VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1902, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES.

(By Rifleman.)

It has been decided to form a volunteer corps at Riversdale to be called the Riversdale Rifles, and about 70 names of persons willing to join have been received.

The Palmerston Rifles Intend enlarging their drill-shed as soon as funds are. available for the purpose. The company also intends purchasing new khaki uniforms during the current year.

Major-General Babington, Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, is at present on a visit to Ragian, where he will inspect the Raglan Mounted Rifles. He returns to Auckland about to-morrow or Friday.

The Imperial Volunteer Officers' decoration has been awarded to Major J. E Hawkins, which is granted to volunteer officers having a total efficient rank and commissioned service of not less than 20 years.

The Mount Eden rifle range will be open on Saturday afternoons for practice by the Devonport Coastguard Artillery, the Newton Rifles (R.M.), and the Victoria Rifles. Lieut. Gardner will be in charge; and next Wednesday, the 21st inst., Lieut. Derrom will superintend firing.

The Auckland Navals parade to-night for gunnery instruction and the competition No. 7, best gun crew. The corps is at present carrying out a programme of competitions on Saturday afternoons,and several persons have already intimated their intention of presenting trophies for future competitions.

Krupp, the great German manufacturer of cannon, has lately completed a number ot paper field-pieces for the use of the German infantry. Their calibre is a little less than 2in, and the pieces are so light that one soldier can easily carry one; but th^ resistance is grea^r than that of a fleld-plece of steel of the same calibre.

The central division of the. Auckland Mounted Rifles, located at Otahuhu, will parade next Saturday afternoon at three o'clock, for their first mounted drill. This divison was organised only two months ago. The following Saturday, the 24th Inst., the whole company will parade for their annual inspection by General Babington.

The Waikart Rifles are making arrangements whereby the members will be en*; ibled to get practice in shooting on a miniature rifle range in the drill hall. Mullineux adapters will be used with the ,30r, rifies, and the targets will be fixed in front of and at the foot of the stage. Every precaution will be taken to make the targets bullet-proof.

After a somewhat lenjrthy period of Inaction, a general meetina: of the Noncoms.' Club has been called for Friday evening next. At this meeting, which will be held in the basement of the Wel-lesley-street School, the committee hope to be in a position to place some important business on the table in reference to the opening of the new Drill Hall.

On account of a battalion parade beins; held next Saturday, the trophy competitions of the Akarana Rifle Club are suspended for that date. On the following Saturday. May 24, a rapidity firing competition will be held by the members of the club for a medal presented by Mr S. Kohn. Under the conditions each competitor will fire for a duration of one minute at the 300 yds target.

The conditions of the competition for the District Belt and Mrs Clark's Cup, which are to be fired for on May 31 and June 7 respectively, are five shots and one non-counting sighter at the 200 yds range in each of the positions prone, kneeling, and standing. It Is probable that Majors Morrow and Pirie will superintend the shooting for both competitions.

The officers attending the school of Instruction (says the Otago "Daily Times") art finding that they are kept going very hard. Some of them, indeed, think that the demand made upon them by the school is almost too great, and that it would have been better to have extended the course over a longer period and given them time to assimilate In some degree the knowledge set before them. As the school is conducted, they have no time to digest one lecture ere another is set dewn before them.

The Otago "Daily Times" states that quite a number of r-ompanies are having uniforms manufactured in Dunedin by Messrs Hallenstein Bros, and Co. The Taierl Mounted Rifles are getting khaki uniforms; the Southla.nd Mounted Rifles green cloth ones almost similar to those adopted by the Auckland Mounted Rifles; while three infantry companies in the Taranaki district have ordered a fulldress uniform of scarlet tunics, blue trousers and helmets.

General Babington has kindly consented to present the money prizes presented by Dr. Logan Campbell for field firing, the competition for which was fired off recently at Penrose. The presentation will be made at the battalion inspection next Baturdav afternoon, in the Domain, and Dr. Campbell will attend. The inspection by General Babington Is, I believe to he Of a thoroughly practical nature,' and will consist of thoroughly practical drill, with no ceremonial drills.

The members of tho .Devonport Coastguard Artillery will compete next Saturday afternoon at the Mount Eden range for Mrs Lindsay's cup, which was presented to the company two years ago. The original conditions were three matches at the 200 yds, 300 yds, and 500 yds ranges, but as the Mount Eden range Is now not available for distances over 200 yds, these distances were impossible, and the conditions under which the competition will be held are three matches at the 200 yds range, five shots in each of the positions lying, kneeling, and standing. We are pleased to note that the company havC decided to obtain their new uniforms locally instead of Importing them as was previously dc-cided.

The Gordon Rifles, under Captain Knight, held their usual parade last Fri' day evening, and were put through a course of manual and firing exercises. After the parade a meeting was held to elect a lieutenant, vice Mr Carrollo, resigned. Captain Knight proposed Mr Frank Piillen for the position, as he was a good all-round athlete, a first-class shot and an acquisition to the company and volunteering generally. Colour-sergeant Cumming seconded, anri Mr Pullen was unanimously elected with cheers. Lieut. Pullen replied, thanking the company for his election, and refreshments were then partaken of and some musical items were given. Reference was made to the promotion of Sersreant Cumming to the position of colour-sergeant. Mr Shaw, an exlieutenant of the conrpanv. invited the corps to send a team to try conclusions with his rifle club at Mercury Bay.

On Saturday. May 11, General Rabinston. Commandant of the Forces, accom--irinied by his staff (Major Rpid. 0.C.D.. Captain Camnbeli and Sera-en nMVTaior Tuck), paid his annual visit to the Pukekohe Mounted Rifles, th" comoanv bpins: in command of Captain H. "Dei! and "Lieutenant Collier. The corns turned out in full strength, there being oniv one man absent, he beine out of the district The general, after inspecting .the company, called the non-commissioned officers out and questioned them on their duties, he then gave each non-com. in turn some practical work, explainin? to them the fesnonsibilitv pl?ced on them in actual warfare. After the non-coms! had finished, Weutenant Collier took charg-e of the company, and put them through mounted work, and finally Captain i>ell took the company and put them through extended movement* After tlv? parade the general addressed the company, explaining to them that he wanted every corporal to know more than any private, sergeants to know morel than the corporals, and officers to know more than the non-commissionpn officers, and from what he had seen of both officers and men he had formed a favourable impression. He stated that this company

was the largest corps of mounted men he had inspected in New Zealand, and if they went oh improving as" they had done in the past, he hoped at his next annual visit to still see a splendid muster, such as on this present occasion. The company appeared in full-dress uniform, this being the.new uniform of green cloth made by the New Zealand Clothing Factory. General Babington has created a favourable impression in Pukekohe, both with the corps and many of the. public, and the feeling is that be will do a great deal in New Zealand to advance volunteering.—(Own correspondents ,