VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9738, 28 May 1897, Page 2

VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

•'Weekly Press and Referee."

By Be*-—-eye.

Local Notes.

At th« Non-Corns. Club on Wednesday evrvniii'-. the I'uestioii of utilisiu ; the winter ••\i:uia<'a tor theoretical practice **viue up. The member.* present were unanimous in their wish to see classes started at which inatruction in tho various duties could be imparted. Stall" Sergeant-Major Barrett volt in let* ted to be on hand any evening that the commit lee might fix for a special class. The matter is being entered into with great apirit, anil I feel sure that UKaful results will ensue. There was one thing which particularly struck mc aa showing the advance of the non-coms., viz., a general request that, if possible, a map of any country over which the forces might be called up to operate for field days be procured for the use of tho club, so that tho members might be enabled to study the country, and not have to go, as they have in the past, quite in the dark as regards the operations. There has in the past been too much mystery over these operations, and I look to see a better understanding between officers and noncoms. A'military writer in one of the prominent service journals recently says :— " The present studies of tactics by non-coms means a considerable relief for the officers. In future companies non-coms, will be entrusted with the plan of campaign, and each one will know what his special duties are, as well as the object aimed at."

1 have received a letter from a correspondent who wishes to know when the return match for the Fathers and Sons takes place. It waa understood that there was to be a return before the season closed. As Corporal Simpson is away I don't sco how the return will take place, unless they put his yonnger brother in hia place. It is a pity if such a fixture is allowed to lapse. The City Rifles are organising a series of squad competitions, which take place in August next. The competitions are to consist of manual, sword bayonet, firing and physical exorcises. A cup has beon offered for tho winning squad by Captain Hobday, Mtd Lieutenant Fairbaim gives a medal to each member of the winning squad. The competition should be full of inter-.- and cause great interest in the corps. Since Captain Alexander has resigned from the command of the Kaiapoi Cadets that company has been taken in hand temporarily by Captain T. Miller and Colour-Sergeant Black well.

