VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 11542, 29 November 1900, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

[BT SENTINEL.]

Sunday next will be visitors' day at the Auckland Naval camp at Dcvonport.

The Christchurch Cyclists' Corps are to he equipped with webbing bandoliers shortly.

The new mounted corps in the South Island are still without any accoutrements, and as a result but little field work can be done.

The Auckland College Rifles paraded in their new helmets at tho Government inspection .of the No. 1 Battalion last Monday evening.

The Rev. Geo. Mac Murray has invited the infantry battalion to attend divine sorvice at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnoll, on Sunday forenoon.

Lieutenant Mackay, of the-Ponsonby Navals, has handed in his resignation, leaving the company with vacancies for two suitable subalterns.

While the other artillery and naval companies are in camp of instruction at the forts, the Ponsonby Navals will hold their regular parades at the Drill Hall.

The Auckland Mounted Rifles go into camp of instruction at the outer Domain on Saturday week. While under canvas the No. 2 (country) division will do theiv volley firing.

The Auckland Engineers' camp of instruction will not bo hold until February, the intention being to wait until the new khaki uniforms, to be used as working dress, are completed.

A large marquee is to bo provided for concert programmes at the infantry camp at the Domain next week. It is intended to arrange a series of entertainments during the evenings.

The officers of the "blue" battalion have notified their acceptance of tho challenge thrown out by tho "khakis" for a friendly revolver match. The match will be fired some time in January.

The No. 1 Battalion Auckland Infantry go into camp of instruction for a week at the Domain on Saturday. The men parade for field manoeuvres at the Drill Hall at two p.m., the parade to count for personal payment.

The first parade of the Opotiki Mounted Rifles was held yesterday, over 80 members being present. Mr. John Read was elected captain, and Messrs. Bockett and Tabb lieutenants. Great interest is being taken in this matter by the public.[Own. Correspondent.]

Tho field firing for Dr. J. Logan Campbell's money prizes will probably take place about the middle of December, provided the big guns at the forts are not in use during tho afternoon. If the are in use then the chances are that the shooting will not take place until January.

The "A" Battery Artillery go into camp of instruction for a fortnight at the outer Domain on Saturday. It is well that artillery and infantry should go in at the same time, as arms that are so closely associated in time of war would do well to manoeuvre together as much as possible.

Three members of the Auckland Mounted Rifles have been chosen to represent Now Zealand at the Commonwealth inauguration at Sydney, viz., Sergeant Thode, Lance-Cor-poral Salmon, and Bugler Robinson. Trooper Rollet was also chosen, but owing to an accident to his brother did not proceed to Wellington.

Last Saturday the right division of the Auckland Mounted Rifles paraded at Penrose, and went through with their annual volley firing at their range. Next Saturday classfiring will be proceeded with at Penrose, and tent-pegging will be indulged in by those who have completed their class-firing, the pegging to take place at Mr. Gorrie's paddock at Epsom.

The Woodville Rifles have accepted the Victoria Rifles' (Auckland) recent challenge to volunteer companies, throughout the colony to a teams' match, to be fired on the home ranges. The conditions will bo identical with those that governed the recent match against the Napier Rifles, when the Aucklanders suffered defeat.

For several years past the members of the Auckland Rifle Association have, among other prizes, competed annually for trophies presented by the proprietors of the Herald and Star respectively. Last year the Star Cup was won outright, and riflemen will be pleased to hear that the proprietors have generously replaced the trophy with another cup.

Dr. J. Logan Campbell is presenting two very handsome medals to tho winners of his trophies, the Campbell challenge belt (open to volunteers of the Auckland Garrison), and the Campbell challenge vase (open to teams from school cadet corps'. The first-men-tioned medal goes to Colour-Sergeant Atkinson, of the Auckland Rifles, and from what I can gather it seems that it is tho Doctor's intention to give medals annually.

From a Southern paper I learn that instructions have been cabled to Captain N. L. D. Smith, who left Now Zealand in charge of tho Hotchkiss Battery, to return from South Africa at once. It is understood that all the present officers in charge of volunteer districts will bo retired shortly, and that Colonel Francis and Captain Smith will each receive one of the appointments.

