OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 103, 29 October 1900, Page 5

OUR DEFENCE FORCES.

WELLINGTON RIFLE BATTALION. The first daylight parade of the Rifle ! Battalion for the year took place on Saturday afternoon. The men assembled at Mount Cook Barracks, and, after being served with blank ammunition, proceeded to Kilbirnie. One company marched by way of Pirie-ibreet, under Major Brandon, and the remainder of the force by way oi JNewtown, under Lieu-tenant-Colonel Collins, The object of the afternoon's work was to instruct the officers and men in "attack drill," and ' this was done under great difficulties, as the strong gale blowing made it somewhat difficult for the, men to hear the orders or instructions given. However, the best was done tinder the circumstances, and a profitable afternoon's work put in. The attendance, though good on the whole, was not in sufficient strength to enable all the men to receive the per- ' sonal payment fixed for such parades. This is much to be regretted, and points to the necessity for an alteration in the rule, which requires two-thirds •of the corps or battalion to be present. Out of 315 of all ranks present, ojnly a very small number will receive the half-crown, and unless some alteration is made in the regulation, daylight parades are dqomed, as it is most unfair to punish those men who are present for the absence of the others. Unless our Volunteers have opportunities to learn their field duties in peace-time, ib cannot be expected they will be suddenly ,developed in time of war. The following is jthe official parade state : —College Rifles, Captain Turner, 47; City Rifles, Captain Duthie, 40 ; Highland Rifles, Captain Macintosh, 38 ; Zealandias, Captain Kein, 35 ; Civil Service, ' Captain King, 34 ; Post and Telegraph, Lieutenant. Harton, 34; Kelburne Rifles, Captain Davis, 33; Wellington Guards, Captain Jno. Duthie, 24$ Cj'cle Corps, Sergeant Fountain, 18; Bearer Section, under Sergeant Kenny, 6 ; Staff (5), Lieu-tenant-Colonel Collins, Major Brandon, Captain and Adjutant Harcourt, Sergt. - Major Sanderson, and QuartermasterSergeant Carmin'. Totyl, 315 all ranks. The Petone Rifle Club fired on Saturday i for Mr E. P. Bunny's and Club's trophy. The following are the principal scores: — 200 500

The weather on Saturday was very bad f»r rifle shooting, which accounts for the low scores. Mr C. J. Hollard got a leg-in for Mr E. P. Bunny's trophy, and Mr A. Ballinger won the club troph}' right ot*fc, having had aprevious leg-in. The H. Battery, Nelson, is to have the use of two of the 7ib Nordenfeldts with which the D Battery was armed, upon the arrival of its new and up-to-date guns. The tournament organised by the->offi-cers of the 'ellirigtpn Garrison promises to prove highly . successful. Among the events included in the programme is one for the horse best suited for 'mounted infantry purposes, points to be awarded for capacity for weight carrying, general appearance, and not so much for evidence of speed shown when trotting and galloping. event should prove an interesting one*, particularly to all niembers of mounted companies. /SergeantMajor Brown; for a long time connected with the Cape Mounted Rifles, rind late with' the Bengal Cavalry, has been appointed judge. A separate bugle competition has been inserted in the programme ,for the .buglers from the Public Schools and College Cadets.

C. J. Hollard A. Ballinger C. Hollard R. Walker H. Smith W. Hendry 3'ds. 28 27 29 23 26 22 yds. 28 29 20 18 13 12 hd'p. TJ. 4—60 scr — 56 scr — 49 6—47 8 — 47 12 — 46