THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 462, 22 March 1909, Page 6

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

GENERAL ORDERS.

general orders by tho Now Zealand Council of Defence include the following announcements :— Certificates of rank.—Tho undermentioned officers, having passed tho examinations of tho Central Military Board, held December 2, 1002, have been granted'certificates of rank in accordance with their qualifications. Passed for major—Captain C. G. Foster, N.Z.G.A.V., Canterbury; Captain J. A. P. Frcdnc, N.Z.G.A.Y., Otago; Captain N. Dodds, N.Z.G.A.V., Otago. Passed for captain—Lieutenant J. S. Gill, N.Z.G.A.V., Canterbury; Lieutenant P. Doull, N.Z.G.A.V., Otago; Lieutenant J. H. Crawford, N.Z.G.A.V., Otago; Lieutenant 0. V. Mis, N.Z.G.A.V., Wellington; Lieutenant IV Price, N.Z.G.A.V., Wellington. S.urgoon-Major H. A. M'Clcland, Fourth Ride Battalion (Tnranakij, has been placed on tho reserve list, New Zealand Medical Corps. Leave of absence—Lieut.-Colonci G. W. S. Patterson, N.Z.G.A.V., Auckland, until April 15, 1009; Surgcon-Lieut.-Colonel G. Clayton, New Zealand Medical Corps, Canterbury, until August 19, 1909; ActingLieut.- Henry Jolly, Scddon Horse, until January 4, 1910; Hon. Chaplain the Rev. llonald Maedonald, Raglan Mounted Rifles, until March 31, 1910. • THE "SCHUMACHER" CUP. With the approval of,tho War Office, and under the auspices of the National Rifle Association, a competition will beheld throne-b----out tho Empire, for which Lieut.-Colonef R. \\. Schumacher, Witwatersrand Hiltcs, Johannesburg,: has offered a challenge cup, value one hundred guineas, as well as silver and bronze commemorative medals, and £175 in money annually. The conditions prescribe that the enn is to be shot for on Empire Day or on tho Saturday next preceding Empire Day; open to one team of forty, of whom not more than' two may bo oiheers and four may be sergeants (lancesergeants not included), from any unit of his Majesty's service. The designation "unit" for Dominion forces for.the purposes of this competitioa to mean: — M Any ship of the Royal Navy. _ (b) • Division of garrison artillery, including detachment R.N.Z.A., in ono command. (c) Battery field artillery, company field engineers. (d) Regiment mounted rifles. • (o).' Battalion infantry. Details of competitions, targots, and conditions have been sent to officers commanding districts for local use. Officers commanding units are urged to work up teams' to tako part in this competition. THE "DAILY MAIL" CUP. Tho following conditions governing tho contest for the "Daily Mail" Empire Day riflo contest are published for general information :— Entrance fees, nil; ranges, 200, 500, and 600 yards; rounds, one sighting-shot at each range, seven scormg-shots; position: Bisley positions—standing, kneeling, or prone; riflo and ammunition: any service rifle .303 cartridge may be used; team: eight highest scorors on day of the match to count as team. Any number of men from ono unit may shoot. All competitors to be bona fido members of tho club under which they shoot, Bißloy rules for current year governing tho conditions of the match. No member can shoot for more than ono cliib. The match to be shot under the direction of an, independent range officer (who is not a member of the competing club), who will sign, the score-sheets, which must'record the conditions of the weather. The range officer may_ be an officer of his Majesty's forces (active or retired); a justice of the peace, a minister of religion, or such other person as may be approved by the "Daily Mail." Each competing club shall immediately after the contest cable the. aggregate score to the "Daily Mail," London, through Secretary, Defence' Council, New Zealand. Tho certified score-sheet must be forwarded-by mail to tho organising secretary, "Daily Mail," Empire Day Rifle Contest, Carmelite House, London, England, immediately after the contest; The results will be published in tho "Daily Mail" and in tho overseas edi-' tion of the "Daily Mail." In special cases' where teams are unable, to shoot on Empire Day (May 24) permission must be obtained to shoot on Saturr day, .May 22. Tho competition is confined to militia, volunteer, police, or civilian rifle clubs in the British Empire. In case of any misunderstanding, the matter shall be referred to the Advisory Committee, whoso decision shall bo final. In the event of any alteration in Bisley rules for 1909, each competitive club will receive notification in duo course. Entries should be forwarded as early as possible to tho superintending Officer, Rifle Clubs (Major J. G. Hughes), Wellington, to whom all correspondence on tho subject must bo addressed. Tho word •'club" must bo taken to mean a separate unit, or, in other words, a. self-contained club. Whero a rifle club is part of an "association," that club must enter its .team entirely on its own account. The clubs composing the association are, of course, eligible, but tho association as a .whole is not. Teams must go to tho ranges and fire off their rounds for the cup once and for' all. It must bo distinctly understood- that the first shoot—esolu ling tho shooting for the "Schumacher Cup"—on the day of tho competition must count for tho match. PRIZE LIST.FOR. 1909.'..' First. The "Daily Mail" Empire Cup: Tho "Daily Mail" Two'hundred-guinea Cup to go to tho club which makes the best scoro in the whole Empire. This cup. to bo held for ono year only. Second. A Fifty-guinea Cup to bo won outright by the rifle club which makes the best score in the United Kingdom. c Third. A Fifty-guinea Cup to bo won outright by the rifle club which makes the best scoro in any part of the Empire outside tho United Kingdom. The cup was won last year by the East London Riflo Club (824 out of 840), Opaki Rifle Club (776, tho best score in Havf Zealand) receiving silver spoons.