OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1898, Page 6

OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

No one can look in at Mount Cook Barracks on a AN cduesday night without being struck with the \ariety of the work which the Wellington Navals are set to do (Jurinir their hpH.J.v parade, and also with the proficiency which most of the men have attained. The corps is a credit not only to Hie cit\, but also to the colony, and well deserves tho commendatory remarks which tiio present and past Commandants of the Fjrces have made in reierenee to it. A large number of competitors assembled at the City itities' social room last night to compote in the cribbage tournament lor the handsome trophy presented b}' Captain W. Dulhie. At the close of the evening's play Ihe following were announced as the winners of their heal* :—Sergt. 11. Marshall, Corpl. (i. Woods, Privates Tucker, Dixon, Swain, U. Jay, Morrison. Wilson, Curry, Barnard, | and G. Howe. The above-mentioned will resume play at 7.30 this evening. The notification of the formation of the three rifle battalions in the Wellington Volunteer District appears in to-day's Gazette, as does also that of the promotion of Major Collins to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy, with the charge of the Wellington Battalion. Owing to iilness in his family, LieutenantColonel Newall was unable to inspect the Hawkes Bay corps this week. [b? teleghaph —piiess association.] Auckland. This Day. Since the advent of Captain Coyle to the charge of the Permanent Force stationed here, work of an important nature has been put in hand at the Torpedo Shed Grounds, and already a great improvement has been effected. Captain Coyle, in response to instructions from the Defence Department, submitted a complete scheme for the proper equipment of buildings and appliances for the use of the Torpedo Corps, and it is probable that the whole scheme as originally detailed will be carried out by the Department.