VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 158, 4 July 1906, Page 7

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

(By. aiFUEMANJ

It affords one great pleasure to announce that Major Beed, of the Countess of 4Unfarly's Own Battalion or Infantry. &a» qualified, lor tie commission, as llentenaat--coionel -hy ! passing the statutory exa&rihatlon. Xhe promotion to toe higher rani wHj follow without- unnecessary delay, aus Major Keed is to be warmly congratulated. Since he took Charge of the No. 1 Battalion something in tne nature of a revival baa occurred in volunteering In Auckland, and it bears the appearance of permanency. He Jiae placed matters on a business-like footing, and the corporate existence of tne Battalion has been more pronounced than it has been for many years. In the ordinary course of things, the Major's cloak vrou'd fall on Captain Skinner or the next Senior officer of the Battalion, but as he has practically renounced active Interest in volunteering, the position of major will fall on Captain Bartlett, of the No. 2 ISa " ve ?; whose promotion to the field rank should be effected within a couple of weeks, isy the way, Captain Bartlett Iβ In charge of the Battalion just now In the temporary absence of Major Reed from Auckland* - The Engineers hold their monthly lnspeo tlon this month on Monday, 16th Inst., la full dress uniform. . - A Miniature Range. Association was recently formed In Canterbury, ana it is reported that it has reason to be pleased with the support it Is securing: The No. 1 Native Kifles hold the third match for Lieut. Atkinson's trophy on Saturday next, at Penrose, on the 300 ana 600 yarfia ranges, 7 shots and 1 sighter at each. The No. 1 G.A.V. Intend having,an open night during each month, on which night each member Is requested to bring a friend to view the useful work put Iα by the corps. '■■■.' " The No 1 G.A.V. will commence ehooting early next month. There are several valuable trophies to be competed for, and the events should be very keenly conteeted, ac there are several good ehotft in the.corps. The final matcTi for the rug presented by the New Zealand Clothing Factory was fired off at Cambridge on Wednesday, tne ranges being 200 aud 300 yards; ten shots at each. Trooper Smith won the rug with a total of 243 points. ~ ■ The final match (the fourth) In the competition for the champion belt of the Mo. 3 Natives takes place at Penrose on Saturday next. The conditions are seven shots and one sighter (not to count) each at 300. and 500 yards. The No. 2 Natives are to be dilligently trained by Captain Bartlett in the "Maxim gun work, with a view to sending, at least, one, or possibly two, teams to the Christchurch Exhibition. The course of training is to start at once. Sergeant-Major Robertson, of the Engineers, has been out of .town for of weeks, but he is expected back- shortly. • In the meantime, his duties have been taken over-by the senior sergeant, Sergeant Dow. Col. Davies, C.8., Is just now at Matata, Inspecting the local M.B. in camp there. Afterwards, he proceeds to meet Major General Babington, and will accompany the Commandant in his tour of inspection through the Bay of Plenty. The General holds what is anticipated to be his last inspection in Auckland on July 21st. ... The No. 1 G.A. V. are having their orderly room renovated, the intention being ,to make the room a social one so as to bring the members of the corpe together. They are already Iα possession of a number of pictures, and a few members of the corps Intend to present several more to brighten its appearance. The No. 2 Natives held a meeting on Monday night to elect a lieutenant, but as the muster was short of the statutory proportion, the election was postponed until Monday next, when a : full attendance is requested. The gentleman nominated for the position Is Sergeant Dickey, a very active and capable member of the No. 0 G.A. . . On Saturday next the No. 2 Natives fire a handicap match for Major Reed's trophy. The following are the handicaps, declared by Lieut. Kretschmar:—Lieut. Kretschmar scratch, Col.