Teams from Kaiapoi and Rangiora met in a return match last week, when the Kaiapoi men were again successful. The match was fired in the very ploasantest spirit, and the wea'.her was fair for good shooting. Owing to the fact of the evenings drawing in, the first men had the best of the light, indeed some of the men on each side were not able to finish. These have * attached to their names. The following are the scores :— . KAIAPOI RIFLES. ZOO 500 fOO yds. yds. yds. Tl. Private Robilliard .. ..26 26 13 <» Colour—i-s-eant Blackwell ..27 19 8 54 Private Mcdrej-or .. „ 15 19 13 47 Corporal Stevenson .. .. 22 14 * 36 Private Bate .„ ..32 25 * 57 «a—eantDay _ .. 23 23 H 57 Private Hempleman - ..26 — 16 65 Private Balch .. .. 28 22 * 50 Private Whitley _. -*»»*§ Private DrlscoU _, _. 14 _ _^ 518 E-Haioit- ana,-. Private De Troy .. -21 23 If 62 _. •• •»_?',„ _5 Frivateßell.. _. „ 23 21 19 68 Private Birss .. ••*?,____ IWvateJ.Bell - .. 23 15 * 38 Private Tolputt _. .. M " 2 * Private Holcro! t ... ... - 16 9 48 Private O. Fraser .. .. 19 20 * 39 Private Reynolds .. ..9 5 * 14 Private J. Anderson.. 15 -a __\ 402 Th_ N Battery paraded on Friday night for inspection in the drill ahed under Captain Molntyre. There waa a good muster. After the inspection the company were exercised in company drill by Captain Mclntyre and Sergeant-Major Arnold in view of the Queen's Birthday parade, and the men did very well considering they have •o little company drill, nearly all their time being given to gun drill. The signalling. " claps ia getting on very well under Gunner Pnvitt of the Permanent force. There are now two classes, one advanced and one dan of recruits. The advanced class ia going in for the semaphore ayatem, and by the end of the year the Battery should have a set of signallers second to none in any volunteer corps in New Zealand. The Battery has also got a fine lot of recruits, who have been getting a course of musketry instruction under Sergeant Beazley every Huesday night. What an enthusiast Sergeant Beazley is in the cause of volunteering ir proved by his constant attendance at WJjades, although he has to come down from Christchurch twice a week, once at hia own expense. Tlie Battery will open the Morris tube shooting season this week by a match Married Men against the Single. _h_ W___rNG_oN Cm Rut,es' Rw__* 81STATTVB TkAM. — perhaps the youngest representative team which' has ever competed at an _aaociation meeting. The City Rifles •re essentially a shooting corps, as what eorpa could be otherwise which had Major Counts for so many years at its head. It was only natural that a corns whioh held auoh a high reputation should wish to be represented by a team at the Association meeting, and with this view the City Rifles held two socials last year, and all the company workmg hard they resulted in a net profit of £20. The Company added £& to this sum, and made five prizes of £5 each for the five highest scorers of the season, the money to be used solely for the purpose el going to Auckland. Any man unable to f», his place to be filled by the next highest worer, and so on. Unfortunately for the company (at least it was thought so at the tame, but afterwards proved the reverse) three of the cracks were unable to go, and their places were filled by three young hands. With a team of colts the chances of the team did not look too rosy. However, by steady ■hooting, and good coaohing by •• Pardy '"■' Howe, the team won third prize, much to the astonishment of the old hands, who •n their return challenged them with the result already published. ColourSergeant Davis, so well,known to shooting men, proved a most energetic secretary to the social committee and the team showed their appreciation of hia services by presenting the popular col.-sergeant with an enlarged photo of themselves, handsomely -famed. The Wellington City Rifles are organising socials during the winter to take their team to the next Association Meeting at Oamaru. The example thus set might •well be followed by every corps in New Zealand and would Drove a great incentive to both shooting ana attendance. Wkuungton Notes. The Wellington city volunteers fired on 8-tmday week for the district medal T-»rrten—nt-Colonel -Newall and SergeantMajor Finn represented the Government. The scorea made in the other parts of the Wellington volunteer district have jet to be reoerved. The conditions were—No aighters; 10-bot*,standmgposition, 200 yds ; 10 shots, kneeling position, 300 yd.; 10 shots, prone position, SOOyds, The following are the pruxapsdscores;—• 200 300 500 _ yds. yds. yds. TL B. fco-r*(<3_-.r<li*) „ « SI 27 36 94 B. IC_r«h_U (City Rifles) .. 26 32 34 92 Aamodt (Guards) _ 25 32 34 91 J. Turner (City Kittta) _ 30 27 34 91 lfc—s—ll (Guards) .. „ 31 35 34 90 Janes(Guards) „ .. 25 24 37 86 O. Hate(Qua•—> - _ 32 25 29 86 Uc*y (O nani*) .. _ 26 26 32 84 P. WV_eiw(CitTPJftea) .. 28 27 28 83 O— —(City lUftes) .. .. 2« 23 SO 82 Bonckenhurf (City RiflesJ _ 27 26 29 82 Ihawfaypmnb) .. _, 28 24 29 -1 A.pube(CU T R_l_i) _ 23 29 23 80 H»teln);Cityßi9_i) .. « 16 a 30 74 Rif«*) _. 20 22 26 68 *W**m(£ity Rifles) _ 21 N » tl gf*»r«»oo(Nava_,) _. «. 19 IS 19 57 S___?i_ , ** r * k i ,3, > - «. 21 24 11 56 v«rry (Naval*) __ .. 19 18 IS 52 *n 7 fll *"* Be * n Ul **' r ' r -**-te Love fired _; _ a,rou _ QC '« t » quite nph Wnig the reputation he has obtained during the past seasons Xhe contest between Love, M__ha_ «$£ iSSS* .^__-^y keen ' - nd -<* "*»' «** ««»*« till;_he* last shot. Love beating hfe f__£_2_____f%.°* ,**.? *"** ****•*-*• Th« Marshall and Aaroodt was ad SJSt. 1 -? _*m__g alead there, which, j •^^-S^'k*g_." h «- d '| R_ T___2-t i C ~*?* n ■**■■> -i-ted

that Lieutenant Barclay has been unanimously elected Captain of the Dunedin Engineers. He is a great favourite with his corps as well as with visitors. Besides being an excellent volunteer officer be is a very good amateur Bhotogr&pher, and most of the groups of lunedin volunteers which we have published from time to time have been from his negatives. The Dunedin Engineers held their annual church parade last week. Tlie corps and band mustered at the Garrison Hall and marched to Knox Church, where An impressive discour—e was preached by the Rev. W. Hcwitaon. The Engineers* Band supplied march music to and from the church.

