VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 95, 23 April 1902, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES

(By "Rifleman.")

A half'company of the Huntiy Rifles has been formed at Ngaruawahia.

The/Waikato Mounted Rifles No. 3 Company were to hold a military gymkhana to-day at "Bardowie," Cambridge.

Lieut. Dobbs will superintend" firing at the Mount Eden range next Saturday, and Lieut. Piugge, the following Wed-

nesday.

The Mount Eden rifle range will be available on Saturday for practice firing by the No. 1, No* 2, and No. a Native Rifle Corps.

The Auckland Mounted Rifles provide-l a mounted escort to-day for His Excellency the Governor, L.ord Ranfu*!y. at the laying of the foundation stone of St; Matthew's Church.

So far the various colonial regiments have gained eleven V.C.'s during the war, of which four have gone to Canadian, four to South African, and three to Australian or Tasaiaiiiun regiments.

The Government survey of the rifle range at Penrose, which hiis been proceeding during ihe past week, will be completed in about a week's time, and the range will shortly be taken over under the Public Works Act. .»

The Auckland Naval Artillery are providing a guard of honour for the Governor next Saturday on the occasion of His .Excellency's laying the foundation stone of the new Presbyterian Church at Takapuna. The Seddon Horse are to furnish a mounted escort.

The members of the Ponsonby Naval Artillery hold their annual competition lor the company's belt next Saturday afternoon at the Akarana Rifle Cjub's range, Avondale. The distances will be 200 yds, 3OUyds, and 500 yds. Lieut. Spinley will be in charge of the company.

The fallowing officers have been chosen for the No. 2 (Waikato) Mounted Battalion, which has been gazetted: —. Major Richardson, Captain and Adjutant Hume, Regimental Quartermaster .Bright, Regimental Sergeant-major, Sergeaint-major Knock; Regimental (Quartermaster, Sergeant Cowiey. The battalion is composed of Nos. 1, 2, and 3 Waikato Mounted Rifles, and the Ragian and Piaito companies. An encampment ' will probably be held at Hamilton in June.

A curious result of the installation of wireless telegraphy is the closing by the American Navy Department of its pigeon training establishment. These useful little message carriers are now to be dis missed the service. The cost of their upkeep was about £4000 a year. The advance of electric motor power tends to clear our streets of horses, and now the improvement In telegraphy (says the "Regiment") bids fair to deprive the air of its inhabitants.

There was a big turn-cm t at the Penrose rifle range last Saturday, when the companies of the First Battalion Auckla.nd Infantry (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) took part in the second annual competition for the handsome cup presented by the Countess of Ranfurly some two years ago. The winners again turned up in the Victoria Rifles, who made the good score of 33 hits, the College Rifles making }0 hits. His Excellency the Governor was present, accompanied by Lady Constance Knox and Captain Boscawen, Hon. A.D.C. His Excellency congratulated the winning team upon again securing the cup, which was^presented r behalf of Lady Ranfurly by Lady PUP ance Knox.

The first stage of the friendly competition between the. Akarana Rifle Club and the New Zealand Inanimate Pigeon Association was Held last Saturday at the club's range, Avondale. The. weather was beautiful for good shooting, and the match resulted in the club putting up a total score of 7PB points, the visitors compiling 511. Next Saturday the second and final stage will be lired off on the association^ ground ai Epsom, when competitors will fire 20 shots with shotguns at 15yds from the traps. The percentage of Saturday's score will be added to the percentage of nexr Saturday's match, and the club with the highest total precentage of th« possible of the., two matches will be declared the winning team.

The competition for Dr. Campbell's money prizes will.be held next Saturday at the Penrose rifle range. The cofnpetingcompanies are the two mounted corps, the Engineers, and the Infantry Battalion. Teams will consist of 20 men aside under a npn-uommisaloned officer, and'lo round* per man will be fired at disappearing target, at unknown distances between 2JO and suO yards position «?.mdiri!r 'rht; turatts will be visible for ix secondsand m?i "010 15 seconds The prizes were given to foster Held firing, and this is the nearest to attack practice that can be obtained considering the nature on the ground. Tu.e corps will asat the in-iU Hall at l.ao p.m., and feave AuckSndT station In the 2.10 p.m. train tor Penrose. returning by the b.*. p.m train. ■

Sorts In addition to the usual sun drill, an examination xor "^^^"o officers was conducted by Lieut, wan, 01 Se Permanent Militia. ■ There were nine candidates, and the whole evening was occupied in examining them on he big guns. They were examined on tha Sixpounder quick firing guns, and depredslon range finder on Saturday and this afternoon The smart and efficient manner in which the different duties were cerformed showed that the men had taken great interest and devoted much time In Preparation, and reflected'much credit on the non-commissioned officers of the Permanent Militia, who instructed them. A? one candidate was omitted in the examinations, his examination has 10 be conducted separately,' and the results wil. probably be reported on Thursday, Ist prox.

At the Empire Veterans' Associition concert, Held on Monday evening, the Whangarei veterans were represented by Mr Robert McLeod, of ■ Whangarei, who enjoyed the unique distinction of being the veteran whose military career dated furthest back. - He joined the 53rd Foot ("The Brick Dusts") in 184? at the age of 18, and has medals for Sobraon (1846), and Goojerat (1849). both of which great battles occupy a foremost place among the glorious achievements of the British Army. It is many years now since Mr McLeod exchanged the rifle for the plough, but he is still proud* of r.aviiig been a soldier of the Empire. His Excellency the Governor shook In.ncls^ with him, at the recent gathering in Auckland, and spoke of his long and distinguished service. Mr McLeod, with two other Whangarei veterans, Mr Darby, of the Royal Artillery, and Mr Mclntyrs, of the 57th Regiment ("The Die Hards") was presented with new ribbons for his medals by the Governor on the 12th inst., and was placed in a position of honour near the Countess of Ranfurly.

The monthly Government inspection of the companies forming the First Battalion Auckland Infantry was held last evening on the drill ground, Rutland-st,, Lieut.-Colonel White, officer commanding the battalion, being the inspecting officer. The staff officers on parade were Major Myers, Captain and Adjutant Gaudin, Pay and Quartermaster Dormer, Battalion Sergeant Dines. There was a satisfactory muster of company officers and men, who turned out to the 'number of 210. At the conclusion of the inspection the battalion was exercised by Staff Sergeant Major Carpenter, the senior company officers sta-ndlng out and allowing the seconds in command to take charge of the corps. After the inspection and exercise the question of a new uniform was di9cussed, and it was decided to procure the uniforms as speedily as possible, so that the whole battalion may be alike by the opening of the new drill «&e&