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Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1909, Page 8

SATISFACTORY.

GARRISON ARTILLERY PROGRESS. WELLINGTON PRE-EMINENT. A return showing the standard of efficiency of all the Garrison Artillery volunteer companies throughout the Dominion has been prepared by Captain Richardson. In it the chief instructor says that it is very satisfactory to note that there has been improvement, in nearly all cases, on last year's results. No. 2 Company, Wellington Division, Garrison Artillery Volunteers, has again been awarded the Challenge Shield, with the very high percentage of 97. A satisfactory feature of the return is the comparative evenness of marks gained by the different companies. A few years ago the difference between the marks gained by the first and last companies was as much as 50 per cent., whereas this year the differ ence is only 17 per cent. The examination is a very searching one, and while it is supervised by different officers throughout the Dominion, every possible care is taken to ensure uniformity and care in awarding marks. The difference in marks for the first three companies in order of merit is very elight. No. 1 Company, Otago Division, Garrison Artillery Volunteers, is worthy of special mention for obtaining such a high percentage with such a large number of men (137), as the larger the company, the more difficult it is to get all the men efficient. No. 1 Company, Auckland Division, Garrison Artillery Volunteers, has also' made remarkable progress. Three yearp. ago it was last in order of merit, while this year it has passed fourth, with .125 men on the roll — it has also made the best performance since last year. Ah improvement in range finding knowledge is evidenced by the increase of marks gained, and there has been considerable improvement in signalling. No. 2 Company, Wellington, No. 2 Company, Auckland, No. 1 Company Wellington, No. 1 Company Otago, and No. 2 Company, Canterbury, receive special mention. The figures showing standards of efficiency are as follow :—: — Marks for Order of Coy. Efficiency. Merit. Auckland No. 1 ... 90.19 4th Auckland No. 2 ... 84.7 Bth Auckland No. 3 ... 87.2 7th Wellington No. 1... 95.7 2nd Wellington No. 2... 97 Ist . Canterbury No. 1 ... 79.2 10th Canterbury No. 2... 88.56 sth Otago No. 1 ... 94.04 3rd Otago No. 2 ... 88.5 6th Westport No. 1 ... 84.5 9th The average percentage of marks awaided to Electric Light Sections makes an interesting statement. It is appended :—: — No. 3 Company, G.A.V., Wellington — 78.4 (34 men examined 1 ). No. 1 Company, G.^.V., 0tag0— 79.4 (section of 11 men). No. 1 Company, Auckland — 77.3 (section of 10 men). No. 2 Company, Canterbury — not examined.