DOMINION DEFENCE. MANNING THE HARBOUR FORTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 34, 10 February 1908, Page 8

DOMINION DEFENCE. MANNING THE HARBOUR FORTS.

PRACTICAL WORK FOR VOLUNTEERS. Mahanga Bay and the vicinity presents a busy appeaiancc ju.-ir now, for three companies o£ the Wellington Division Garrison Artillery Volunteers are in camp thereabouts • viz, the Permanent Artillery, under Lieut Standish ; tho Wellington Navals, under Captain Menzips; and Xo. 3 Company 'the Electric Light Branch) under Sergt-Major Ellis. Lieut. -Colonel Campbell, officer commanding division, is in camp, and Capt. Symon, of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, is acting as adjutant. The Instructional Slatf i& under the direction of Sergt-'i\lajor M'Donald, R.N.Z.A. The weather is favourable and the attendance of all ranks is very good. The camp routine commences with reveille at 4.30 a.m., the detachments being at work on the guns by 5 a.m. Drill for an hour is followed by breakfast, and at 6.30 o'clock tho order is "all aboard the Janio Seddon for town." The wharf is reached a little before 7 o'clock. The Royal Ntw Zealand Artillery parade for physical drill at 6 a.m., and carry out their gunnery training during the day. In the evening the volunteers arc again at work, 'lhey leavo the city at 6 o'clock, parade at 6.40 p.m», and mess at 8.40 p.m. After mess, thosu on ' duty have the usual camp duties to carry out, "lights out" sounding at 10.15 p.m. On two evenings there will be a combined manning ot the forts, under Lieut Col. Campbell, and on these occasions the electric light will be xun. Next week the annual- service practice from the big guns will be fired.