NAVAL ARTILLERY INSPECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 12765, 19 March 1906, Page 3

NAVAL ARTILLERY INSPECTION.

The Duhedin and Port Chalmers Naval CWhrpanies, comprising the Ot&go Division N.Z.6.A.V., were inspected by Major-gene-ral Babington on Saturday. The inspection commenced at the Central Battery, where the details told off to that battery were formed up on the morning parade at 2.40 p.m. Promptly at 2.45 Major-general Babington arrived, . accompanied by Colonel Robin, 0.C., JDastriot-major Johnston, A. 8.0., Lieutenant-colonel Allen, O.C. (ttago Division N.Z.G.A.Y., Lieutenantcolonel De Lautour, P.M.0., Captain Campbell, A.D.C., Surgeon-major Fulton, Chaplain the Rev. Curzon-Siggers, Adjutant Swindley, and Lieutenant Gard'ne-r, R.N.Z.A. The various officers, non-com-iuissioned officers, and gunners were eloselv questioned in connection with their duties and special work, and the battery were prepared for action, and some gun drill gone through, after which the gun group, commanders were instructed to ask the detachments some questions with regard to their work. This completed, the G.O.C. and party proceeded to Port Chalmers by the 4 p.m. train, and on reaching Port embarked on boa.rd the torpedo boat. The Central Battery details followed scon, after in the Ellen Ballance. After a smart run the Heads were reached about 5 p.m., and the inspection of the Harrington Point was proceeded with. Then followed an inspection of Neck Channel, Howlet Point signal station, and the Nordenfeldt butteries in quick succession, each battery commander and gun group commander and detachment being questioned, as at the Central Battery? After a short interval of ten minutes tho guns were again manned and preparations made for a night attack by the torpedo boats. The searchlight was working well, and the entrance to the channel was well lit up. The sentries posted on each gun were aU watching very keenly, and in about an hour a boat was reported as creeping in under the lighthouse. As soon as each gun could be brought to bear fire was opened on the boat, which was soon reported as disabled. A second relay was tlien ordered on tins guns, and the* same procedure was followed. The cease fire was then sounded, and tho men ordered back to the boat. Before leaving the Heads Maior-jreneral .Babington. addressed the division in the Barrack square, and after complimenting Colonel Allen on the high state of efficiency which he found in all ranks of both companies, went on to say he was very pleased at what he had seen. He congratulated No. 2 Company on being the best shooting tympany in New Zealand, not onlv with the guns, but also with the rifle. He also congratulated No. 3 Companv -on their general work, and said he understood it was only by a very small margin they had missed first class. This branch of the service was in the front rank of volunteering, and they wanted to keep it. in the very front rank, not onlv in New Zealand, but in every part of the"British Empire. Their duties were sometimes very hard on the men, but an endeavor was being made to make these duties as light as poerible. He would have great pleasure in reporting to headquarters the very high state of efficiency that hf had found" in all ranks m the Otago diviskp. Before the men were dismissed at Port Chalmers, Colonel Allen addressed them, and congratulated them on what the General had said. He urged the men to do all they could to bring other companies up to Uieir full strength, and expressed the hope that there would be a full muster at the Easter encampment. He also mentioned that that day was the first occasion on which every gun in the district had been fully manned at the same time, and he was pleased to see that every man had done his work, and done it well. The parade state was as follows: Divisional Staff.—Lieutenant-colonel Allen [in command), Major Strong, Surgeon-major Fidton, Surgeon-captain BorrieT Chaplain the Rev. Curam-Sig.sners, Adjutant Swindley, Lieutenant, and Quartermaster Haggitt, Sergeant-major Price. QuarteTmasbeAeTtreant Fisher, and Trumpeter Montgomery - Total 10. ' No. 2 Company (Dunedin Navals).—Captain Predric, 3 lier/tenants, 104 rank and file. Total, 108. No. 3 Company (port Chalmers Navals). —Captain Dodds. 2 lieutenants, 65 rank and file. Total, 68. Grand total, 186.