DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10074, 9 March 1896, Page 3

DEFENCE.

TO THE EDITOR. ' Sir,—Three years ago I suggested through your columns the advisability of teaching the young colonial how to become a firstdan shot by means of a course of aiming and judging distauce drill to be carried out at the State schools. In most districts of New Zealand are to be found men who, having had a military training, would , be fully competent to supervise the few arrangements necessary to carry out the scheme. For i material each school would require a tripod with ring aud sandbag , to . rest the

rifle on, and Btadiometer, etc., for judging distances. Half-vdozenof theSniders about to bo returned into store might be lea! to each of the larger schools, so that the boys might learn to handle a rifle instead of fooling round with a broom-stick. It would not be necessary to get a highly qualified gunner from the old country, neither would it be advisable to import ministerial brothers-in-law from Australia. Nothing can be of more vital importance as regards the protection of hearths and homes than that the civilian defenders (no red tape or brass hats required) be competent to judge distance correctly and capable of hitting the mark aimed at. Out boys should bo practised in the art of judging distance and aiming; also, in skirmishing and takiug advantage of cover, and have less of the wearisome, stereotyped form of ancient drill that I notice is carried on at the schools and colleges of this city.— am, eto., H. Johnsqp la tana, Auckland, March 0,1896.