The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-27 00:00:00

THE VOLUNTEERS.

It is officially announced that the Volunteer
Guards are about to increase their strength by the
formation of two additional companies of a standard
height of sft. 10in. It is to be hoped this may be
be quickly accomplished, as a battalion of men of
the requisite stature will make a fine appearance on
the review and field days that are likely to take place
during the present exhibition year.
On Thursday evening the Hon. Artillery Com-
pany paraded for the first time in their new drill-
room, which has just been built at the back of the
barracks. The ends of the building are covered
with a glazed wrought-iron roof, supported by
wrought iron lattice girders, but the centre is at
present covered with wood and slate. The new
armoury is 38ft long by 28ft in width, and will hold
about 1,000 stand of arms.
A very handsome sword and belt, with an ad-
dress, was presented on the 21st to Lieut.-Colonel
Murray, of the 7th Administrative Battalion, and
late Captain commandant of the 16th Middlesex
Volunteer Rifles, by the nen-commissioned officers
and privates of that corps, at their head-quarters,
Whitton. In reply, Lieut.-Col. Murray expressed
his great pleasure at receiving so gratifying a mark
of their esteem, and after complimenting the corps
on its general efficiency, took the opportunity of
saying that as it was impossible for all to gain prizes
at shooting, it was his intention to offer a prize for
attention to drill and general good conduct to those
privates who should be recommended by their Cap.
tain commandant during the ensuing summer. After
the presentation, Capt. Donnethorne, Captain com-
mandant, presented to the hon. secretary, Mr. L.
Lewis, in the name of the officers and members, a
silver inkstand, of the value of £lO.
The Chelsea Company of Lord Ranelagh's Regi-
ment (the South Middlesex Rifles) recently com-
peted for a series of prizes. The competition ex-
tended over two days, and took place on the first
day at the long range of the corps at Caterham, and
on the second day at the headquarters of the regi-
ment, Beaufort-house. On the first day a handsome
silver salver and cruet stand, presented by a sub-
scription of the ladies, were fired for by the first and
second class shots, at ranges of 300, 500, and 600
yards, five rounds at each range. A spirited com-
petition took place, but eventually Private Milner
was declared the winner of the first prize, with 17
points. For the officers' prize, for first and second
class men only, seven rounds each at 250 and 500
yards, Private Milner scored the greatest number
of points-19, but in consequence of a rule pre-
viously laid :down that no member should take
more than one prize during the competition, Cor-
poral Maye and Sergeant Hall, who had each scored
16, fired off the tie, when Corporal Maye won, and
took the prize. On the second day a claret jug,
given by Ensign Diplock, for first, second, and
third-class men, was shot for at 150, 200, and 300
yards, five rounds eac h. Sergeant Hall scored 24
points; Private Milner, 20; Private Verity and
Sergeant Hayward, 19 each; and Privates Varley
and J. T. Wheeler, 18 each ; the four first mentioned
had taken other prizes,and the tie between Privates
Varley and J. T. Wheeler for the prize was not de-
cided. A London armoury rifle, given by the non-
commissioned officers, was won by Private Verity
with 23 points, and a purse of money by Sergeant
Hall with 7 points and 6 hits in seven rounds at
300 yards. Ensign Diplock was commander of the
firitg party. The prizes will be delivered at head-
quarters on Wednesday next.
The second annual meeting of the 2d Kent Ar-
tillery Corps was held on Saturday week, when the
accounts for the past year were produced. The corps,
at its own expense, purchased land, and threw up
the earthworks for a battery at a cost of about
£4OO. Capt. W. Hall, of Faversham (who had
already given £lOO towards forming the corps),

undertook to make up any deficiency in the funds.
The amount in arrear appeared, from the accounts
presented at this meeting, to be £451 2s. Bd. This
sum is in addition to the valuable aid which Captain
Hall has rendered the corps in the shape of pro-
viding a drill-room for the sole use of the members,
erecting a temporary battery near the town, &c.
Captain Hutchinson a few days since gave a sup-
per to the members of his company, forming the
filth of the 4th Tower Hamlets Rifles. The chair
was occupied by Major De La Rue, commandant of
the corps, and was supported by the Rev. Dr.
Gruedy, Dr. Sexton, Capt. Dowers, R.N., Capt.
Dwyer, KM., Lieut. Owens, Acting-Adjutant to
the corps, and the officers of the company. Capt.
Hutchinson took the opportunity of urging upon
those present the necessity of constant attention to
drill, and extracted a promise from all that they
would complete the company during the spring.
The first course of instruction by Lieut.-Col. H.
G. Man, to be given to effective and honorary mem-
bers of the Ist City of London Engineer Corps, will
comprise the following subjects :—The construction
of gabions, fascines, and palisades; the tracing
of field works, the nature and use of field
works; the attack and defence of the same, and
the general principles of fortifications, artillery,
rifles, and pontooning, &c. On Wednesday last
the uniform of this corps was approved of by the
Court of Lieutenancy for the City of London, and 1
it is assimilated as closely as possible to that of the
Royal Engineers, and consists of a scarlet tunic
with blue facings, Oxford mixture trousers with
scarlet stripe, buff belts, black busby with horse-
hair plume.

Several of the Volunteer corps of Essex have
adopted the plan of periodical marches into the
country, which have proved both agreeable and
beneficial. A concert in aid of the band fund of
the 6th
_Essex (Colchester) Rifle Corps has been
given, under the auspices of Col. Guy, Commandant
cf Colchester, to a crowded audience. A similar
entertainment has been given by the 3d Essex Ar-
tillery Corps,at Mile-end. A friendly match between
the officers of the Essex (Plaistow) Corps has been
shot this week. The distance was 300 yards, and
the result of a tie between Major Birt and Lieut.
Nixon, each of whom made 18 points. In firing off
Major Birt scored a centre, and won the match.
In Suffolk the Wilford Corps has reported pro-
gress. It was stated that the funds of the company
were in a healthy condition, and that the effective
strength of the corps was 75, being an increase of
14 as compared with last year. Of the 75 members,
56 have completed their regular musketry :course,
22 (of whom ten are marksmen) have worked into
the first class, 25 into the second crass, and nine
remain in the third class. The committee of the
Beetles Corps has resolved to guarantee from its
funds the sum of £lO to be expended in prizes for
the first class firing during the ensuing season.
A Cadet Corps has been formed for the district
surrounding Norwich. The corps, which is in-
fluentially supported, is formed on the principle of
n'engnising the great importance of military train-
ing as an essential part of the physical education
of youth.
The principal Volunteer event of the Midland
duringntiepseeon
Tthhuer
spdaasyt weekbe t
w ewe
na s
11a
caonndteEsta,swtehrn Cuichotook place
gentlemen selected from the Northamptonshire and
11 from the Norfolk corps. The match came
off in Althorp-park, which Was placed at the