MILITARY TOURNAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 41, 12 November 1907, Page 6

MILITARY TOURNAMENT.

DISPLAY AT PALMERSTON. The. second annual grand Military Tournament was hold at Palmerston North on Monday. The climatic conditions early in the day were far from promising, but, nevertheless, there was a largo influx of country visitors and volunteers. Tho attendance, when taking into consideration the old-established attraction of tho day in Foxton, and tho organisation of several picnic parties,, was vory creditablo, and augured well for tho future prospects of military sports in Palmerston., Had tho weather been promising in the earlier part of the day the attendanco would have beon considerably larger. It is unfortunate that bad weather should liavo prevailed both last year and this year. Tho general arrangements, aiid the good offect upon volunteering generally, drew nothing but the highest comment from distinguished military visitors present. The Minister for Defence, when speaking to, our representative, cast a glimpse into tho future, prospects of tho function, which is only in its infancy, and which will ono day be recognised as one of the greatest centres in the Island for military displays, and stated that there was no reason why soveral competing teams should not be present from the South Island. Tho Minister expressed a desire that an attempt should be made in this direction for next season in order to open up a friendly rivalry between tho corps of both Islands. A general impression of the competing teams wiis that they had been carefully trained, and the majority upheld tho good reputation of their, corps. It was only natural to expect that the Wellington teams would score largely, having a direct advantage in training facilities over country corps; but the latter must recollect that tho judges take into consideration the many disadvantages which beset the path of the country volunteer. The judges have, in fact, expressed the. highest admiration of tho general efficiency of the men. . A feature of the tournament well worthy of note was a figure march performed by the'cadets of the Campbell. Street School, Palmerston North, under Captain C. H. Warden. Unfortunately, the event took place before only a limited number of visitors, owing to its being brought on early in tho programme, and the youngsters did not receive the credit they were entitled to. Tho same remarks apply to an exhibition by tho members of the Manawatu Mounted Rifles, which was also full of interest. . To the spectators the most interesting display of the day was that of the D Battery and the Now Zealand Field Artillery. Tho guns under Lieutenant C. Glendinning were, brought into action at full gallop, and after firing operations'had been carried out they wore'retired and returned again to tho attack.. • . . . Among the visitors were Liout.-Colonel Bauchop, Hon. M'Nab (Minister for Defence), Mr.,.W. T; Wood, M.H.R., Captain H., H. Brown, Captain Lyons, Staff-Sergeant Major Colclough, Colonel Duthic. Colonel Collins sent ..a-wire regretting his. inability to bo present, and- wishing the promoters every success. ■ . . Tho events resulted as follow: — Wrestling on ■ Horseback, judge, - Captain Brown.—Sergt.-Major Ranby, Feilding, 1; Corp. Rennent,'Eketahuna' Mounted Rifles, 2. Bugle .and Trumpet.—Bowman, Petono Navals, 176 pts.,- 1; Trumpeter Johnston, D Battery, and Bugler Johnston, .Wellington Engineers, tied, and in the final second place was awarded to- Trumpeter Jolinston, of D. Battery, and -third to Bugler Johnston. - : Mor'so Signalling.—Potohe Navals, 59 pts., 1; Post and Telegraph Rifles, 57 pts.. 2; Eketahuna Mounted Rifles, 55 pts., 3; D Battory, Wellington, 53 pts., 4; ' Zealandia Rifles, 47 pts., 5. Tent Competition.—Eketahuna Mounted Rifles, 226 pts., 1;' Kilbirnio Rifles, No. 1, 214 pts., 2; Greytown Mounted Rifles, 204 pts 3. ( . . Lloyd - Lindsay Competition — Feilding Mounted Rifles,, Sergt.-Major Ranby's team, 221 pts.. 1; Feilding Mounted Rifles, Q.M.S. Beadnall's team, .194 pts., 2; Manawatu Mounted Rifles, Corp. .Montgomery's team, 193 pts., 3. The winning team was much superior to tho others, and tho time was oxcollent. The. horses also showed that they were well in practice, for besides leading well they took tho hurdles clean. Competition between tho second and third teams was close, and gave tho judges some difficulty to assess tho places. St. John Ambulance Competition.—Boys' Institute Cadets, No. 1 team, 1; Field Hospital Bearor Corps, No. 2 team, 2; Field Hospital and Bearer Corps, Sergt. Finlay•son's team, 3. Physical jJrill.—Wellington City Rifles, under Col.-Sergt. T. Davis, 47 pts., 1; Hutt Valley Rifles, 45 pts., 2; Mastorton Rifles, 44'pts., : 3. Tho. exhibition given by tho winners was-as near perfection as it is" possible to attain, Physical Drill, Cadets.—Petone High School, .73 pts., 1;-Campbell Streot School, No 1, 64 pts., .2; 'Campbell Street, No. 2, 54 pts., 3. There was, good competition bctweon tho first and. second teams. Tho event was watched with'interest by, tho Hon. R. MlNab. Tent-pegging by sections — Feilding Mounted Rifles, Sergeant Ranby's team, 1; Manawatu Mounted Rifles; Q.M.S. Beadnail's team, 2; Manawatu Mounted Rifles, Trooper ,D,. Lovelock's team, 3. Tent-pegging—L. Lovelock, 1; Stephens,.2. Cockade Fight—Feilding Mounted Rifles No. 1 team, 1; Manawatu Mounted Rifles No. 1 team, 2. ... Tug-of-War — Feilding Mounted Rifles, 1; Eketahuna Mounted Rifles, 2. ■ Bayonet Fighting—Wellington ..City.. Rifles, 52. pts., 1; Mastorton ltifles, 50 pts., 2; Palmerston North Rifles, 48 pts., 3; Zealandia -Rifles, 45 pts., 4. Bayonet v.; Bayonet — Corporal Rankin, Wellington City Rifles, 1; Privato Feasy, Wellington City Rifles, 2. 1 Heads and Posts — Sergeant Patterson, Manawatu Mounted Rifles, 16 pts., 1; Troonor D. Lovelock, 14 pts., 2. The' musical ride by tho Manawatu Mounted Rifles, accompanied by .music supplied by Palmerston band, was neatly and accurately carried out, and was rewarded by well-merited applause. Rain commonced to fall towards the latter part of tho day, and many people" we're obliged to Icavo - tho ground before the programme was concluded. jMr. M'Nab returned to Wellington by the express.