1885 — Page 40

(E3)

RETURN OF MILITIA.

Nil

HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

The Hongkong Volunteers, Artillery and Rifle Corps, originally incorporated by Sir HERCULES ROBINSON under Ordinance 2 of 1862 was disbanded by Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL in 1866, but revived and re-organized by Governor PorE HENNESSY in 1877. It was again disbanded in 1882, and re-organized in the same year by the Hon. W. II. MARSH, C.M.G., the Officer Administering the Government, under Ordinance 18 of 1882.

It now consists solely of an Artillery Corps; there are 53 Honorary Members and 80 Efficient Members. The latter pass through a course of Garrison and Mountain Gun Drills, as well as Martini-Henry Carbine Drills. The Corps passes through a good many fluctuations owing to the changes that take place, as many residents come and go. During the past three months 21 recruits have joined to re-place those who have loft the Colony; of these 21 some have served as Volunteers in England.

The business hours being from 9 or 10 A.M: until 5 P.M., Drills can only be carried on before and after those hours. Then only sufficient men can be assembled for one or two gun detachments, except oa Public Holidays as China New Year, when the Annual Artillery Practice takes place. However, sufficient instruction can be given to make the Corps a valuablo Auxilliary in the event of War. The Officers of the Corps are as follows:-

COL. G. A. CRAWFORD, R.A., Commandant. MAJOR H. J. H. TRIPP, Second Commandant.

CAPTAINS-

J. J. FRANCIS.

J. STOCKWELL.

LIEUTENANTS—

J. MCCALLUM, Adjutant.

J. A. MOSELY.

A. WOOLLEY.

H. J. HOLMES.