MARKSMANSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 3, 4 July 1910, Page 3

MARKSMANSHIP.

A SUCCESSFUL CADET CORPS. PRESENTATIONS TO PETONE SCHOLARS. There was a special night parade of the Petone District High Scliool Cadets at the Infants' Schoolroom on Saturday evening on the occasion of the presentation of the Kebbell Shield, won by a squad of marksmen from the secondary division. An inspection of the company on parade was made by Major M'Donald, Commanding Officer of the Cadet* fer New Zealand, accompanied by Lieut. Stevens, Captain Lynskey (Adjutant 4th Battalion), and Mr. D. M'Keuzie, chairman of the Main School Committee. Other officers on parade were Captains Bedingfield and Keans, and Lieutenants Mothes, Marsden, and Mills. Prior to making the presentation, the Major briefly outlined the cadet system as recently revised by the new Defence Act. In expressing pleasure at the presence of so many parents at that night's function, the speaker emphasised the fact that the whole success of tho junior cadets very largely indeed depended upon the fathers and mothers oi -the boys v lergoing training. Incidentally, the success of the defence scheme of the whole country also was dependent to a great extent upon how its foundations were to be laid in the ranks of the junior cadets. ( (Applause.) It was, therefore, his earnest desire, with the able assistance of Lieut. Stevens, to make that basis of the defence system a sound and solid one, on lines, he added, that would bo acceptable v, nob only tho boys, but the parents, school committees, education boards, and everybody concerned. (Applause.) As regards rifleshooting itself,' it was his endeavour to get a miniature rifle range established at every school in the Dominion. So far, forty-five had been authorised, of which number thirty-one had already been constructed. On Monday he intended journeying out to Petone to inspect a site for one .(open to all schools) that was under offer by Rev. Father Maples. Major M'Donald also dwelt at some length upon the generosity of his old ir vu S n c ° n the Educ ati°n Board, Mr. llebbell, of Manawatu, in donating the shield m question, which, by the way added the speaker, would still be open tor competition by the local companies— now attached to the new 4th Battalion recently created. The praiseworthy efforts of Captain Lynskey, in again pushing hls boys to the fQre> J^ in tor much commendation The shield-, which hag twice been secured by the Petone High School team, was then formally handed over to Captain Lynskey's safekeeping. The latter briefly returned thanks, especially to the boys themselves. Medals were presented to the individual members of the team, whoi K£a are (^ SS Ifol 1 fol i ow : Sergeants Duncan, WIS Col^ vu 1 hh ° Un A Lust y> Abrahall fcoiithgate, Colour-Sergeant Wynyard Private Marsden was also the recipient of a silver marksman's badge for being third m grand aggregate at the da-Jets" New Zealand Bisley; while other prizewinners to whom trophies were Ppresented were Sergeants Duncan, Lusty and . ColquW T ft tho company com! thi U« PrtVa * c Marsden a S ain beaded the list, .as winner ot the ooveted gold badge. AJ €X . Wilsonj g< Bolton gO^ d Lusty, Abrahall, Rushton, Wynyard S q r U % P \ Lee ' W - Duncan/ Eiouthgate C. Boyd, and Anderson qualified tor plain badges. At the conclusion of the prize-giving Captain Lynskey took occasion to pub idy express thanks to C.P.O.'s Findty c and Pa/rant and P.O. Hardham, V.0., of the Petone Navals, for tho assistance they had lent tho boys from tune to time, and the interest always displayed m the cadet corps Major M'Donald also thanked the' officers m question, on behalf of the Education Department.