cases, \ much the reverse ot creditable, and tlio corps ia in finaucial ciitlicultiea. ) Captain Pownall put the company through some movement*, and his \ word of command wus generally cori root, but he was unable to see whether , his orders were correctly obeyed, or \ of correcting the faults which were made, Lieut. Hooper proved to be , very indifferent in his work when \ being drilled, and in drilling the ' company himself. Lieut. Malcolm, . who was under examination for his , commission, did creditably. Thenou- . commissioned officers did not know their duties as guides or markers, and ! were quito unable to drill the men, Tho , mendidfairly,considerii)Sthepoor_6iipport they received from the officers . and non-commissioned officers. They > were also without knowledgo of fire I discipline. This corps is in an in- , efficient stiito," Speaking oi tho Mas- \ tcrton Cadet Corps, Colonel Fox'says: i -"Thearras wero rusty and dirty, > and I found thut thfl cadets were practically uncliilled. Captain Jack--3 sou, tho sole officer and practically ; only drill instructor, proved quite in- , capable Ho informed mo that be hud not laken much interest in mili» j tary drill, which he had left to Sergt,Muinr Finn, who Lad onlv beou able

Major i'inn,WUO uuu uuij uuuu iiuio : to instruct the bop five times up to the time of ray inspection this year, This of course is perfectly useless, the boys having .]uite forgotten what has been taught in one leseon before the uext one conies off. Captain Jackson told me that there was a credit of £6O in the Bank, This money I consider belongs to the Government. 1 am of opinion that the corps should be dibbaudeii and statement of accounts be called for and balanco be taken over."