OUR DEFENCES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 92, 20 April 1893, Page 7

OUR DEFENCES.

Lieutenant J. E. Hume, of the Per aianent Artillery at Wellington, is bo be removed bo Auckland, to bake charge of tha No. 1 Battery of Artillery ab bhis porb during bhe absence of Colonel Goring on his visit to England. The annual firing for tho lato "0' Battery's presentation cup took place on March 24 th under bhe supervision of Captain Somera .(Victoria Rifles) and Lieutenant Watson (Newton Rifles) and re* suited as under :—Gun. Henderson, "A' Battery, 108 ; Gun. Webster, "A" Battery, 107; Sergt. Osborne, City Guards, 107; Petty-officer Ewan, Ponsonby Navals, 105; Gunner Greenahields, "A" Battery, 104; Private Cox, Newtons, 102; Sergeant Parslow, "A" Battery, 102; Lieut. Dormer, City Guards, 100; Gunr. McCallum, "A " Battery, 99; Gunr. Head, "A" Battery, 99; Gunr. Baddileyj"A" Battery, 99; Sergt. Coleman, City Guards, 9S; Corpl. Hazard, "A" Battery, 97* Gunr. Taylor, •« A " Battery, 96; Private Tobin, City Guards, 96 ; Sergt. Doughby, "A" Babbery, 95; Private T. Fairs, Victorias, 94; Lieut. Skinner, Victorias, 94 ; P.O. G. Spinley, Ponsonby Navals, 93; Sergt. Rose, Newtons, 89; Sbaff-Serg*. Soall, City Guards, SH; Gunr. Browne, "A" Battery, 8S; P.O. J. Spinley, PonNavals, 88 ; Pte. M. Fairs, Victorias, 87; Sergt. Arthur, City Guards, 85; Smn-Ci-aig, Auckland Navals, 85 ; Sap. Waite, Engineers, 79; Pte. J. L. Leigh. Victorias, 70; Smn. Bremnar, Ponsonby Navals, 69.

The Easter encampment of volun" teers for the Auckland district, held ab Kohimarama, concluded with a shamfight, in which the wholo of the force in camp took part. The camp being well situated, and tho weather beaubiful, the voluntners had everything in, their favour for successful manoeuvres. The camp waa visited by large crowds of people on Easter Monday, there being bebween two and three thousandspectatorsfromtownontheground, and bhere were close on. 350 volunbeen in camp, under bhe command of Lkmb.-GoL Goring, officer commanding the disbiicb. The attacking party consisted of Waiuku Cavalry (37 rank and file) under Lieub. Barriball; South Franklin Mounted Infantry (32), under Lieutenant Webster ; "A" Battery Artillery (40), Lieuts. O'Brien and Lipscombe;, theEngineer 3 Corps (27), Major Anderson and Lieutenant Jackson Palmer; City Guards (19 mon) under Captain Eohn and Lieubenanb Dormer. The Engineers provided the signalling party. The attacking forco were under the command of Captain Kohn. The defending force Consisted of:—Tho Auckland Naval Artillery (24), Lts. Littlo and Craig; the Ponsonby Naval Artillery (34), Capb. Millar; Thames Navals (36), Lieubs. Pot_s and Radford; the To Awamutu Mounted Infantry (30), Capt. Bruce, and Lieut. Rigg ; Victoria Rifloa (24), Captain Somers, Lieuts. Skinner and Kearney; and the Newton Rifles (24) under Captain Robertson.

The following is the resulb of bhe volunteer competition for the medals offered by the Governmenb :•—Gold medal for tho beslj shot in each island:—North Island, Private E. Mooseman, Wanganui Riflo Volunteers, 91; South Island, SergeantMajor J. P. Every, "J" Battery, New Zealand Regiment of Arbillery, 95. Gold and silver medal for the second, best shot: North Island, Sergeant W. Osborne, Auckland Ciby Guards, 87; South Island, Corporal W. Rugg, Kumara Rifles, 92: Silver medal for the besb shob in each district: Auckland, Bombardier P. Brown, "A" Battery, New Zealand Regiment of Artillery, 86 ; East Coasb, no competition ; Wanganui, Bugler W. Mooseman, Wanganui Navals, 86 ; Taranaki, Colour-Sergb. F. W. Okey, Taranaki Rifles, 87; Wairarapa no competition ; Wellington, Gunner M. Hyland, " D " Battery, New Zealand Regiment of Artillery, 83; NelsOn, Chief Petty Officer A. Morris, Westporb Naval Artillery, 87 ; Marlborough, Lance-Corporal J. A. Fuller, Blenheim Rifles, 81; Westland, Private J. Keller, Kumara Rifles, 91; Norbh Canterbury, Private Fantham, Kaiaipoi Rifles, 78; South Canterbury, ColourSergeant R. Inkester, Waimata Riflos, 81; Oamaru, Gunner L. H. Tempers, "J" Battery, New Zealand Regiment of Artillery, 80; Dunedin, Sergeaub H. Barow, Dunedin Naval Arbillery, 79 ; Southland, Colour-Sergeant S. Patterson, Invercargill Ciby Guards, 66.