N.Z. ENGINEER VOLUNTEERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 255, 21 July 1908, Page 5

N.Z. ENGINEER VOLUNTEERS.

•v /. COURSE OP INSTRUCTION. \ A field force which is; minus an efficient engineer, servico is woakoned at one of its •vital, points—its . linos of communications— and the'neccssity for maintaining this branch of ! the -service, is vory fully. appreciated by tho '-military authorities, I f or" this- reason/ the; instruction-.of the company units of ; the New; .Zealand Engineer . Volunteers will bo conducted, ..upoii systematic ' and advanced lines, under the supervision of the Instrufctor of Engineer Services- (Lieutenant Duigan, of the- Headquarters Instructional Staff). •' : Th6'..'.Wellington Company 'of Engineers, as No. 5 Company/ heads, the list for > efficiency in New/Zealand, having won tho Challenge Shield for 1907-8, in. open competition with the other: companies. But tho efficiencyj test, it must bo'said, was more a careful comparison of the valuo of the more _or. less elementary principles of tho theory and practico of military engineering: . Tho ■idea now.'is to' go further, and to combino efficiency with advanced theory' and practice ■ "■ Commencing on Wednesday, July 23, a preliminary course . of : lectures, judiciously will be jjiyeu: to No. 5: Company'at Hall,' the syllabus of ..tho work to bo as follows: — \ July 23. —Lecture; -geometry,field.Revels, and electric batteries." ~' 'V July ; 30.—Knotting and lashing; materials v ' 'and tracing • work; making-up bat-.'-.tories; conuecting-up "Buzzer" circuits. - ' .August 6.-r-Infantry drill.; ' ■ _ August 13.—Revetments and fire trenches (hasty); siting of trenches; field section, flag drill, and signalling section ; 'station work; jointing and insulat-' • ing. . ■■■'" August 20.—Obstacles; signalling, field sec- ■• i tion (explanation of message forms and ',' . flag . drill)signalling section; imisccl- ' ' laneous'signs and semaphore .work. ' : August 27.—Cleararico. of ( foreground; improvement of existing cov6r; ; ! , nature | : i,. and use of telephones (signalling sec- * -. ..-vtion)'; station' work'; lamps .and flags. ! September 3.—lnfantry drill. •' .. . September 10.—Defence of- posts,, villages j 'and;; camps; operating "Buzzer", sig- ' ,nals. : .1