VOLUNTEERING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 17 September 1908, Page 2

VOLUNTEERING.

H BATTERY, N.Z.F.A.V. HALF-YEARLY MEETING. The half-yearly mei3&ig of tlio It Battery was held in the Lecture Room, j. Drill Shed, on Tuesday evening, about | 60 members being present, including ( Captain Madigan (in the chair), t Lieuts. Grace and Brough, and Sergt. - Major Brown. Captain Topliss re- ( presented the Old Members' Associa- 1 tion. ' In the half-yearly report, presented < by tho Battery commander, it was ■ shown that tho preseut enrolled ' strength consisted of 71, all ranks. The training with the lap. b.l. guns, director and dial sights, had been satisfactory. In addition to the officers, tho N.C.O. 's have taken great interest i i the work. Signalling was taught at all parades. Bombadier Turner, R.N.Z.A., having arrived from Auckland, and assumed charge of the Bat- , tery equipment, etc., as regards upkeep, etc., aud he wil ulso instruct the '. i Battery, Tlio annual training camp for 1908- I i 09 will commence on 14th February, a ! ' week earlier than last year's date. ■ - Reference was made in the report to ' the ten days' course of field artillery 1 training to commence on 12th Oct., at ! Wellington, and the hope expressed that a large uumber of officers aud [ N.C.O. 's would avail themselves of [ tho opportunity of attending. Recruits wore being enrolled steadily, , and an effort should be made to reach 3 the full establishment, viz., S2, by 31st . October. The very interesting work :■ now carried out by the Battery with i its new equipment sliould be an iv- • eentive to smart young men to join. 1 The report referred to the resuscitL ation of the Garrison N.C.O 's Club, J stating that it should result in establishing a thorough understanding on 1 many matters affecting the various branches of tho service, and to create a thorough spirit of comradeship and co-operation, which was so necessary in case of need. Sergt. -Major Brown was congratulated on being elected a Vice-President of tho Club, and Q.M. Wimsett was congratulated upon having obtained the 12 years' service medal, which will be presented on Dominion Day. For the information of new members and others reference was again made to the Battery having been classified aa A Grade for 1907-08, with an advance of 10 per cent, in efficiency over the previous year, and a strong appeal was made to members to maintain the standard reached. In conclusion the Battery commander desired to thank the officers, N.C.O. 's, and other members of the corps for tho interest shown iv the-ir work during the half-year. The average number of parades held averaged three a week. During the evening the members of D Subsection, under Sergt. L. Sherwood (winners of the Old Members' Challenge Shield) presented Captain Topliss. representing the Old Members' Association, anil Lieut. Brougu (who gave £3 as an accompanying prize) with handsome framed photographs of the sub-sectiou. Money prizes to the aniouut of £18, with certificates and badges, were presented to successful members. Lieut. Brough intimated that ho would again give £3 as an accompanying prize to the winners of the Challenge Shield for this year. After the formal proceedings a social gathering was held, and a very enjoyable time was spent.