AT THE FORTS. BIG GUN SHOOTING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 74, 30 March 1910, Page 3

AT THE FORTS. BIG GUN SHOOTING.

RESULTS OF THE YEAR'S WORK. Ten companies of garrison artillery completed their annual course of training thib year, and Captaii: G. S. Richardson, Chief Instructor of Artillery, now announces that the results of the work done in fort manning' and big gun fchooting show that Canterbury No. 1 Company obtained pride of place, and has been awarded tho Coast Artillery Cup. Fololwing is the order of merit. Figure (Jlassiof ficaMerit. tion. 1. No. 1 Co., Canteibury 1.121 Ist 2. No. 2 Co., Otago ... 1.©21 Ist 3. No. 2 Co., Wellington 1.010 Ist 4. N0.2. Co., Canterbury .922 Ist | 5. No. 1 Co., Otago ... .896 Ist 6. No. 1 Co., Wellington .716 Ist 7. No. 1 Co., Auckland ... .601 2nd 8. No. 2 Co., Auckland ... .532 3rd 9. No. 3 Co., Auckland ... .431 *N.C. 10. No. 1 Co., Westport ... .351 *N.C. *Unclass>ed. The Hudson Cup was awarded to No. 2 Company Otago lJiviijon for efficiency in quick-firing gun practice. The company's lecord of »ix eerie*- by night, with an average figure of merit of 1.021, was accounted excellent, reflecting careful training and a high jbtand'ard of efficiency. The 12-poitnder Q.F. gun practice of the Wellington Navals was considered to be accurate, but slow. The Canterbury companies really did best but they arc provided with improved methods of gun-laying, etc., and their practice was conducted m the daytime. A comparative report "accompanying the tabulated results shows that while there has been a, marked increase in the percentage of hits to -rounds fired, there has been a falling-off in the figure of merit: — Percentage Figure of of Hits. Merit. 1904-5 ... 36.10 .421 19&5-6 ... 46.68 .510 1906-7 „.. 51.09 .622 1907-8 ... 62. 4E .855 1908-9 ... 71.5© .970 1909-10 ... 83.60 .704 This falling-off in the figure of merit -is attributed to the creation of new and more difficult standards of efficiency — night-firing for Q. F. guns ; increase in tho mean range for B.L. gun practice ; prevention of the use of picked detachments for the company- service practice. The B.L. gun practice was not &o good thib- year as last, but the light Q.F. gun records are superior in accuracy and rate of fire, an advance of over 12 per cent, in the hits recorded having been made on the previous year's figureb. The memorandum further states that "the night-firing from 6pr Q.F. guns was good, and considering that it was the first year that Q.F. night firing was compulsory, the results exceeded expectations. A new system, of laying which was introduced at the commencement of the season was largely responsible for the increased accuracy and rapidity of fire. During the coming year frequent aiming Trfle practice by night should be carried out. FIELD ENGINEERS. The shield presented) by the Government for the encouragement of company efficiency in New Zaland Field Engineer Corps has been awarded to Auckland. The marks gained by the various companies were : — Marks per cent. 1. Auckland (No. 3 Company) ... 79.85 2. Canterbury (No. 1 Company) 76.50 3. Otago (No. 2 Company) .".. 72.4 4. Wellington (No. 4 Company) 64

On the eve of Mr. Pittendreigh's departure from Greytown, the Methodist body, with whom lie was missioner, gave him a farewell "social." This was largely attended by members of the Church and others interested. Addresses were given by the Rev. W. J. Elliott, Messrs G. 1< airbrother, Mark Maxton, and A. Raigh. The latter, on behalf of the Church, presented Mr. Pltieodreigh wifck a gujse gf sovereigns.