It is worthy of note that Lord Wolsoley wore the uniform of the 2nd Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, the old 80th, from April 13, 1852, to January 27, 1854, and it was as a subaltern of that regiment he leceived his baptism of fire and a severe wound in Burma, 1852-53, when his distinguished gallantry brought him under notice as leader of a storming party at the capture of a breastwork 9.t Donabew.

Sergeant E. Crespin, Government cavalry instructor, arrived in Auckland early in the week, and on Wednesday left for Pukekohe, where ho will instruct the local mounted corps, afterwards visiting other of the country districts. Sergeant Crespin was formerly of the 21st Hussars, and before coming to New Zealand was for some time in Australia. It is probable that he will be ultimately stationed in the Auckland district.

On Saturday next and December 8 matches will be fired at the Akarana Rifle Club's range at Avondalo, the ranges being 500 yds, 500 yds and 600 yds, seven shots at each, with two sightors. The competitions will be for trophies (A and B class), and competitors may count the score on either day, the trophies to be won outright. The train leaves the Auckland station at twenty minutes past one p.m., and ammunition will be procurable on the ground.

The competitive practice arranged by the Government for artillery and naval companies is exciting the keenest interest in local volunteer circles and other companies belonging to this branch of the service are determined not to be outdone by the Ponsonby Navals, who completed their firing at the forts last Saturday. The Auckland Navals are devoting every spare moment to training, and expect to make a bold bid for the honours among the local corps competing.

The monthly Government inspection of the No. 1 Battalion Auckland Infantry was held on Tuesday evening, Lieutenant-Colonel White, in the absence of Colonel Banks, acting as inspecting officer. While the battalion as a whole is to be complimented for steadiness on parade and the soldierly bearing of the men, it must be said that the muster of some of the corps was deoidedly disappointing. It is t* be regretted that interest in the movement is on the wane,

" -■';■'. * A Home military paper of gome authority ;,; gays:— reference to the reported appointment of Lord Roberts 'to the chief command of the army, we understand that for; ,-" the present no official announcement can be ! math?. There is every possibility -of Lord Roberts succeeding Lord Wolseley at the War Office when ho returns to England, but as yet it is uncertain when the Field Marshal will reach England, and in the present political situation it is not thought desirable, having regard t> past experience, to make any, definite announcement. $ I have received a programme of the Com- * monwealth rifle meeting, to commence in ";7 Sydney on January 6, and for which the . '4«~ total prize money amounts to the hand soma v ; sum of £3500. The event of the meeting, ;"! will be the Queen's Prize, carrying 260 prizes, >, -. aggregating £1000, with a first prize of £100,' - fThere are also other liberally-endowed matches, in which the first prizes run from £10 up to £50. The use of .303 or MartiniHenry rifles is to be optional with com- - petitors, but those using the latter weapon will not receive any handicap.

I understand that Lieutenant-Colonel Rinks, officer commanding the Auckland district, has been instructed to complete the working equipment of the- Auckland Engineers at a cost of something like £100. The next question will be that of a building for the storage of tho paraphernalia, and as Sir Arthur Douglas, Under-Secretary for Defence, while in Auckland, promised to obtain a sum of about £100 from the Government for the purpose of erecting a- suitable building, provided the corps carried out the labour, it is hoped that an early start will bo made with the now shed.

The Auckland Engineers (Captain Walker, in command) paraded for Government inspection on Monday evening last, when there was an excellent muster ,ofso on parade. The men looked smart and soldierly in their blue ur.itorm and helmets, and conducted themselves creditably on parade. Thoro are now. 73 names on the roll, and the company has ; still vacancies for a few suitable recruits, those required being men with a knowledge of electrical work and signalling, the intention being to recruit up to the maximum strength of 84. Lieutenant Johnston having recently left for Wellington, there are now, vacancies in the Engineers for two subal* terns.

Speaking at a dinner given in connection with the New South Wales Rifle Association's annual shooting meeting recently, MajorGeneral French is reported to have said the position he took up with regard to training men for shooting was that they should be taught both individual shooting and volley firing. They could not expect to get good volleys from men who could not hit the mark when firing alone. The aim should bo correct individual shooting at unknown distances. He thought they had got too much into the groove of firing at known ranges, and they should practise at unknown distances if they wanted to achieve really good service work.

