TERRITORIALS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1914, Page 2

TERRITORIALS

RAILWAY ORGANISATION. Quietly and unobtrusively the organisation of the New Zealand Railway Engineers as a branch of the Territorials has been proceeding, and now two battalions — one in the North and one in the South Island — have been established, with a strength of 1000 men each, and a real strength, too, for the men are all equipped and are making rapid progress in their work. The chief centres in the North Island are Auckland and Wellington, each having two companies. There are single companies at Frankton Junction, Taihape. Wanganui, and Palmerston North. In the South Island there aro two companies at Dunedin and at Christchurch, and single com* panics at Timaru, Invercargill, Greymouth, and Nelson. At each of the smaller stations smaller numbers of Territorials are being trained by their own officers under the same system as obtains in the centres. Up to the present the instruction has been in squad -'and physical drill as for recruits, but now a start is being made with the main work, a form of military engineering, with a special branch concerning the entraining and detraining of troops and protection of railway lines. Instruction is given by four staff-sergeant-majors, who are continually on the move attending parades at various places. Two quartermaster-sergeants attend to this branch of tho organisation. The whole of the equipment of the men is attended to from Wellington. The latest pattern engineers' equipment, uniform, and rifle have been supplied. The Railway Department has taken the scheme up in earnest, and >it is intended that every man of training age in the Department should perform his obligations under the Defence Act with thoroughness. The men,' on their part, are showing greai willingness, and manifesting much interest in their* \york.