SERVICE NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 4, 5 January 1907, Page 15

SERVICE NOTES.

(By "Scout.")

Secretaries of volunteer corps and of rifle dubs aie invited to forward any items of interest regarding parades, •mooting, or general company news. The annual meeting of the Wellington District Defence Rifle Clubs, held at Trentham this week, was marked by a quality of shooting considerably above the average, but the patronage given to the meeting was not up to expectation, and to make ends meet it was necessary to reduce the prize list by cutting out the first prize in each match. Tho idea has come to "Scout" that there would be better prospects of success if the meeting was made a one day fixture, and held on the King's Birthday, or on Labour Day. Then the shooting men would be caught while their interest in the pastime was newly re-awakened, and there would be no counter attractions (such as exist at Christmas and Now Year) to take the men away from Wellington. The mounds on the Seddon and Collins ranges, notwithstanding repeated protests and requests for improvement, remain in a bare condition, with big stones protruding. If any wet weather is experienced during the meetings the condition of the mounds will become deplorable — and all for lack of a little foresight at the time when they wero first made. Cannot the Defence Department be moved to in part remedy the trouble by ordcripg the sowing of grass seed upon the mounds ? At the military tournament held in Christchurch last week, D Battery (Wellington) competed in eight events, and came either first or second in six of the events, gaining £34 in prize money. Tho prize winners were as follows :—: — First prizes. — (1) Drivers' Harnessing, Avon by Corporal Shilling in the lecord timo of smin 35sec, which includes harnessing two horses and trotting fifty yards. This time has never before been equalled in New Zealand. (2) Lemon Cutting and Tilting at the Ring, won by Sergeant Janson against a held of sixty competitors. In giving an exhibition lun after tho competition, Sergeant Janson took all lemons and all rings. (3) Section Driving, won by Drivers Forbes, Lloyd, Suddaby, Irving, Butter, and Corporal Shilling. (4) Casualty Competition, won by D Battery with 95 points, against 90 made by B Battery, Dunedin, who took second place. Second prizes. — Subsection Alarm. Sergeant Janson's team tied with J Battery ; time Bmin 7sec ; points 74. G unlaying and Fuse Setting, won by Gunners Griffiths and Garnham. The only events in which D Battery competed without securing either first or second places were : Semaphore Signalling — ono of the teqm for which event was only just recovering from a broken collarbone ; anu Trumpet Sounding — the battery's competitor being a recruit of this year. It is notified in Irish Army command orders that it h&3 been observed that several officers in the Irish command aro in the habit of shaving the upper lipj contrary to paragraph 660 King's Regulations, which must be adhered to. The regulation referred to, which comes under the heading of "Interior economy," applies to all ranks, and stipulates "that the hair of the head is to be kept short. The chin and underlip aro to be &hayed, but not the upper lip. Whiskers, if worn, are to be of moderate length." Thomas Chadwiek, a Crimean veteran, living at Cromer, where he was born seventy-one years ago, vas lecently the recipient of 253c!01. from the United States Government, being pension money duo to him under the Pension Act, 1890, as from July, ISO 4. He is also entitled to a sum of 10s a week from the same sourco for the rest of his life. Chadwick, who .served in tho Marine Volunteer infantry of the Federal Army in the Civil War, has had his case taken up by Mr. Henry Broadhurst, who in September lust "wrote to President Roosevelt direct. Soon aftjr the Crimean campaign, in which Chadwiek served in the Brigade of Guards, he went to America, whence he returned home about eighteen years ago. A Rorke's Drift hero, in the person of Johu Connollcy, died at Swansea recently. He was one of the 24th Regiment who took part in the defence of Rorke's Drift in 1879, and was reputed to be the man who was carried from the burning hospital by Sergt. Hook, who won the Victoria Cross for the deed. Hook died last year. The London Gazelle announced on Tuesday thnt Second-lieutenant J. Carroll, of the Connaught Rangers, had been removed from the service for absence without leave. Carroll enlisted in the 2nd South Lancashire Regiment. About a year ago his all-round efficiency was recognised, and he received his commission. He was posted to the Connaught Rnugers, but he found that his pay was not sufficient to meet his expenses as an officer. At length, fearing that he would be reported for owing money, ho came to England from Ireland, and tried to re-enlist at Warrington, and also at Liverpool, but without success. Then he went to Manchester and joined the Royal Irish, and he was afterwards sent to Clonmel, where he made a full statement of his case to Major Kellett, whereupon he was taken off all drill and ordered to await the action of the War Office. The " festive season " is doubtless respouhiblc for the following perverted notions of a correspondent, for which "Scout" takes no responsibility: — (1) That the peremptory notices "Keep Off the Grass," now dotted about the freshlymowii .slopes at Alexundia Barracks, will be removed when the now officer commanding district arrive. 1 : here. ((2)( (2) That, owing to constant use by volunteers, vnrious guns — fortress, field, and Maxims — are beginning to show tigns of •wear In consequence, the officer in chargo has very sensibly recommended that these arms should be withdrawn and preserv ed in oil until required for active bervice. Wooden models and photographs would be supplied^for the instruction of volunteers. Thus, on an outbreak of hostilities, our guns would be clean, free from deterioration, and fit for use ; while, in the meantime, much labour and inspection by artificers and others will ha saved. (3) That an important feature in military strategy, and one developed into a fine art by the* Japanese, i 3 the caieful concealment of all movements of troops ; and, in particular, mobilisation and concentration at any point. The committee in charge of the recent tournament at Christchurdh exhibited strategy of no mean order from this point of view. Even tho public of Christchurch appear to have been quite unaware — until the tournament was safely over — that a con.ftidcrable force had been massed within the walls of their Exhibition. The Government of New Zealand will liius be saved from embarrassing explanations to other Great Powers with regard lo this unubtial military activity ; anu we need fear nc naval counter-demonstration off our coasts. (4) That a mathematical genius was recently unearthed, quite by accident, on n difctricttfifle range. Being instiucted to prepare " targets Nos. 3 to 8," he reasoned " 3 from 8 leaves 5," and prepared five targets accordingly — instead of Bix.

A Celtic memorial cross has been elected over the grave of Thomas Moore ia Broinham Churchyard, Devizes..,