A POPULAR OFFICIAL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 143, 16 December 1908, Page 10

A POPULAR OFFICIAL.

CAPTAIN RICHARDSON AND THE ARTILLERY. At a special parade of the- Wellington Field and Garrison Volunteer companies at the Artillery Drill-hall, Buc-kle-street, last night, Captain G. S. Richardson, chief instructor of artillery, j was presented with a testimonial of appreciation of his services to those branches of the Defence Forces. The address is a beautiful piece of work, and was executed by Mr. W. R. Bock, formerly a gunner in the D Battery. It reads as follows : — "On behalf of past and present officers, non-commissioned pincers, and men of tho Field and Garrison Artillery Volunteers of the Dominion of New Zealand, we desire to place on record the universal appreciation, of your past services as master gunnar. You have ever set before both officers and men a high ideal in efficiency, discipline, and soldierly characteristics, and encouraged and helped them to aspire to it by your own example, as well as precept. W© are w-ell aware that you have sacrificed your own leisure and convenience, and, at times, the- welfare- of your family, in the interests of artillery volunteers in helping them in drill, in military knowledge of all kinds, and in military sports. You have devised innumerable mechanical appliances and apparatus whereby the> difficulties of training offij cers and men have been greatly 1 educed, and have prepared and published, without recompense, manuals and works on artillery subjects which have proved invaluable, and Have bsen the means of disseminating information not otherwise available. You have introduced working systems for both branches of the service:, undsr which the year's instruction is carried out methodically and thoroughly, and the annual training corps have, become the final stage of a well-ordered process of development. AVo recognise iimt y. v have placed the annual exannn.uion aid tests on a ba^is which iiakee them of real -value, and has much stimulated anthusiasßi and clliciency ; null jou have been largely, if not. solely, lesponfiblo ■for the highly successful competitive and grading regulations under which the vr.i»oiis corps throughout the Dominion are induced to enter upon a healthy rivalry one with another. At al l times by your ad.vice and active assistance you have rendered the duties -of officers comparatively easy of performance and entirely pleasant. You have invariably gained the confidence and esteem of every batiery or corps with which you have heen engaged. Your influence has been for good upon all ranks, and the value of your services to the defence of the Dominion can hardly be over-estimated. It is tho heartfelt desire, of all whom we represent and ourselves, \vhile recording our grateful thanks for .your past services, that your future career may be- in the highest degree successful and distinguished, and that your exceptional talents may always meet ths recognition they merit and deserve." The address was fignod by representatives of every artillery corps in vho Dominion, and- was presented, by Lieut. - Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, who eulogised tho uork that Captain Richardson has performed during his long connection with tho Defence Forces of the Dominion. Captain Richardson said the compliment paid him was the gieatest- honour which he. had evei received at tho hands of anyone. Of late years a great improvement had taken place in the artillery, and he knew of no volunteer companies in the world who for keenness and efficiency could compare with the artillery volunteeis of New Zealand. He attributed that efficiency in no small dsgree to the valuable assistance of ths Royal New Zealand Artillery. Three cheers were given for Captain Richardson, and the- parade concluded. ■ .