Te Awamutu Troop.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1624, 30 November 1882, Page 2

Te Awamutu Troop.

Tjik following 1 is a rcw'mc of the proceedings of t|ie .Troop dt.irii.gi the past week. Total number on parade :— Monday, 20th November, 43, including baud of 15 ; Tuesday, 21 &t November, 43, including band of 15 ; Wednesday, 22nd November, 42, including band of 15 ; Thursday, 23rd November, (inspection day), 46, incluam'g baiid; >oi 15 5' Friday, 24th i No| venibcr; "43, including band of 15'; SaturA day, 25fch November, 43; including baud of 13 ; .Sunday 26th, November, church paiade, 36, including band of 12. From the above n'g'iues ifc will be seed that notw ithstauding the veiy unsatisfactory mainier in which the troop lias been, tieated,,its vitality ib by no means, impaired. The Hon. the Defence Minjstei promised, in February last, ( that he, would reply to a wiitten statement which was then handed to him on behalf , of the troop. This reply was to be given by him on his next visit to the \Vaikato. f Up to the present time the )' statement',! (which appeared in March '| last, in the columns ot T/tc i Watkitto Tun<n>) lias,remained unanswered. That the Defence Minister was recently in Waikato is a fact beyond dispute — witness the Tawhiao tiasco. Whetlier the hon. gentleman has broken his promise or not is another question. On Wednesday Captain Rutherford submitted to the troop the names of ten ineinb'eis from which to select four hrinv commissioned officers. The election, which was by ballot, resulted as follows : —For .Sergeant, Trooper T. Bond, 26 ; Tiooper T. Gresham, 25; for Corporal, Trooper Mumo, .23; Trooper (i. Churches, 20. On "Wednesday afternoon Col. Lyon notified by wire his intention of inspecting the troop on the following day, (Thursday) at 2 p in. The time being so limited, it was impossible togivethe men any uotiucas'tb appearing in inspection unifoim, plumes, &c. They consequently paraded as fortoi'dmary, drill with .spikes on helmets. O'his fact was duly ojcplained(tojGpl.^Lyon. ) The to ; tal strength at present ' on 'the" roll for' capitation is h'fty-two. The muster, ab above stated was forty-siv. It will thus be seen that only six members were absent from n hurriedly convened inspection. Notwithstanding this fact, Col. Lyon put the following question ; — Well men, do you intend to continue as a troop '! To this the gallant colonel received the gener.il assui .nice of those on parade that they had no intention whatever ot giving up their position as Volunteers. On Satuulay evening the following gentlemen, viz : Messrs George Wilson, Charles Storey, and Kdward ]Jrid«inan were duly pi oposed ab new mcmbeib of the troop, and v\ ere unanimously elected. Otheis are also on Ihe 'eve of joining. Thk does not loolc muuh'like " giving "p" and there, is, no doubt now, that thib,, .tjie^ senior tioop, will maintain ' its position^ under any circumstances. In view of the above facts ithe committee appoihtCd to leview the proposed "New ltegulations for Volunteers" have.ieported sundty buggestiens and amendments thereto, among -which are as follows: That the maximum strength of the troop be .sixty instead of fifty. > That the , troop parade twice a year for six days at a time. .Such parades to take place as heretofore dining the months of May and November. That each trooper be paid at the rate' 'of l (seven* .shillings! fpcrj * jlfefhJ [Note :- the' 'Wang.iuui — (?-Waiuku) f Cavalry, under command of Capt. 11amlin, M.H.li., are being paidfat the rate of fourteen shillings per man per day.] That the "A" Troop should be permitted to retain their band (which is the band of the regiment) at its present strength ot fifteen. This would.be at the rate (allowed by new regulations) of five bandsmen per troop. For these bandsmen, pay at the above rate would be asked (seven shilliugs per day.) Other suggestions as to ,iiew f regplatious were mooted, it 'being the general impression that as now published in the newspapei b, there are many rulcb which are wholly inapplicabe to cavalry. 'Sergeant' Gieshaln has" presented to the troop a cup, value ££ Khs. This cup has been purchased with the November, 18S0, pay, which has been so long and so w rongfully witheld by the Government. The 1 cup will be awarded 'half-yearly, to the smartest trooper, and best attendant ou parade.' A'committee has been elected, to prepare t rules for it being' stipulated that tlie -prize should be' for drill and not for shooting.— (Own Corresp6nflterit. ) .1 Jt < : H f I' #\ r \"