WE VOLUNTEERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3016, 12 November 1891, Page 2

WE VOLUNTEERS.

No popular movement has ever possessed our sympathy more completely than that of the volunteers. It has always been our opinion that if there was such a thing asa practical New Zealand defence, it lay in that arm of the service and in no othe. , . In this view we are not alone. The policy of apendirift, or rather wasting, vast sums upon elaborate harbour defences, which, in the majority of cases, are perfectly useless, inasmuch as there would be no occasion— unless they particularly desired it- for an invading enemy to go near them, has met with anything but general approval; and, as if to add to the discontent, the greatest parsimony was being displayed at the same moment in dealing with that far more effective arm of defence—the volunteers. It is unnecessary for us to repeat the arguments put forth by competent authorities, which show that if ever an enemy is to be encountered it will be upon the land, and in that case no force would be so valuable for defence purposes as a body of welltrained, well-armed volunteers. We are pleased to see that the Government are about to encourage the volunteering spirit among our colonial youth, and we believe that if our volunteer officers and men respond, and exhibit the true martial spirit, future Governments will davote still more attention to the movement. In this connection we are glad to see that Waikato is not to be left bahind. For many years we have possessed in the Tβ Awamntu Cavalry a corps that any district might well bo proud of. Systematic neglect on the part of the authorities has done its work. The corps dwindled away, members left; the old volunteering spirit seemed to be dead, but it only slumbered. Captain Robert Bruce, ono of the first to join the old corps and almost the only original member left in it, has the true instincts of » soldier, and through all tho vicissitudes of a settler's life, has apparently never lost it. At present the old Tβ Awamntu Cavalry are under his leadership, being reorganised under the name of the Waikato Mounted Rifle?, with strong contingents at Riglan and Whatawhata, the ccrps numbering altogether 53 well mounted men. The officers are Liout. Gresham at Te Awamntu, and Lieut. Somerset at Raglan. The Rifles will have their first camp out early in December next at Tβ Awamutu for six days' drill. This will be no child's play, for it includes three parades a day. We look forward with much interest to the future career of the Waikato Mounted Rifles, and wish Captain Bruce and his men every success.