At the Engineers' orderly room on Thursday evening, 6th inst., Sergeant-Major Wall, of the Torpedo" Corps, lectured to the electrical squad of the company. He fully explained the difference between the Daniels and Leclance cells. Tho terms used in connection with energy, resistance, and current, and the means of calculating the force of electricity when in circulation were also fully gone into, as well as the internal resistance of the various cells. The lectures are rendered specially interesting by the practical instruction given, each member being called upon to do his share in the work of connecting up batteries, &c. Later in the evening, Sergeant-Major Henry gave a very interesting exhibition of I'm* Piintgen X rays, the action of which he or: I—-—tl at considerable length. A number oi articles were submitted for examination, and the members were much indebted to Sergeant-Major Henry for the trouble to which he went in connection with the matter. On Saturday week tbe Dunedin Engineers brought a very successful shooting season to a close by firing a handicap match for prizes. Conditions:—Seven shots at 200 (sitting), 500, and 600 yards. The following were the highest scorers:—----200 500 600 yd-, vdg. yd*. Hep. Tl. Sprgeant Readle .. — '26 12 2 68 Corporal Tonkin .- — 2* 12 0 64 EiKfinecr Wurr.. .. 25 25 6 6 60 Corporal Midglev ..25 17 17 0 59 Engineer Atkinson .. — 15 15 7 59 Engineer Hook.. ..25 25 13 8 59 Engineer Wurn.. .. — 10 15 2 53 Bugler Ure .. ..26 23 12 6 57 Corporal J/scev.. .. 29 14 9 2 54 Sergeant Bryant ..26 19 8 0 53 Engineer Huter-on ..25 12 13 2 52 Sergeant Russell ..21-11 13 6 51 Engineer Hussey --26 19 10 6 51 The three first-named are prize-takers, winning the trophies presented by Lieutenant lioss, ex-Engineer Cable, and Mr R. McKenzie, of the Oban HoteL The Dunedin Navala fired the last of a series of five matches counting for the belt. The ranges were 200 and 500 yds ; ten shots at each. The following were highest:— 200 500 yds. yds. Tl Petty Officer Woollett .. 42* 34 76 Gunner Ham .. ..38 34 72 Gunner Silvius .. — 33 37* 70 Petty O'lleer Mackie ~ 34 25 62 Gunner Russell .. - 34 23 62 Gunner Hood .. ..34 26 60 * Range prizes. The following are "the aggregates for the best five matches, Petty Officer Woollett winning the company's belt and gold star for the second time •—Petty Officer Woollett, Ist, 379, champion belt and gold star ; Gunner Bain, 2nd, 362, gold star ; Gunner Hood, 3rd, 342, silver medal; Gunner Silvius, 335 ; Gunner Russell, 330. Captain Beal, who has commanded the Dunedin Engineer Corps since its formation, over twelve years ago, has received notice from the Defence Department of bis promotion to a majority in the volunteer force. We congratulate Major Beal upon attaining field rank. At a meeting of the Dunedin Engineer corps held after tho ordinary drill on Wednesday, May sth, Major Be— iptimated that in consequence of his promotion it would bo necessary to select a successor in the command of the corps, and Lieutenant Barclay was unanimously appointed to the position. It was notified that Engineers Hay and Smart were appointed to be lancecorporals in the signalling and electrical squads respectively. The corps will bring the shooting season to a close on Saturday next, and on the following Saturday it will be arranged to take the electrical squad out tor practical instruction in land mining.

Libut-Nant-Colone- Baden-Poweli. on

the Campaign in Rhodesia,

At a largely-attended meeting of the Military Society of Ireland, held in the Royal University Buildings,, Dublin, Lieutenant-Colonel Baden-Powell delivered a lecture on "Tlie Campaign in Rhodesia." Field-Marshal Lord Roberts, (/ommonder of the Forces in Ireland, presided. *■

The chairman, in introducing the lecturer, who was chief staff officer, to Sir Fiv'c.ariok Carrington throughout the campaign, said he thought that the society waa to be congratulated in hearina; from the lips of one who was so well qualified to tell it the first authentic account of that interesting campaign. (Applause.) Lieutenant-Colonel Baden-Powell said he did not want to make out that this little campaign was anything in the nature of a great war, but it waa the advantages which were picked up from those little campaigns > which perfected the machinery required for big fights. These small campaigns' generallyhad their lessons for those who liked to look j for them. (Hear, hear.) Having explained with the aid of a map the geography of the Rhodesian country, he proceeded to deal with the origin of the campaign. At the first attack the whites in Bulawayo went into laager, and managed to hold out until • they were relieved. Salisbury sent a relief column to Bulawayo, and from the Cape, other relief columns came. One of these was under Colonel Pluramer, an Imperial officer of the York and Lancaster who, with 700 strong, marched with in" or edible speed to their assistance. Another was a column of Cape Colonists, who we-o not particularly noted for good fighting, which was enlisted under Major Robertson, an old Royal Dragoon. While they were comibg ' the people formed themselves into a defence force, and kept the enemy, who made occasional sallies, off. But the enemy never got a good beating, until at last Captain Mc'Farlane, of t_o Lancers, drove them five or six miles away from the town, and up to that time they had been investing it pretty closely- In all those fights great gallantry was shown by the colonial troops, many of whom wero recommended for the Victoria Cross, but these wore, as a rule, personal assaults, and there was no combined attack. Sir Frederick Carrington was sent for, _ :d he took command of the troops on the spot, be (Col. Baden-Powell) being one of his staff. On arrival they round plenty to occupy them, the enemy beinc pretty close around them. They had very little food, and no transports for bringing up more, the rinderpest having killed iheir oxen. The question was how Ito get rid of the enemy. Sir Frederick ! Carrington's idea was to drive them back northwards, then break them up, and put forts around them to keep them off. They only had 1300 men against 14,000 of the enemy, 10,000 bein«* round Bulawayo. Then they were to attack those on the mountains of Matoppo, which were twenty-five miles to the south of Bulawayo. With three flying columns they drove off the enemy. After three weeks* lighting in Matoppo the enemy cleared out, and gave in their submission. Then Mr Rhodes acted as mediator, and it took the enemy five weeks to make up their minds about giving in their surrender.