VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Press, Volume V, Issue 13598, 6 December 1909, Page 3

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

The quarterly examination of officer for commissions took place at Christ church and Timaru on Wednesday last when the following sat:—Timaru Major Raymond (Timaru), Captair Childs (Ashburton), Captain Chapmar (Temuka), and Lieutenant Davis ( __ burton. Christchurch: Captain HardS (Ashburton Mounted Rifles), Captair Duigan (N.Z.R.E.), .Captain C. Hawkins (Natives), Lieutenants Orr (AshI burton Mounted Rifles), Row© (Imperials), Smith (Sydenham Rifles), Izard (Amuri Mounted Rifles), Masefield (C.V.C.). White (Cyclists'), Daltrv (Natives), Braddell (Scouts) Patterson (Rangiora Rifles), and Sandle (R.N.Z.A.). The members of the Canterbury College Officers' Training Corps appear to be taking a live interest in their work, and in military work generally. On Wednesday they visited the Canterbury Engineers* camp at Pilgrims' Corner, wltc-re instruction was imparted by tho I different Engineer officers. Local corps have been warned not to incur further liabilities for uniform or cqur;>ment for the present. - Captain Jones, of the Canterbury Engineers, visited the Cyclists' carno at Cashmere on Thursday evening, where he gave the corns a useful talk on entrenchments, which was followed uj I JV some practical work. Earlier in the week Lieutenant Bradley, of the Engineers, visited the Cyclists for the purpose of instructing them in the erection of field telephones and other electrical work. The "Victory" Shield, which was given by the late Mr Geo. G. Stead to the Defence Cadets, for annual competition, will be competed for at Redcliffs on December 11th. Tlie conditions are teams of eight cadets; 10 rounds at 300 and 500 yards. Coaching will bo allowed. The shield is at present held by Christ's College. The Canterbury Engineers have completed the second week of their camp, which is on© of the most useful in the history of the corps. Although no morning work has been taken, a lot of hard, useful lessons have been taught, quite as much as would be taught in a I permanent camp during the same period. The men have shown a keen interest in the work, much of which has been new. The corps was inspected on Monday last by Lieut-Colonel Hawkins. During the inspection a number of works were completed, among others a camp destructor, much used in regular camps for burning" rubbish, tarpaulin rafts and punts. Trip-wires and flares ■ M were -also worked. There has been a large accession of recruits during the camp, and arrangements have been made to swear in those elected till December Bth, when the camp breaks up. After that date recruits will bo dealt with at the corps' orderly-room. The Highlanders have issued invitations to their review parade on Wed Inesday next, when the corps will tx inspected by Lieut.-Colonel G. J Smith. The Highlanders will then ap pear, it is understood, in a full kit foi the first time. While week-end camps have beer popular in Wellington, they have not caught on in Christchurch to any great extent, although the Christchurch volunteers have camping grounds almost at their doors. The Sydenham and Native Rifles have, however, broken th"_ spell, and on Saturday started a weekend camp at Redcliffs. They afterwards marched over to Taylor's Mistake, raano-uvres being carried out on the way. Lieut.-Colonel Hawkins will inspect the two local infantry battalions, Cycle and Ambulance corps, and Garrison Band on December 13th. Lieut.-Colonel Beokingham, of Timaru, and Captain F. C. B. Bishop, o* Christchurch, have been authorised to accept entries for the Dominion Rifle Association's meeting at Trentham in March next. The Cycle Corps had a strong muster at their 'camp "oh Tuesday evening, and j were i_&ructe_ in cycles. Later in the evening "*__e'u,t. Bradley," N.Z.E.," gave sin interesting and.instructive lecture on the method of tapping wires and the construction of telephones. With a party of Engineers he connected' both Engineers' and Cycle Corps's camps by field telephone. Captain Jones visited camp on Thursday and gave an interesting lecture on entrenchment and the value ol cover. He illustrated his remarks on the blackboard and gave numerous instances from British military historj and the advantages of protecting and ' concealing troops by, artificial means. Lieut. Kidfley instructed the Cyclists in the construction of a fire trench, and Captain A. E. Luttrell examined reconnaisance reports. On Friday evening Lieut.-Colonel Hawkins inspected the corps. He had with him Captain Potter, D.A.G., and Major Richardson. The corps was split up into groups, five of these acting as reconnoitring parties; While others were" utilised in transmitting signals through various stations to the Engineers' camp at Pilgrims' Corner. The night was a dirty one, which made all classes of work exceedingly difficult. ; The E Battery Field Artillery went into camp of instruction at , Hagley Park on Saturday evening, under Captain Duncan, who has with him Lieut.. Beattie and Brorie. The old Battery is this year stronger than ever, and already there are over ninety member-" in camp, a muster that will De increas- . Ed in a day or two. Captain Richardson, Chief Instructor of Artillery, overlooked the work yesterday, but the instruction was carried through by tho officers and non-commissioned officers, Captain Richardson holding the opinion that if officers and non-coms, are to lead their men in war they must instruct them in peace. Yesterday morning the men were out early, sta tion work, carrying out of indirec laying, and instruction of drivers be ing the special duties. The object r. to train the men in the more serious work which will be carried throng! next week. The locality for the annual .competitive; service practice h_ not yet been definitely decided, but th< practice wiH take place on. Deoembei 18th, the instructional series being firec on the 16th. The Canterbury Engineers were "at home" in their camp at Pilgrims' Corner on . Saturday afternoon. Specimens of the work done during the camp were exhibited, and a "piece de res-stance" in the shape- of a huge explosion, such as would' be used in actual warfare to demolish a bridge or impede the progress of an enemy, was much enjoyed by the visitors. Major T. R. Cresswell and Captain H. Oram, at Kaiapoi on Saturday, underwent the practical examinations for their respective commissions. Private R. Scott, on Saturday, at a parade of the Kaiapoi volunteers, was presented with the colonial auxiliary forces' medal for twenty years' service. Lieut.-Colonel Hawkins, commanding the district, mode the presentation. On Saturday field exercises were carried out at Kaiapoi by the volunteers, 42, under Contain Gates, Lieuts. Conlan, and Edwards, and the military cadets, 40, under Captain Oram, Lieuts. Stark and Gray. The companies had a general attack and; defence movement over the country north of the town, and used blank cartridge. Lieut.Colonel Hawkins, V.D., commanding the dratrict, with Captain Potter, D.A.G., and Sergeant-Major Thomson, with Captain E. E. Papprill, of the retired active list, were on the staff. After battalion drill the troops were formed into six companies for the defensive operations, which occupied most of the afternoon, and with which the officer commanding stated he was satisfied that the companies both showed keenness in the manoeuvres.