AT THE FORTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 42, 19 February 1914, Page 2

AT THE FORTS

GARRISON ARTILLERY CAMPS. Residents of Wellington hearing tho sound of big-gun firing next week will have no cause for alarm. It will not ,be an invasion of an enemy, but merely the Garrison Artillery companies under.going their annual training at the foils. The three companies go into camp tomorrow, and will remain under canvas till Saturday of the following week. No. 3 company will encamp on the flab ground at Fort Dorset, No. 5 will go into quarters at Fort Kelburne, and No. 9 will encamp at Artillery Bay, alongside Mahanga Bay. LieutenantColonel Courtney, commander of the Division, and Major Bevan, of No. b Company, being on leave, the camp commander will be Major D. R. Menzies, the separate commands being : No. 3 Company, Captain A. E. Brown; No. 5, Major A. 11. Hollis; and No. 9 (Fort Ballauce), iMajor A. G. Hume. Th«s camps will be inspected on Friday, 27th March, by Major-General Godley, and probably also at other times by the Director of \ Ordnance and Artillery, by Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Coast Defence Commander, and Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor, Officer Commanding the District. Lieutenant Richard and Lieutenant Thring, of the R.N.Z.A., will ht> the permanent pincers of the campa, Members of the 11.N.Z.A., who will bo stationed at each fort, will assist in the j work of instruction. The following is the detailed programme of the shooting to be carried out : Monday, 9 a.m., Fort Kelburne will fire 10 rounds from the 6in guns, 13 rounds 6 pounder; 2 p.m., Fort Dorset, 10 rounds 6in. Tuesday, 9 a.m., Fort* Ballance, 4 rounds . 6in, 10 rounds 12 pounder, 20 rounds 6 pounder; 2 p.m., | Kelburne, 10 rounds 6in, 12 rounds 6 pounder. Wednesday, 8.45 a.m., Kel- \ burne, 10 rounds <sin ; 9.30 ? 12 rounds 6 pounder; 11 a.m., Dorset, 10 rounds 6in ; 2 p.m., Ballance, 10 rounds 6in, j 10 rounds 12 pounder, 20 rounds 6 pounder. Thursday, as Wednesday, except that Dorset will fire 20 rounds 6in instead of 10. Friday will be devoted to battle practice. The targets will come in from outside the Heads, and will be engaged by each fort in turn. Fort Dorset will fire 20 rounds from the 6in, Fort Ballance 20 rounds from the 12 pounder and Fort Kelburne 14 rounds from the 6in guns. In addition to the battle practice Fort Kelburne will fire, at 2.30 p.m., 20 rounds from the 6 pounder. The targets will make only one run past Forts Dorset and Kelburne, and if these forts cannot get their rounds off in time (the number being the allowance for battle practice) they will lose them. The course is so short for Fort Baliance, however, that a turn will have to be made in order that this fort may compete. The results of Thursday's shooting will be taken as each company's efforts for the shields. These trophies are open for competition by all the Garrison Artillery companies in" New Zealand. _ There is the Garrison Artillery efficiency shield for mediiitn and heavy guns (6in and Bin) and the Hud- | son trophy for eight quick-firers 6 pounders and 12 pounders).