THE VOLUNTEERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 241, 4 July 1908, Page 13

THE VOLUNTEERS.

D BATTERY. ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT. The annual smoko concert of tho D Battery, N.Z.F.A.V., was hold at Godber's last evening, and was well attended. Captain Pethenck, officer commanding tho Battery, presided.' A most enjoyablo ovening was spont in spocch, song, and story. Captain Courtonay (active list), proposing tho toast of the "Royal N.Z. Artillery," said that no body of men woro moro worthy of praise, and the D Battery owed much to them. Tho toast of tho "Handy Men," i.e., "Tho Navy," did not appoar on the toastlist, but if " handy men " woro to bo toasted, thon ho could not speak too highly in that respect of the Royal N.Z. Artillery. Ho humorously reforrod to their versatility as ".handy men" —they could put out bush fires, mark at riflo meetings, put up tents and pull them down again, and watch over the safety of the .big wooden building. (Laughter.) What tho country ' would do without them in time of war, when these little things had to be attended to—(laughtor) —ho did not know. Tho toast was drunk with acclamation.

Major'J; E. Hume, commanding the Permanent Artillery at Wellington, responded. He referred appreciatively to the. workof the Battery, and mentioned that if shooting efficiency was to be carried beyond its present excellent standard, the conditions would havo to ho made more difficult.

. Captain Petherick. proposed tho toast of " Tho Instructors." He paid a high tributo to tho work of Captain Richardson, Chief Instructor, who, he said, was intimately associated with the efficient state of the Artillery services. To Sergeant Petersen and Bombardier Sommerville he would add his sincore indebtedness.' To the help ,of their instructors was duo their efficiency as a battery., ■'

Captain Richardson, who received a most hearty reception, responded to tho toast of tho instructors. Ho had, he said, watched the progress of the Battery for many years, and expressed his gratification at its progress. As instructor he, with his staff, had endeavoured to do his duty, and it was encouraging to find that their efforts had been appreciated. He regrotted that; men did not remain in the' Battery long enough for the corps to reap the benefit of the instruction rccoived by. thorn-. • As an officer he would say that the work entailed in the'efficient carrying out of their duties, was far greater than many people imagined. Their work did not concludo when they went off parade. Honrs of close study wero ngfssary if officers wero to keep up to dnto. Ho referred, eulogistically to the splendid service rendered by Sergeant Petersen and Bombardiers Soramerville and Hono Kaihi. Tho dofeneo system of Now Zealand, ho continued, had been studied closely by the Imperial Army authorities, and he had recently received a letter from Major' Johnston, late Director of Artillery, in which the writer stated that ho had been .asked to furnish a report- on the training of .Artillery service's in New Zealand, for. consideration by the authorities in connection with tho trninine of tho artillery corps'of the now British Army. He conirratnlnted the Batterv on winning the Efficiency Challenge Shield, and urged them' to-.maintain their position on tho roll of honour.

Sersrennt Petersen, who was henrtilv greeted on rising, also responded to the toast. ,

Other toasts were " Ex-memhnn;" (pro. poserl hv Cnptnin-Pntherielt. .nnd resnnnded to hvj Major .Mnorhonse and Lieut. .TTumeV,. "Old Assnci»M.«Ti!>" (proposed hy' Cnnt-nin' Courtonnv): " Other A rn\c " (proposed. 'lit Lieut. SVMIerV nml " The Press " .(prnrvn<t"d b'v Q.M.S (JilismiV '■ Diiriuir' fh'n evepipn it:pTn.n .were hr TTnnie Ptti .tnin Conrtenny; Ognnnrs•.'.Bnnehn.. Smith. and apd Bell. Rnstin Onnwrnffs. Fent«n. and .Taoobs. 'Jlr.. Cimino .at the pinnn,', ■ . ;

_Th" prkes ewrrled ' of prizewinner': has nlreh'dv Wn, ppWMird . in Tip: I)oMlNlO!fV.fnr'shnotmtr Wt-re presented.