WELLINGTON NAVALS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 11

WELLINGTON NAVALS.

The annual report of the work of the Wellington lv avals lor the past year states that the roll strength- of the corns is now 110 an increase of 30 for the year. Eegret is expressed at the loss sustained by the company in the resignations, owing to pressure of private business, of Lieutenants Sloman and Denniston whose efforts on behalf of the corps were verv r g & a ?i PreCiatcd -, ? uring tho J' ear ' Ml ". G. •Jr tu - was £ lected to a ] ieutenancy. Tho • following N.C.O.'s resigned, and ipore placed on the Ecserve :-P.O.'s Hepburn, Sinclair, Howard, and Burge; the following were promotions and appointments :-P.O. Johnson to sergeant; P;O. Brindle, to corporal; Gunners I rancis and Durrant, to be corporals statement of receipts and payments for tho year showed a credit balance of £16 19 S .

Last Enster marked a considerable forward step in the. training of the garrison artillerymen of this Dominion, when the forts were manned continuously throughout the holidays and the corps had the honour of carrying out the first night firing practice in New Zealand from big guns. During the year, the general efficiency of all ranks hae been maintained and he results of the challenge shield examinaions show a higher percentage (90.2) of mark, for efficiency than last year (90 per cent.). In the individual examinations 76 men passed in euunery, 13mD.8 F.,.11 insignalling/ond 55?n gunlaymg. In the service class firing, the fiiui-o of merit awarded was .866. A feature ofthe years shooting was the record for time put up at the 6m. gun by Lieutenant Meredith's ( h achnient under P.O. Brindle, and tho splenHi^°r de T, Bhootin ?, of P --° : Johnson? dotachment. The results of Various company competitions were as under ..-"Fairway" Cup for efficiency-Kan Point .Detachment; champion belt for rifle shoot'ing-Gunner Boon' cuter race for champion fiag-P.O. J n ffrav : cutter race, No. 1 Company v. No. 2 Companvf ft, ¥ - tll( l corps were especially due to the B.JN.Z.A. instructors for their valuab e and over-roady assistance at all times; to the R.N.Z.A. artificers for the assistance during camp and during the year, providing drill plant at.Moimt Cook; to Master Gunner Hsath and the district gunners for assistance afforded'during camp; to the company secretary and quartermaster; thei secretaries and treasurer, of various commit ecs,.and the donors of prizes Captain Menzies, in movine the nrtnrt ™ Zi the report, at the annual meeting pointed on Uiat.tfie signalling detachment was top f or ?n 0 Dominion m the signalling department. He also recommended that an clectrio light section bo formed consisting of six electricians and fwi? drivers. The following were elected to Tarious offices for the forthcoming yenr:-CnHto-dian, boat stnhon-Gunner Atkinson; shootimj committee secretary-Gunner Fred Marhnsocial committee secretary-Gunner Fors/th.