-Sergt. King 7, Sergt Rowles 10, Corp. Kretschmar 11', Pte. Talbot 14, Sergt Hogan 16, Pte. Martin Iβ, Sergt Carron 16, Pte. Brown 20, Pte. Barringer 22, Sergt. Jenkinson 14, all others 24. - The monthly social of the N.C.O. Club is to be held to-night in the Hibernian Hall. ■On Friday, July 13th, the emoke concert, which was postponed on account of Mr Seddon's death, will beheld In'the club-room. (Matters are progressing very favourably with the N.C.O. ball. The acceptances continue to roll In from the officers arid others Invited, afid notable amongst the most recent is that of the Mayor of Auckland, who has promised to be present.. . *' The No. 1 Native Rifles fired the second "match for Private Eye's trophy (a clock) last Saturday, the range being SOO yards. The conditions for this trophy are seven shots at 300, 700 and 800 yards, a sighter at each range. The 300 and 800 yards had already been fired, and the 700 yards match, which completes the series, will be-fired on Saturday week (July 14th). .The following are the two principal scores: Corp. G. Stephens, 300 yards 31 points; 800 yards 24 points, total 55 points; Corp. A. Lucae. 26 and 23, to tar 49 points. A District Order has been lsened by Col Davies, C.8., concerning the bis parade on July 21st for Inspection by Major-General Babington. The uniform will be the'field service. Every man Is expected to be -present, and any absentee who falls to produce a doctor's certificate of Illness or some other adequate excuse will be fined £1. The programme does not appear to Include anything more than ceremonial inuchceglected side of volunteer work—and every company in the garrison "Iβ now lndustrlous'ly practising the march-past. Feverish attention is being paid to ceremonial "drill this month in the Garrison, and Major Reed intends to test the knowledge of the different companies of No. 1 Bartalion Infantry before'the General arrives; He Inspects th.c Gordons on Friday the 13th, the Victorias on the 14th, and the Natives and the Newtons on the 16th There is not much time left to polish off the rust that la on most volunteers' khbwledge of ceremonial drill—so much attention Is paid these daye to mere field tactics—but it is anticipated the Battalion wilKbe able to give a good account of Itself.. - - ■ ' - - s -,-■' The No. 9 G.A. hold the-first of the series of monthly full-dress inspections which it Is intended to carry out to-night; It hae been decided to devote the first Wednesdoy In every month to a full-dress Inspection In \order to keep cp the standard and ensure regularity of attendance. Oh this occasion the gunnery bonuses and certificates ofprofleiency earned laet year will be presented. A number- of Bh6otlng prizes will also be handed over to the, winners after -the parade. % Gunner Dickey takes both the Btirns and the Best Cups, 'and Bombadler Thomas the Lindsay.Cnj». Waihl now rejolcee*!n the possession of Its drill shed. Colonel Davlee, C.8., went up there last week to perform the opening ceremony, which took place on Friday night The Colonel-selared the opportunity to Impress nn the bltr gathering the need that existed for the more adequate military tnttalnj* of the youth of the colony. He expressed the hope that ■now that the Waihl volunteers had Bnehn splendid hall—it cost abntjt. £850, of which the Government provided only £'3!SOf-Cn<! work woTiffl be carried out better, than -had heen possible before. '- - "j . \

