The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-03-17 00:00:00

DORSET RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.

We have horn favoured with the foLlowinl report of
the animal dinner ef the allows el this bMt.aicm, which
took pleas atlas Halal Rotel. Wsr"stk.
day evening. The foihr±ving allows wore preosat :
—Honorary Wesel the 1.21 01 Mon (who preskied),
iiiesteColossi Martha. 1194•00100•1 B. 0* bowls

Major Kindasley, Capt. and Adjutant Barrett, Quarter.
muter Bergman, Andetent-Iturgeon russd, Captain
Edwards, Ferrer Coombs, Butts, Thresher, Pal-sneer.
end Hembre I:tauten/ate Bond, Hodges, Aldridge,
Meant Johns, and Williams; Ensigns Houma, Viant.
end Pope.
After dinner, as usual, the evening was spent in dia.
crossing the rations topics connected with the volunteer
movement, and more particularly in nialring arrange-
ment' for the drills and proceedings of the battalion
during the ensuing season. The first subject brought
forward by Colonel Manuel was the desirability of the
battalion'"en attending the review to be held at Portsmouth
onr"tur eLeuder- The matter was thoroughly can -
sidered in all its bearings, ad an animated discussion
ensued.
Colonel Mansel expressed his readiness to take the
battalion to Portsmouth if it was desired by officers and
men, but on the condition that there should be a muster
of not less than MEI.
The opinions of the captains of those companies
which were represented were than taken, and the pros
end coma were brought forward. Among the former—
the wi,ll of the rank and file as far as l; had teem suer
Weed, to be present at this grand and important
field day; the proximity of the site aa compared with
Brighton and lover; the reflection that might after-
wards be cast on the Dorsatshire men If absent, and the
steesesity to the maintenance of the volunteer force at
tarp that there should be annually an important and
brilliant field day on a scale which his hitherto so
decidedly distinguished the Easter Monday reviews.
For the contrary the following points were urged
Pint, hut not by any means the lout, the supply of
funds neeestary for the conveyance of the battalion, and
the Contingent expenses of • day's outing. which, it was
thought, mold not be reasonably taken from the
Capitation Grant, and would therefore fall either on
the general fund of corps or on the reeources of the
individual members of the battalion : then the early
date of the review, the battalion having been inactive
since the autumn, and the chances oecurrin; of its not
appearing to advantage when engaged 111 oompli-
cated maaceuvres ; the length of the journey, and the
almost too probable delay in retorting through any
fellers of the railway arrangements of the authorities;
and, lastly, the necessity that would exile, in order to
carry out the regulations of the General commanding,
by which the inatimoss front of a battalion is fixed at
90 film, of breaking up a week company and taking
from a strong company some of its files—proceedings
which are known to be very unpopular. It was eon-
sidered that, for the better appearanos and handi-
ness of the battalion, it would be bent formed of eight,
or, at Usemost, tea soospanies of not lees than 25 flies.
The discussion on this question terminated by the
*tarrying unanimously of the following proposition
brought forward by Capt. Ferrer, and seconded by
Lieut. Timid, "That blotter, pointing out the advan-
tages and disadvantage. connected with the attendance
of the battalion at the Easter Monday review at Ports-
mouth, be addressed by the Colonel to the command-
ing officer of each company, who should lay the matter
before the men under has commend in order to asoartoin
their views and wishes • that the views and wishes so
obtained he communicated to the Colonel, and that the
votes of the majority should decide the question."
The next subject brought forward we. that of the
proposed camp for this year. It was unanimously re-
solved that the nee/meaty fonds be 'elicited as heretofore
from the public, and confident expeetetious were ex.
pressed that the assistance of ,the supporters of the
volunteer muse throughout the county might be relied
pa in the Mae generous spirit an has been evinced in
former yearn. For the site of the camp tiwanage was
unanimously approved of, Colonel Mensal remarking
that the farmers and influential gentleman of the
neighbourhood had very kindly promised their valuable
aid. The future of the date of the encampment was
deferred. •
The annual autumn reviser of the battalion is to take
place at Csulford,flir Ivor Guest, Bart., having generously
grlhis m 'Agent perk at Colonel llansers disposal
I il a.
Lieut. Hodges, hon. secretary of the battalion shooting
essemittee, was then called on to make a few remarks as
to the shooting, which it would ho detainable the
battalion should takepart in duringithe season now com-
mencing. That officer, altar remarking that he believed
all present would agree with him in the opinion that it
was very important to encourage shooting throughout
the battalion, as • means by which its position and
strength were kept up, and as a wholesome recreation
to break the monotony of drill, referred to the premed-
lags of the battalion during the past season. Com-
meacing with the simultaneous match which took pleste
throughout the kingdom in the month of May last, be
advised that the battalion should not take pert in a
similar match this year, unless some additional and
stricter rules for its management be provided. The
extraordinary high scores then made by some battalions
and companies (two of which bitter were subsequently
disqualified), led to the general belief throughout the
volunteer force that fur play and honesty had not been
universally observed. The Dorset battalion had shot
remarkably well ou that oceuion and was ouly placed
21st to order of merit, and awarded • prize of OS, a
result which, under the circumstancea alluded to, was
neither encouraging nor satisfactory. The county
meeting lest year bad passed off satisfactorily, and it was
now proved, that with the facilities provided by the
emaciation, the shooting might be concluded in one
day, to the great advantage of competitors. Wednesday
the 17th of June next, was indicated as a probable
fixture for this year. As to the last Wimbledon meeting
the battalion had not been as successful as could have
been wished, though some members had obtained prius
in various competitions. The most satisfactory result
was the position the Dorset battalion held in the com-
petition for the China Cap, which is shot for by • squad
of ten volunteers from each county. 36 mantic.' were
represented on that oecaaion, and Dorset stood
fourteenth in Ordier of me-it. with • Neon short of that
of the winning sokad by only 23 marks. Lieut. Hodges
eneounced that there would be a large all-corners'
F.nfield prize meeting held at Gloucester on the Ist, 2nd,
and 3rd of June next, and concluded his remarks by
expressing a hope that the efforts of the shooting ooni-
mittee to encourage ride shooting would be responded
to by the exertions and peoeverance of the shooting
members of the battalion.
In oiler to promote the efficiency battalion, it
was arranged, on the propoattion of CoL Hansel, that
there should be • rope drill for Ova whole battalion on
the 23rd nut., to be held at Witutiorne, and two wing
rope drills, to take place at Dorchester and iTample-
combs, before the swop, at times to be fixed hereejter.