TERRITORIALS.

Evening Star, Issue 15066, 24 December 1912, Page 2

TERRITORIALS.

[By PsKIBKISHWK.] Items of interest concerning Corps (Town and Country), Shooting, and Territorial notes (jentrally will be accepted. 'Copy, addressed to "Skirmisher," r I',J he m hand not iat6 r than Monday morning. There will be no publication of fiis column next week on account of the holidays. '■Skirmisher'' exiends to all members of the Defence Forces and to his readers the season's greetings. The report on the promotion examination of officers of the Regular Army, the Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand Permanent Forces, and the Territorial Force, held in May, 1912, has been published. The attention of commanding and other oilicers is drawn to this report, copies of which may be seen at the District Officers' Club library. Lieutenant Waite will take command of the Engineer Cadets until the vacancy caused by the retirement of Lieutenant M'Jlugh is filled. Second lieutenants R. L. Duthie and H. L. Richards have been appointed lieutenants m the 14th South Otago Regiment, to complete the establishment. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to approve of the award of a colonial auxiliary forces officers' decoration to Captain John L. Gillies (late O.C. the Dunedin Highland Rifles), he having a total rank and commissioned service to the 28th August, 1911, entitling him thereto of 20 years and 52 days. Free railway passes up to 100 miles will be issued to all Territorials, Senior Cadets, and rifle club men attending approved group or district rifle meetings. Passes up to 100 miles only will be given individuals to bear the cost of the balance if the journey is beyond that distance. Some time ago it was announced that free railway passes would be issued to rifle clubs who were sending teams to fire interclub matches, provided the distance did not exceed 100 miles. This is not correct, the Minister concerned having distinctly stated that passes would not be grafted ior any match other than an approved rifle meeting. Now that the musketry course has commenced, and will be carried on for the next few months, a notice appearing in the latest district order should be carefully noted. Empty cartridge cases are to be deemed the property of lcgiments and units concerned, and may be disposed of uiiflor the direction of officers commanding units, the proceeds Leing paid into regfuiental accounts. They are not to be dis-.>-ised of or retained by individuals. O* 1 )- c-:rs e-nnniamiuig units will take every care that all empty cartridge cases are collected after tiring. The instruction received by the members of the No. 2 Field Ambulance Company, is very often of great service to injured people in ordinary life, and, apart from their Territorial training, goes very far towards making the men very useful members of society. Let us hope, during the holidays, that their services will not be required, but should occasion arise for first aid to be rendered, the members of this company will be found perfectly willing to do all in their power to alleviate any suffering cases that may come be-

■fore them* The members are particularly keen on their training, one man riding to drill every parade night a distance of sis miles, and returning again the same distance to his home after drill. The establishment of the corps is 66, and at a recent week-end camp only six men ■were absent, all of whom were accounted for. Close on 1,000 entries have been received for the Chnstchurch military sports, which is by far the greatest number ever entered for a tournament in New Zealand. Tent accommodation will be provided, and meals at a reasonable figure will be supphed. r The Dominion Intercompany Challenge Cup, to be shot for by the New Zealand benior Cadets; and presented by Her Excellency Lady Islington, will bo held by the company with the best figure of fitfcrit nuts annual course of musketry. The following N.C.O.s, on completion of tiieir period of probation, are confirmed in their appointments :—Staff sergeant instructors: E. Purdon, H. Fretwell, T P Laffey, W. Gustafson, T. Rudd, A. M'Cor- £«£,', • J - L - Oliphant-Rowe, H. MMilian, E MTigue, A. Porteous, W. vwiyte, U. Montgomery, H. Crowder, T Evans.' ' Sergeant-major Guff, N.Z.S.C., has been tiansferred from Cromwell to Mosgiel as irom November 30, 1912 In connection with the Christchurch military sports a special train will leave Duncdro on Christmas Day at 11.35 a.m. for tl£?TTi°\ COD ? eym ß Territorials and bemor Cadets to the tournament. On no account will competitors travel by any other train. The baggage guard will consist of one NCO. and 10 men, and will be furnished by the 4th Otago Regiment. As no dming car mil J, e attached to the train all men should make provision for carrying rations with them. Men must tiavel in uniform, and should wear slouch nats. Ino senior officer present will take a o? l \f 5 Tk- nd ' J and Ca P tain Thom" will act as stafi and entraining officer. ArS7„ e " tsar * b . ein ? m=de for a special train to leave Christchurch after the sports are over, but any of those Territorials and Cadet, who wisn to return by a later Thorns before Friday, to have their tickets