". A ircent eranlrig's' amripeinenlt Is promised' for Friday, when the No. 9 G.A". Mlnstrrl Troupe gives Its performance in the frederti Hall In aid of the N.CO. Clnb piano trmd. Tickets have been ftoing off very fast, and there should be" a good attendance. A epeclnl featnre of the affair frillbe the part the garrison bands play In \lt. It has been arranged that the Garrison Band plays from the Calefioniirn Hotel; to : the hail) tfle Battalion Band from the Reservoir to the hall, and the Ist Rejrt. A.M.R. Band from' Deronport np to the hall. There the three tnamed tnnOs -will gtrtt & chart aerZonmiiee prior to fb* oaacuu .-..;" ;_j.\ ] ./■■■ v - s .;-"

•- Secretaflei of the -rarlour ctnnpaßy-teKme axe reminded that the entries for.JlM Tololiteef tTnlon cloee on Monday, letnlnat. ilt might also be neiieidi v that the entrance fee of £1 per team must *ccoa»pa«jr the ♦ntry. also tlie names of Jhe ..team, whjteh,; U;to reprcsiwit'..the : \corjpe. t ..'..,_.,.^-.". v < :-..± "It fe «irtlc!patea that arere'wttl'be-tsiotit 10 teams playing la the Vohjhteer Vulva matJChes this se»ecm; and fudging from th* way the entries are coming In, and the. way the committee are working, thla seaaon bide, fttfrHo surp6se i; tSie last.* The-cape «te a, much-coreted trophy*-and the Tarlon* teaaw wir, I hare no-atratJt, strive, their uvmoat to ; - The-first Committee of the Volunteer Rugby Up? ol }, was h«ia last Friday evening ■In the Drill Hall. There wae a full committee present, which consisted of Sergeant Jacksontchairman), Sergeant Dow (secretary and trea' surer); GuiiEer • -XlttleV" Corp. -Crew,-Oorj>.. McMillan, Q.M.S. Holdeny.ana Iy.-Cor-.FrH??. It was decided to receive. entries,.for tae matches until the 16th Inst. The taatcWS. will probably etart on Saturday, 28tn .-lnsc., which te the -Saturday following = Genera. BaMngtcmV Inspection .parole <M,W««S matn. It also awldea to a«»»te wltn the Auckland Rugby" Union. An ' etafement 'iV made, by "Lloydß , Weekly," which alleges that has good reason to-beUeve, that the IJiW, old .corps of Keyal Marines *g°™«*. to destruction: "In the innei? rlngr -.0*••Bβ' naval reform circle' a; feeling undoubtedly exists whlch-ie. diametrically .ODPospd tv the retention..of-.-the. military element nnoat. It Iβ held that the Hoyal Navy should be self-contained, and entirely Independent of military • resources. -WUether recent ,dla-, .closures regarding:, aimless, milltary ."J*""" ods connected with War Office aamtoUtra-. tion have eferVed a pre.iudiciareffect in;thl»direction it Is not-for .ue~to<-..sta*e.. ■<>*»*• reforming spirit of the Admiralty, evidently,. Holds that seamen can be trained to per; rorm every duty, including the military work cbnnectedwithlanding' parties, to done by the.. Marines. Tfte 10 ": must, therefore, be. prepared to wltnesj the gradual elimination of Jdey'ri red J* 6 -?* frotfl" a great organisation > it *»» been ordained that Jack's .blue, jacket, jalone.^obtaln.". >. ~; . ; r.I '■ Practllcal astronomy *-be». cotne a part of the-education of army oiflcere -holding any command..from, a._cpmpany upwar.as. The „Army Council has decided -to.'estab"lish an. observatory". «t;Alr derehpt, alid" contractors are iiow-4>usy erecting the building. - The .site. _dM»e»; Iβ. the South Campj' near the , headquarters offices. When.the bulldihgis completed, a powerful "telesebpe" will be' the study of the : Btars will begin in:earnest. -The" -observatory-will be-in--charge-of. the Royal-Engineers, .and.lt,ls-expects ed that officers win assemble periodically for Instruction. "Astronomical ""obeerVatin'np are "of great.importance "in- warfare by night, and Sir'John-French has already giTen.it as.hls.ppinifln that.the .important, military operations of the future will be. performed In ■darkness. "«"wm reffiem* bered that Xord the stars Trhen he made his famous march; to ~...'.„„,,,.,. The wholesale, repudiations pt lA>rd Roberts' compulsory" Service vleWoff the' part of membere - of- • Parliament' have not • beenunexpected (says .VLloyds' Weekly"). <-The "Society for .Promoting fifflclency, ofthe Army" belong to-''a class of hastily-improvised political organisations, .running as a little elde-ghow in a general election. This particular association was directed- to pushing the «ihti-©oT-ernmental policy t»f' the'late Coniniander-in-Ohief. -The h«n. secretary communicated with various .Candidates during the general election, asking them "to do - whatthey reasonably ran" to support "the policy: advocated by Lord ■ Roberts, conditionally, on there, being no conscription .compulsory military service." ,The' speclflc' platform advancea 'was"" "that bounden auty'Of. tHeY State■ > 'to' see 1 'that-' every able bodied youth should be taught to shoot straight and to, obey the simple word' of cammand.' , "■'.', '■ Z'~ '■'t"''..:'■ "''r*-