VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 132, 5 June 1901, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES.

(By Rifleman.)

The Auckland Naval Artillery have been practising assiduously for the Royal review, putting in two drills a week.

Trooper Wcrrall, a member of the Onehunga Rifles, who recently returned from South Africa, was entertained on Monday evening at a reception given in his honour by Mr and Mrs Bagley, of Epsom. About sixty guests were present, including Mr Worrall, sen., Mr J. S. Kidd, Captains Mclntosh, and O'Brien, aud Trooper Walker.

The first round in connection with the shooting for the. Waihi G.M.Co.'s medals took place on Saturday in bad weather, with the following results, at ranges of 300 and 600 yards: Vol. Haszard, 54; Vol. Morrison, 54; Corporal Rose, 52; Sergeant Clarke, 51; Volunteer Comes, 50; Vol. Devereux, 49; Vol. Parslow, 49; Vol. W. Samson, 47; Lieut. Wearne, 50; Vol. McGee, 31; Lieut. Gilmore, 30; Vol. Grey, 30.

The general infantry drill of the New Zealanders is the same as that of the other colonies, but there is a ■great difference in the mounted drill. The Australians generally drill from the cavalry book, while the New Zealanders use the mounted rifle drill, which is far more practical. The discipline and management of the camp at Royal Park, Melbourne, were, perhaps, the best that has been seen south of the line, and were a perfect revelation to the New Zealanders.

I hear that the Gordon Kifles, although over 30 men went out at the close of the volunteer year, are already within four of the maximum once more. The new men .are showing plenty of enthusiasm, with the result that the corps is going ahead. Captain Knight has been giving the men pienty of shooting lately—a wise move, for there is nothing like rifle practice to keep the volunteers interested in their work. So far they have not scored a win, but their shooting is improving rapidly, and in any case it Ls better to have the practice without the win than to get none at all.

While in Sydney the other day, Lieut.-Commander Patterson met Captain McKenzie, K.A., who has just completed his engagement as commander of the No. 1 Service Corps at. Fort Cai]tley. Captain McKenzie said he had been all over the forts at Sydney, and he could say without egotism or any wish merely to please, that the Australians had nothing to teach the New Zealanders about gunnery or general work in the forts. This should be encouraging news to our Permanent Force and Naval Artillery Volunteers. Captain McKenzie is now on his way back to England.

A feeling1 of uncertainty has prevailed for some time in connection with the review of the troops which is to take place in Christchurch during; the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. ■ This has now been removed to a certain extent, by a statement telegraphed from Wellington to the effect that the display is to be on a larger scale than anything of the kind ever arranged in the colony. The parade will comprise troops from Wellington, Marlborough, Westland, 'Nelson, Canterbury, Otago and Southland. The members of the contingents who have returned from South Africa will also be paraded.

The military gymkhana organised by the Auckland Mounted Rifles •will be held on Thursday of next week at Potters Paddock. It promises to be. the biggest affair of its kind yet held in Auckland. Entries closed last Saturday, and the number received was surprisingiy large. The entries simply poured in from the mounted corps.all over the district, and with the addition of the local entries there will be large fields in almost every event. In the bareback hurdle race, for instance, there are something like 30 competitors, and the other fields are correspondingly larj^e. It will be an -interesting afternoon's sport, and should draw a very large attendance.

"The total expenditure by the British War Office in the United States for horses, mules, and foodstuffs is nearly £5,000,000." So says a Laffan's telegram, and it is not altogether pleasant reading. Why should all this good British gold have gone into the pockets of foreign producers instead of finding its way, so far at any rate as a considerable portion of it is concerned, into those of British farmers? Surely it should be worth the while of British farmers to make an effort to secure, by breeding to the military standard, some of the national money which must be thus spent, instead of allowing it all to go abroad. The probable adoption, moreover, of mules for a large proportion of the draught of the Army seems to open up a new field.

On the subject of volunteer uniforms, the writer of "Volunteer Notes" in the "'Dunedin Star" observes: One by one the volunteer companies of the colony are being put into khaki uniforms. At the present time it seems heresy to say anything- against klia3ti, and company after company is donning it without a. murmur. I venture to say, however, that when the war is over there will be a reaction, and that many of the corps that are now quietly submitting to being attired in the fashionable colour will be found agitating for a dress uniform, less dismal and less monoionous-looking. However suitable khaki may be for active service, it is quite the reverse for ceremonial purposes; there is nothing in the colour that "feasts the eye," that gratifies that love of the beautiful inherent in various degrees in all persons. The monotony of the colour has, indeed, rather a depressing- effect, and one is constantly hearing the remark, "I am sick and tired of it." At the recent Commonwealth celebrations it was noticeable that very often, while cheers upon cheers greeted the Highlanders and Engineers, the crowds allowed the khakiattired men to pass in silence. Off parade, too, the public took a far livelier interest in the men wearing the attractive uniforms.

The Otamatea Mounted Rifles parad* ed at head-quarters, Paparoa, on Satur* day, May 25th, for inspection by Capt, Reid, District Adjutant. There "werti some 70 members present, including; Oapt. Colbeck (commanding), Lieuts. Nutsford, Snelling and Coates, and Surgeon - Captain Carolan. The com* pany proceeded to the parade ground^ where mounted movements were cxc* cuted to the satisfaction of the inspect-" iug- officer, who expressed himself well pleased with the appearance an& steadiness of {no men, and the excellent stamp oJ: horses. Capt. Reid stated that he considered the company the cleanest and best-drilled amongst) the newly mounted corps that hadi come under his notice, and pointed? out the necessity of attention to drill and strict obedience to the officers* Oapt. Colbeck also addressed the com** pany, giving some very useful advice* Some 40 belts and bandoliers an<S water-bottles were given out, and thtf majority are now fairly equipped. Thf* corps are looking forward to theiU trip to Auckland next month, but the route is not definitely settled yeti About (50 will probably go to town* the company being recruited up to thflf full strength of officers and men en* titled to draw capitation.—(Own Cor* respondent.) j

Next week will be a busy one f-Oif Auckland volunteers, and I have nof doubt they will rise to the occasion and acquit themselves creditably. Th«t chief event for the volunteers will bef the review at Potter's /^Paddock next Wednesday, when a muster of nearly! 4000 is expected. The parade must* necessarily appear a small one after thtf great review at Melbourne, but it will be one of the largest held in Auckland: for many years. The public delight in' a military show, and there should be a record crowd at Potter's Paddock when; the Duke reviews the troops; The occasion is one which warrants a large attendance, for not only is the eventa unique one in local annals, but thtfvolunteers deserve some public reeogl* nition for their services in connections with the Royal reception. It is a pityj —from a spectacular point of view—that none of our troops have full-dres? uniforms to relieve the monotony o£ khaki. None of our corps wear thet scarlet, nor have we any kilted High-» landers, most picturesque of soldiers. However, the khaki, if not brilliant,, can be neat and smart-looking, and the uniforms of "the blue brigadeswill serve to relieve to some extent the monotony of the prevailing colour. As far as physique goes, our forces neetfc. not fear comparisons, and it is to be.. hoped that the ceremonial manoeuvres; will be got through with credit. All.;----the companies have been practising^; assiduously, but they have had no opportunity of rehearsing together, and. some, of the new corps from the coubk try have never had experience of bat* talion drill. Then, again, the officers have never been called together anft shown what is expected of them and their men. In Melbourne the general; orders for the review were issued as. couple of weeks before the event, and the whole 15,000 men, or the greater*part of them, rehearsed the ceremony; daily. The result was that everyone,. knew just what he had to do, and did? it without a hitch.