In the June 1883 provincial news a proclamation declared the Southland Hussars, as a regiment was cancelled. Captain Henry Orbell, of the Waikouaiti Rifles was transferred to the unattached list, with the rank of major.
The half-yearly inspection of arms and accoutrements, by Major Thompson, went ahead in Invercargill on July 2nd 1883. Fifty-two men, out of sixty-three turned out with Major Burwell and Captain Gardiner in command.
The first mention of a fully fitted ambulance partaking in a field drill was at Timaru on October 8th, 1883. The Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry held their annual training with officers from the Southland Hussars invited. The ambulance crew were under instructions from Surgeon Chapman, training under strict military discipline for the week.
The Dunedin Hussars, for practice, marched to Montecillo for mounted as well as foot drill during October 1883 in readiness for sports against the Southland Hussars. The event, attended by about 160 Southland Hussars, was held at Ocean Beach, just north of St. Clair. For a week the various companies participated in the usual events. The most interesting was a tug-of-war (team of 10 men) between the Southlanders and Wakari that lasted for eight minutes; the latter victorious. The horse race was won by Peacock, owned and ridden by Trooper Lance of Christchurch. Saturday at the Forbury was popular with spectators watching other events such as: cutting the orange; three-legged race; walking race of one mile; running hop, step and jump; 100 yards foot race; Hurdle race with Hussars riding in undress uniform, not less than 13 stone weight, over six hurdles 3ft 6in high; half a mile foot race; flat race over one mile for horses not won an advertised flat race (winner Peacock); bayonet competition; wheel race open to artillery men only; hurry scurry; trotting race, and the competition for Major Burwell's Challenge Cup.
The Challenge Cup won by Dunedin the previous year involved:- best team of eight mounted men at sword exercise; best turnout of eight mounted men. To be won twice before becoming the property of the winners, Dunedin achieved this with Captain Gordon (District Adjutant) as judge. The men first paraded, completing the sword exercise by command, then did a walk, trot and gallop with mounting and dismounting.
Twelve months later when the military sports were held in Dunedin, the first Hussar Ball was held. On Tuesday night all members, troopers and Volunteers, dressed in their uniforms for the ball. The Dunedin Hussars amounted to 63 members at this stage. When the Southland Hussars departed on Sunday November 2nd, the first section of the railway station had been successfully transferred to it's new position and the new station used for the first time. The over-bridge had been reversed on Friday and was drawn down the line ready for erection in it's new position.
With some members finding it difficult to attend the required number of drills, the Dunedin Hussars changed their monthly meeting to six monthly, held over five days. The first such review was held at Forbury Park in April 1885, where tents pitched to house over 800 members. The 120 tents were from a local manufacturer, of "square" class 10 x 12; the staff in large round tents. A large kitchen had been fitted up with half a dozen cooks and large canteens with officers mess tents. One tent became home for the week for Dr Coughtrey, in full Hussar uniform with his medicine chest and surgical instruments, ready to administer assistance to the sick or in case of accident and emergency.
The first review to be held in Queenstown took place in April 1885. Surgeon Whitton, of the Southland Hussars resigned in June and J. O. Cross replaced him in the position. Captain Goldie became Captain Commandant of the Otago Division; including the areas of Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Bluff, Oamaru and Peninsula corps. Appointments in connection with the school of Instruction for the Examination of officers of the Militia and Volunteers were: Otago District: Rear-admiral Scott, R.N.; Captain Smith; Dunedin Naval Artillery Volunteers. New services were accepted as garrison corps; the South Franklin Mounted Infantry and the Peninsula (Dunedin) Navals.
Major Burwell travelled back to England for a holiday and visited the Aldershot Barracks near London. Originally established in 1854, the bell tents were replaced with wooden huts, which in turn became brick built barracks in the 1890's. In 1855 Aldershot was intended as a military training school, especially for officers of high rank. On return from the Crimean War, it became the permanent barracks of the army cavalry, artillery and infantry.
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