VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 169, 17 July 1907, Page 8

VOLUNTEER AND DEFENCE NOTES.

(BY RIFLEMAWO

Secretaries of aii volunteer corps throughout the Auckland district are invited to contribute to this column. "Rifleman" will be glau tv receive any item of special or gc-uerai interest for publication, not merely concerning town companies, but equally concerning the country corps, it is desired iv these notes to keep volunteers throughout the province well informed in neivs cf vo4uuteei interest, and it is only by the co-operation of country corps with the editor that this can be accomplished satisfactorily. News intended for publication in the current week's Notes should be in this office by Tuesday at the latest. Tbey should be signed by a responsible official, not for publication, but only as a guarantee of sood faith.

Whangarei is the first of , the Auckland District to produce a squadron of mounted cadets. Hawera has had a equadron for some time past, and I am heartily glad to find that the movement has spread to tfils district. Mr Meryyn Wilson is at the head of the Whangarei movement, and I understand that he has about 51 boys already on his list. The papers have been forwarded to headquarters, and there is every reason to believe that the services of thesquadron will be accepted. I should imagine that a equadron of cadets could be raised around Auckland with the greatest of ease. In Melbourne there has been such a squadron formed of boys who are attending or have just left the secondary achools, and the movement is "taking on" with much strength. Many of the boys in Auckland have ponies of their own, with which they ride to and from echool, and If they could be gathered into one body they would form a splendid nucleus of supply for the adult eqnadrons. I believe one or two of the country squadrons are also moving in the direction of having some cadets attached to them. I wish toe movement every success.

The No. 8 Garrison Artillery hold their annual ball in August.

The Pukekohe M.B. go into camp for their regulation camp on the 20th.

The examination papers for the "A." Battery non-com, have arrived in Aucfc- e laud, and the examination will be held" shortly.

A very useful and instructive lecture was given by Captain Coutts to the No. 1 Natives on Monday evening in. their rooms, on "Company in Attack."

The Garrison Officers' Club entertained the executive of the National Defence League at a sociable evening on Friday night last at the club rooms.

The No. 8 G.A. football team hoped to play a match with one of the Macky, Logan Co.'s teams on Saturday next, but the latter club are unable to provide a team.

Lady Plunket, who is hon. colonel to the No. 2 Regt. Canterbury SLR., has intimated that she hopes to shortly be able to inspect he- squad jns and ride out at the J-'oad.

Colonel Wolfe is to give a lecture to the Garrison Officers' Club on the 24th. His subject is "Staff Rides," and no doubt will be a theoretical exposition of what was practised at the last Easter camp

The No. 1 G_A. hold their parade at Fort Takapuna this week in order to enable Lieuts. Greenhoagh and Bodle to be put through the practical part of their examination by Captain Pilklngton.

Lient. Morton, the new subaltern of the Battery, has resigned his position as vicepresident of the N.C.O. Club, which he held as Sergeant-Major of the "A" Battery. He will be a distinct loss to the club, of which he has been a very useful and valuable member

Captain Frazer has resigned the commjnd of the equadron, and he has been succeeded by Lieut. Howarth, who was elected to the command last week. Hie subalterns are Lieuts. Morgan and Te Eangi, and another is to be elected shortly.

As a result of an inquiry into a recent meeting of the Wellington Submarine Mining Volunteers, charges have been preferred against n non-commissioned officer di having instigated the meeting, and supplied information to the Press.

The recently formed squadron in the North — the JMangakahia M.K. —go into camp on August 19th. This squadron is fninsr niicad very wpll. There are about 60 on the roll, but It is anticipated that over SO will be taken Into camp. They turned oat about 35 strong at an inspection parade held by Staff S.M. Coleman last week.

Colonel Wolfe. 0.C.D.. went to Tauranga yesterday to attend the Officers' Instruction Class there. It lasts from the loth to the 20th. He is accompanied by Captain Carpenter, A.A.G., Captain Browne (Mounted Instructor. North Island), and Staff S.M. Walker. The staff go to Whangarei afterwards for the class, which is to be held there between August Ist and 7th.

The Garrison Officers' Ball has been filed to take place on August Bth, and will be heid at the Drill HaJl as usual. A strong series of committees has been appointed, and the dance will probably be the ttnest event of the social season, as it was last year. 'Arrangements are being made for the lavish decoration of the hall with a wealth of ferns and foliase, and the other details of the functic" will be carried out on the usual sumptuots scale.

The football tournament of the Garrison Rugby Gnion begins on August 3rd. Appended Is the draw of the matches, which have been arraneed:—

First Day: No. 9 G.A.V. v. No. 8 G.A.Y.; "A" Battery v. College Rifles; No. 3 Natives a bye.

Second Day: No. 9 G.A.V. v. College Rifles; No. 8 G.A.V. v. No. 3 Natives: "A" Battery a bye.

Third Day: No. 3 Natives v. "A" Battery; No. 8 G.A.V. v. College Rifles; No. 9 G.A.V. a bye.

Fourth Day: No. 9 G.A.V. v. No. 3 Natives; No. 8 G.A.V. v. "A" Battery; College Rifles a bye.

