TERRITORIAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13883, 7 November 1910, Page 4

TERRITORIAL NOTES.

I. tent. J. A. Northcote, of the ilnct Regiment .North Canterbury Mounted Rifles, has been promoted to the rank of honorary captain. The Kaituna Defence Rifle Club h:« disbanded. Captain Edward Harris, of the G era Wine Mounted Rifles, has resigned. It is Gazetted that Acting-Lieut. Erie Oliver, of the High School Cadets, Ashburton, lias passed his examination and been granted a lieutenant's certificate. The hist GeneraTorder contains a decided anomaly, inasmuch as it announces the regret of the Council ol Defence at the death of a reserve medical officer, and on the following page announces that the same officer lias oee.i posed to the Reserve oi Medioa! Olßcers. The composition of the new battalion which combines the o'd Nos. 1 and - battalions, is i.otiiied. It will be Known as the Fust Hattalion Canterbury Infantry Brigade, and will comprise the whole of the companies of the two battalions, with the exception or the IjnnTiora Jliflcs and Kainyoi ltifles, wine. are not included in tho new command. The Department will probably meet with some* difficulty next month m obtiinim' a sufficient number of tents ami marquees for camp purposes. Not only will tho battalion be encamped but tlio Engineers, the Christchure i Cycle Corps, tho Battery, and probably one oi th,. Lyttelton divisions will be under canvas for their annual training. Tho resignation of Licut.-Colonel Cresswell is officially notified in a District Order. The following additional dates have baen fixed for the annual camps:—Jvaianoi Rifles, November 26th to Dccemoer ■i'd- llangiora Rifles. December 3rd to 12th; Christ's College and High School Cadets, December sth to 12tn. Captain Lacy, Staff Signalling Officer of the Dunedin Engineers, is at present on a visit to Christchurch. Colonel A. W. Robin Chief of tho General Staff, New Zealand Defence Forces, addressed a largely-attended meeting oi officers in the Garrison chibrooms at Auckland lafct week, ni* subject beiiis "The New Dcfcncu Scheme." Lieut.-Colonel b. C. J... Wolfe, Officer Commanding the Auckland District, presided. The lectimr, aided by charts and diagrams, explained'the scheme very clearly, and much useful information was gamed by those present (states the "Herald ). \ noint which Colonel Robin laid particular stress on was regarding the lallacv that the general training sectw; was distinct from the territorials. lie explained that the territorials worn not, as many suppled, volunteer.3 under a new name. The officers nonhad no recruiting powers, and d: strength of the territorials would bo kept up by drafts from the general training sections. As all territorials, with tho exception of sergeants, warrant officers, and officers, would retire' (compulsorily) into the reserve at the age cf 25, it was plain that the general training section must be the feeder to keep m> the territorial Long service * medals will be unattainable now, unless the men work their wr.y up to the rank oi tergeant or warrant officer. This, in itself, should prove a great incentive to efficiency. It has been decided to hold a South Inland camp of instruction for Boy Scouts nt Wainoni tho firet week after New Year , i> Day. An area of two acres will be reserved for the exclusive uro of tin , scout.-, and in addition the whole of Waiiiom Park will be at their disposal. In the middle of the enclosureis a large pool, splendidly adapted for learning to swim, and for the more advanced boys the river will be handy. The Dominion Chief <Soout, as well the Commissioners for the South Island, will be in camp. It is al-o proposed to ask the Governor to pay a visit of inspection, but this cannot be done until it is definitely known how many boye will attend. A brasc- band, probably the Garrison Bund, will be in attendance to play for church parados. In addition to scout work there will bo various competitions, j.ueh a,; bridge and hut-building, knotting, bandigint:, etc. JCxaminatiotvs for several badges will fie held, and it is intended to make tho camp the best scout camp that Jicn been held in the South Island. It is especially desired that the country patrols will attend, and it is pointed out that the railways will be running excursion:; at tho time, which will mean a reduction in fares. The ■Ran.aiora High School Cadets, numbering forty, went into camp at Kairaki on the Kaiapoi beach on Saturday. Mr.jor T. R. Creswell, principal of tho .school, is in conrnand, and has with him Lieut."?. Richards and Miles, and Sergeant-Mnjor Hcaloy is at present acting an instructor. The camp is pitched near tho pine plantations. The company arrived at Kair.poi by the early trains, and with it<: j impedimenta of baggage, tentage, hairs lof straw for bedding, and the cooker i and rations, were convoyed down the river by Mr A. Johnson's launch, and in a very short time tents were pitched and the camp put in order.