ntal badgos and ntunbers a* at present worn are in many cases too high on the shoulder stripe, thereby comi!uite contort with the rifle when TthS slope Badges should therefore bo so placed as to touch the. seam, and the number placed close above the badge Lieutenant F. J. Williams, No. 2 Company, Field Engineers, has been promoted to rank of captain, to date from December One of the best musters of the year was tno battalion parade of the 4th ©two Regiment on Monday week. There was an attendance of nearly 400 of all ranks, .ud the men looked very smart, and their marching was nearly perfect. One v«r satisfactory feature of the parade was the general steadiness of the men. A wondertul improvement in the appearance of t>.js regiment has been made during the past tew months, and Lieutenant-colonel M'Arw ]« to be congratulated on having such a nne body of men under his command. o £ h ? New Zealand Medical Corps, No. 6 L lekl Ambulance, under Captain Ritchie put in a week-end camp at Tahtma Park ast Saturday, thereby securing four davlight parades. Leaving the Garrison Hall at o p.m., the company marched out wita. lull equipment, including waggons. After pitching camp and making everything ready for any emergency case that might happen along, Captain Ritchie gave a lecture on 'Sanitation.' Chaplain-captain Murray attended on Sunday morning and conducted divino sen-ice on tho ground, after which the remainder of the time was put in practising first aid to the wounded and stretcher drill. Camp was struck at 3.50 p.m., and the men dismissed to their homes. Tho parade state showed a muster of 60 of all ranks present. _ Six teams from this company are entering for the military tournament, and judging by their enthusiasm and keenness for practice should give a good account of themselves. Tho programme of tho annual prise meeting of tho Dominion Rifle Association of New Zealand, to bo held at Trentham on Thursday, February 27, 1913, and following days, is to hand, and may be seen on application to the writer. The programme consists of three series of matches as follows :—A series, consisting of six teams matches and a. teams championship for a silver cup value 60 guineas (presented by Messrs W. Grope and Co., Dimcdin*. B _serics includes "all the service mjik'hes. No. 1 of which is compulsory to ;ul competitors, and the remaining matches in this series are compulsory to all competitors up to 30 years. * The service mn'.chcs include a judging distance com>lition. the conditions of which are a 6 '..Hows :—Five points consisting of fatigue •::?:} will be placed in concealment at ■•"i'lous distances not exceeding I,4ooyds. V .--coring card will be supplied to each ;:-iips.fitor. _ When in petition the officer ■■■ charge will signal for one of the points i be exposed. The duration of the exiire will bo 30scc: Competitors will be ii'nved a. minute, reckoned from the disi'peanuice of the point exposed, in which ■ i write down the distance as they csti- : \t* it. The correct dis-t.iw.-o of each y.xl will be measured immediately after ';? competition, and will be stated" at the I i.-ulding point by the officer in charge. :' f cries is what is known as the Belt ■nes or bull's-eye - shooting. Seven .v.i.-bco are fired for the Belt, and tho -.■.•!;.% arc added, to the King's Prize match -!' 10 shots at I,oooyds.- The highest •■/in J aggregate scorer will become tho .'::::?." of the King's Prize and the- holder ■' th- Champion "Belt for 1913. In ad-';-:on to these matches there are certain ." ei.il ag.gT-ega.te prizes, such as the Coio- ;".! Ammunition Company's Cup. which is '•-••.i to teams of five from any Territorial' mpany, Senior Cadot company, or <Ie- !•" rille club of New Zealand. All shots • Belt matches at 800, 900, and I,oooyds ■i.epL the final 10) to count. Entries :;; individual matches are due on F-ehru- ;." 13, and mutt be accompanied by a ; : " ; !!ium fee of £l. The undermentioned officers of the un::r!icd list, having been appointed for ;ykv> with the Senior Cadets, under the : -visions of paragraph 88, General Regti- ■ t ; o.\?, are posted as under:—Lieutenant ■'. J'. Allen io tho Teviot Senior Cadets, '•;!-.'-I September 50, 1912; 2nd Lieutenant \. E. I-Icaro to the Loith Senior Cadet*. i:le--l September 30, 1912. Tho under;<:'aliened officers are transferred :—-2nd Lieutenant Orbell from Anderson Bav to Central Senior Cadets, 2nd Lieutenant Cook from Otago Harbor to Central Senior Cadets, 2nd Lieutenant Bishop from St. Clair to Anderson Bay Senior Cadets. " What's yer religious persuasion ?" ea.id a sergeant to a recruit. "My what?" "Yer what? Why, what T said". What's yer after o' Sundays?" "Rabbits, mostly." "'Ere, stow that lip. Come, now; Church, Chapel, or 'Oly Roman?" And after explanation from his questioner the recruit replied : "I ain't nowise per-' tickler. Put me down Chu'ch of England, sergeant. I'll go with the band." Eleven teams of eight Cadets competed this year for the New Zealand secondary schools championship. Color - sergeant Beasley, of the Auckland Grammar School, has the highest Ecore in the match—69, or one off the possible. Color-sergeant Beasley and Cadet Davey, of Auckland Grammar School, scored possibles at 200 yds, and Lieutenant Inglis and Sergeant Bell, of Waitaki High School, did the same at 500 yds. The team totals were:—Auckland 524, Waitaki 496, Nelson 495, Kings College 461, Wanganui 456, Palmerston North 435, Wellington 429. Marlborough 427, Otago 353, ran CioH-go