Fifth Day: College Rifles t. No. 3 Natives: No. 9 G.A.V. v. "A" Battery; No. 8 G.A.V. a bye.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings of last week the Eden Rifle Cadets fired a matcli on their mjniature range for the two trophies presented by 'Mr W. J. Ralnscvcn shots and sighter each match. Cadet Purchase topped the list with 32, out of the possible 35. The following are the scores:—Cadet Purchase 32, Corpl. Cautell 31, Cadet Roberts 30. Corpl. Holland 29, Cadet Cundall 29, Cadet Dixon 29, Col.Sergt. Gray 28, Scrgt. Smith 28, Cadet Porter 2S. Cadet Carter 27, Cadet F. Mendoza 27, Corpl. Kernot 26, Bngler Lord 26, Sergt. Campbell 35. Cadet Gray 24, Corpl. Petford 21. Cadet Metcalfe 21, Cadet Whitford 21, Cadet Nelson 20, Cadet King 20, Cadet Stock 20, Moore 19, Vernon 19, Johnston 19, Corpl. Butler 19, Cadet Phinex 18, Bugler Griffen 18, Cadet Barnes 17, Cadet O'Brien 17, Cadet Asmues 17.

After much sitting up o' nights with wet towels round its bead, the Defence Council has decided on the following order of precedence for the forces of the colony:—(a) Permanent staff; (b) Ooast Defence Force —Royal New Zealand Artillery, Royal N.Z. Engineers, Volunteer Garrison Artillery, Volunteer Submarine Miners; (c) Active Field Foree —Field Artillery, engineers (field), mounted rifles, infantry (Including cyclists and signalling corps), army service corps, medical corps, field hospital and bearer corps, veterinary corps; (d) Reserves — Reserve corps, defence cadets, defence rifle clubs. __ Now,, if yon read that carefully you'll see that this means that the G.A. and the Submarine Miners get a U£t np. They are placed in the first rank after the Permanent Force, as part of the Coast Defence. This places the old Auckland Navels back in their old position at tl»e head of the N.Z. Volunteer Forces, and tie company Iβ correspondingly jubilant. Incidentally, also, the now nearly .defunct, Auckland Submarines win their much-disputed - petal.. . .. ■

The N.C.O. Club Executive meet on ITelday. night to draw up the syllabus of winter lectures, which the club is holding for its members.

The Defence Council is issuing a circular containing and explaining a design for a miniature rifle range. The Council is evidently entering on an active campaign In suport of the miniature-rifle-club movement, which has got a great vogue at Home and in Australia. The States in Australia specially subsidise the miniature rifle clubs, and I presume the N.Z. Council will extend similar privileges to clubs formed here.

It is stated on good authority that the Government have purchased about 60 acres at Te Aroha, for a camping ground for the Xo. 2 (HaurakJ) Battalion, the object being to do away with the usual local camps, and instead have one large camp for the battalion. Targets ajnd shelter sheds are to be erected, and complete arrangements made tjr rarrrinp on field work. The site purchased is well situated, and has a stream of fresh water running through one portion of it.

I am glad to hear that the 12-ponndere on the North Shore are to be brought into use again. They are to be handed over to tke No. 8 G.A., if the company can provide the special detachment required for them, and I understand Captain Forbes intends to accept the task. The special purpose of the guns—which are splendid instruments—is to protect the entrance against torpedo-boats. Formerly they were used to cover the mine-Oeld, which is now abandoned. The use of the guns was discontinued after the accident at Wellington a couple of years ago (when the breach of one blew out); but evidently the Council intends to bring them into service again. The excellent automatic sighting apparatus should do mnch to improve the company's shooting score.

The annual "shivoo" of the No. 8 G.A. was held on Monday night, and was very Joyful. The special pleasure lav in the fact that for the first time In five years the company is clear of debt. This year Captain Forbes has been at last able to clear off the burden of debt—the "dead horse," at which the company has beeu for so long working. The annual report recorded with pride that the record of the company had been very good for the year, and the members had received general commendation for their work. It was hoped to do much more this year, and consequently every man would have to "put his neck into the collar and keep It there"' till the tests were over. Certainly the company deserves tongratulation on its satisfactory position financially, and for the good position it has won in the colonial competitions.

Colonel Wolfe, 0.C.D., is pushing ahead with the further systematising of the defence work in the district on the lines laid clown by the Defence Council, and his latest move is to establish a permanent tactical class under his own supervision. Officers are being circularised with a view to their joining this class, in which they will consider and work out tactical problems with the aid of maps, and where possible also on the ground -itself. The execution of staff rides and the playing of war games with the apparatus (purchased by the Officers' Club for the purpose) now in the club at Auckland. Ofßcers who desire to join the class are to forward their names to the Brigade Office as soon as possible, to enable the work to. be begun as soon as possible. It is hoped • that senior officers especially will make it convenient to attend. It is to be understood also that officers will only eb called upon to attend at seasons convenient to the majority, so as not to make the work burdensome.

The joint committee of the Garrison Boxing and Wrestling Tournament met last week to arrange the preliminary details of the competitions. The dates are filed as August 22 and 23, and the proceeds go towards the fund for the establishment of a gymnasium. The competitions are to be confined exclusively to volunteers, and they include the following even.ts: —Boxing—Featherweight, trailer Ost 41b: lightweight, under lost; middleweight, under list 41b; heavyweight, over list 41b. ■Wrestling—Lightweight, under lOst: middleweight, under list 41b; heavyweight, over list 41b. A number of good trophies are available (first prizes valued at £2 2/, seconds at £1 1,0, and every inducement is to be held out to all ranks to compete. Entries close at the Drill Ha?i on the evening of August 13i I hope that volunteers generally will do their best to make this nseful tournament a success. It is by such competitions as this that the Garrison is made to realise that their interests are common, that they are brothers in civil life as well as in arms. The Officers' Club has gone to a lot of trouble to set the tournament on its feet, and has been wise enough to see that the co-operation of the other ranks '■s essential to the success of anything of a corporate character which is attempted in the Garrison. I believe that already good entries are assured, and a splendidly successful tournament should be the result. Sergt. J. Clark, of the >'o. 8 G.A., is the secretary.