VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 17, 20 January 1909, Page 7

VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES

'■, "7''."l''X ; "' (BT RIFLEMANJ ' - - -' - ■■ -■ T Corporal McLaughlin, of No. 3 Corhpany Garrison Artillery; has been promoted to be acting-sergeant. '' ''■ ?■' •;...- ;..j.:- — The appointment of Lieutenant JBL S* Morran as actihg-captairi of No. 3 Oo.''Aucfc land Garrison Artillery has been gazetted. Staff Sergeant-Major Coleman left Hamilton on Monday last to inspect the Ohnra and Kakahl Rifle Clubs, both of which are In the King Country. Notices have now been gasetted of the acceptance of the Akarana Rifle Club and the dlsbandment of No. 3 Company N.Z Engineering Volunteers. The annual meeting of the Plako Mounted Rifles will be held on March 22 - when a captain will be etec'ted in place of" Captain Allen, who *has been transferred to the active list unattached. The services' of the Upper KJng/Gouhtry Rifle Club, with headquarters at Ma'taptna, and the Kaeaen Rifle Club have 'been accepted by the Defence Department. There are 50 men In the former club and 25 in the iatter. Colonel Wolfe, 0.C.D., and Captain Carpenter, A.A.G., have been on a visit of Inspection to the Fourth Regiment A.M.R. at Te Pnke. Colonel Wolfe will probably return to totvn to-day, and Captain" Carpenter on Monday next. A Gazette noticed dated January 14 notifies the acceptance, under the Military Pensions Act, of the resignation of Lieut W. E. Collins, of the New Zealand Medical Corps from his position as a member ot tbe Military Pensions' Board. Colonel Wolfe, accompanied by Staff Sergt-Major Coleman, was present at the parade of the Pinko Mounted Rifles on Tuesday, January sth, for the purpose Of examining officers who were up for'"promotion. There was a good attendance ranks. - >• A muster parade of No. 3 A.G.A. will be held 'this evening, when the whole of the Government property on issue to the company will be inspected by the 6.C. Division. A daylight parade will be held at Fort Takapuna on Saturday next, 23rd January. The following appointments are notified In the "Gazette" of January 14:—Charles James Tnnks, of No. 1 Company Auckland Field Ambulance, to be quartermaster, with rank of lieutenant; Rev. C. Houchen to be hon. chaplain (fourth class) of No. 1 Squadron Waikato A.M.R., with the rank of captain.

The following is the range time table for the month of February:—February 6, 200 yards; February 13, Buchanan Cup competition; February 20, 500. "'to $00 yards (as required), and 800, 000, and 1000 yards (restricted to intending Trentham competitors); February 27, 500 to 800 yards (as required), and 800, 900, and>aooO-yards (restricted to intending Trentham competitors).

It Is considered probable that the week's annual training of the Second Regiment A.M.R. will this year again take the form of a "trek," as [ was carried out four years ago. If the -weather Is fine the "trefc" should be a successful and Instructive manoeuvre.from a.military standpoint.

The officers commanding the. various unite are enjoined to remember j.'that arrangements must be made foi* Carrying out the marksmanship course of musketry, as the Issue of Government medals'thls year Will depend on the scores recorded. The matter has just been the subject of another district order Issued by the O.C.D.

The No.. 3 Company Garrison Artillery hold a smoke concert at the company's club rooms, Elliott-street, on Friday next, January 22hd, to commemorate the first anniversary of the formation of the club. 1 hear 'that a capital evening's entertainment has been prepared for the occasion.

A district order has been Issued by the O.C.D. announcing that the manoeuvres by ,the field, force of. the Auckland -District "rising Easter will be held in the vicinity of New Lynn. The Garrison Artillery will, of course, be at the forts. It Is requested that officers will report the numbers of the respective squadrons or companies who will be iv attendance.

Mr J. B. 'Starkey,, of Morrinsville, has generously donated a ten-guinea cup to the Plako Mounted Rifles for the inbuhted scouts' competition. The gift is much appreciated, not only by members of the corps.but by the whole regiment. Mr Starkey is himself an old volunteer from the Canterbury district. The Competition, which will be for teams of four, will be held in the vicinity of Te Aroha.

It is stated that Capt. Berry, who has been one of the oldest and most consistent Workers in the volunteer movement in the Wuikato, contemplates resigning, owing to the calls on his time, which his private business entails. It is understood, however, that Captain Berry's services will not be entirely lost to the Defence Forces, as he will probably be appointed to the active list unattached.

Lleut.-Colonel Bell, officer commanding the Second Regiment, A.M.R., accompanied by Sergt-Major Coleman, staff instructor, made a tour of inspection of the KlrigjCountry corps last week, visiting Te Kuiti, Otorohanga, and Waltomo. At Te Kuiti, various matters in connection with the local corps were attended to, and steps taken to increase the strength to a large extent. A parade will be held In Heteto Hall on January 22, when the election of a lieutenant will be held.

On January 29th (Anniversary Day) the members of No. 2 Company A.D.G.A.V. propose to hold a ladles' day at Penrose rifle The idea is to spend the day at Penrose In the form of a picnic. The Bhootlng committee has the matter in hand, and are arranging a suitable programme, included In which will be a rifle match foi ladles only. The winner will be presented with a suitable trophy. There will also, If possible, be a match for members. ,

Colonel Bell (says my Hamilton correspondent) Inspected the Government property of the C squadron (Te Awamutu) on Wednesday, the 13th last. On Saturday, Colonel Bell nnd Sergeant-Major Coleman inspected the property lii possession of the ltiiglun Mounted Rifles. A parade of the headquarters troop was held at Kauroa, and of the Te Akau troop at the old homestead (Te Akau). There was a very good parade, and the Government property was all in a satisfactory state.

The Engineers go into camp tor the usual 16 days at Fort Cautley on Thursday night. Lieuts. Newton, Butler, aud Ueardon will go through the camp with the corps, which will be instructed by Lieut. Diudan and Sergt.-Majbr Meikle, of the Permanent Staff.- The corps has entered for the Engineers' Shield competition, which will be held during the camp. With regard to this contest, each corps will be examined at its own centre, the points to be added up foil the results for the .Dominion.

Lleut.-Col. O. W. S. Patterson, officer commanding the Garrison Artillery Division, has Issued a "routine order Intimating that the couipanieis of the division will go into camp for annual training as follows: No. 1 Co., Fort Bastion, January 23 to February 7; No. 2 Co., Fort Oautley, Febru>ary 6 to February 21; No. 3 Co., Fort Takapua, February 6to February 21. Colonel Patterson desires to remind all ranks that the general efficiency of the division Increased by 16.94 per cent for the year 1907-08, and urges the officers commanding the companies to make every effort to show a futfthex increase for the present twelve months.

A dinner and social gathering was held dn the Mew Plymouth Drill Hall on Wednesday last to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Taranakl Rifles. The function (says the "Taranakl Herald") was largely attended, among those present being uHeiabers of the corps when ordginahy formed, present members, veterans who saw service with the militia during the Maori troubles, members of South African contingents, Borough Council, and citizens interested in the volunteer movement. The Taranaki Rifles have a history of which any company might justly feed proud, aud It was fitting that. its jubilee should be marked by so memorable a garnering. The ! original members of the ftines first began their drill under Major Lloyd In 1858, but It was not until the following year that the company was actually proclaimed. By commencing drilling in '58, Taranaki was the first province of New Zealand to move In the matter of raising a volunteer corpß, but dn the Intervening months to '59 Auckland followed, and to the lattetr province heidnga .the distinction of having the first volun- **** oarust officially proclaimed.