The monthly inspection parade of the Onelumga Rifles took place on Tuesday evening, in the Drill Hall, at half-past seven. Captain Mcintosh was in command. There was a good muster. After inspection tho company was marched to the vacant space in Princesstreet, and put through battalion drill, under Instructor Sergeant-Major Hoare. The company will parade at the Drill Hall on Saturday next, at -past seven p.m., to march into camp of instruction, led by the Onehunga Town Band. 'Church parade will bo held on Sunday morning, the company leaving tho camp at half-past ten. The band has kindly consented to play selections in the afternoon.

The second detachment of tho Ponsonby Navals (under Lieutenant Spinley) manned the guns at Fort Cautley last Saturday in tho competitive practice for the badges offered by the Government, and making splendid practice, easily succeeded in qualifying the company as a first-class battery, thus ontitling all privates and non-coms, to wear the badges. Requiring 15£ points to reach the qualifying total of 30, the detachment quite exceeded expectations, finishing up with 20 1-5 points, or five over the requisite number. With one of the 7in guns they registered seven hits in 11 shots in the given time of 10m., and with the other four hits in 12 shots— latter presenting a record as far as time is concerned —while with tho Bin gun they scored three targets out of four shots, thus beating the No. 1 detachment by no less than six points. Captain Mackenzie, R.A., who acted as umpire, was delighted with the splendid shooting made, and the company is certainly to be warmly cougratu-, lated on the fine performance.

The home-coming of the volunteers from South Africa (says Broad Arrow) will not improbably have a very important effect upon the whole force. The soldierly expert ence? of the men who have served in the campaign will enable them to appreciate more fully the inadequacy of the usual volunteer standard of efficiency, so that wo may hope for a general levelling up if proper advantage is only taken of this unique opportunity for effecting a« improvement. If the Government is serious in, its altered attitude towards the volunteers, it certainly should take steps to effect groat and beneficial changes, but there is a danger that, the emergency passed, little further notice will bo taken of those who so materially helped to relievo it. No doubt the most will be made of the return of the volunteers for advertising purposes, but what everyone would like to sea is something really useful, solid and lasting done to benefit the force, to make it more efficient and better able in every way, to meet- further exigencies.

For some time past a special committer of experts has been engaged in ascertaining, what improvements can be effected in the magazine rifle in use in the British army. ' While the barrel or the present weapon has stood the severe tests of the South African war without becoming overheated or in any other way showing defects, the sighting has in many cases proved unsatisfactory. On the other hand, the Mauser rifle, the weapon generally used by the Boers, while possessing many advantages, has been unsatisfactory as regards the barrel. Hitherto (says the Army and Navy Gazette) the Mauser has not found favour in Great Britain, but it is thought that the committee will ultimately graft on to the present weapon the Mauser magazine attachment, or something similar. The committee is experimenting with every known rifle. Of " straight-pull" bolt action rifles it has had before it the Lee, which is used in the United States navy, and the Schmidt-Lubin; but the principle of the " tumbler" bolt is regarded as the safer, least liable to get out of order, and sufficiently rapid in its action for all possible contingencies. The present war, however, has shown that the rifles must be more accurately sighted than they are, especially for long distances. In these days, when it is sometimes necessary to open fire on an enemy at a. distance of upwards of two miles, the importance of sighting is great, and to" this matter special attention is being directed. Tho final settlement of the matter, which, by the way, is of some importance to*iho colonies, will stand over until the return of Lord Roberts and other officers from South Africa.

HASTINGS VOLUNTEER JOTTINGS. The Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles have beon unfortunate in leaving until too late the selection of a representative of their company to join the contingent which leaves Wellington foi Sydney next month. It was decided to make the selection. on the 22nd, and at drill on that night Sergeant-Major Brown ordered all who were willing to go to " carry arms." Nine obeyed the command. 'After the company was dismissed, the candidates met at the Carlton Club, when, on perusing the attendance-book, Sergeant-Major Brown reduced the number to two, Corporal Merewether and Sergeant Powell. These drew lots, the former being successful. A wire was received next day from the Defence Department informing Corporal Merewether that his selection was too late. This bungle is entirely to the want of energy on the part of those officers who have charge of the company's affairs. The selection should have been made some weeks ago, from a full muster of the Mounted Rifles, and was left until the last moment, when full justice could not be done in selecting a representative for the Sydney contingent. . A company of amazons are forming in Hastings to organise a rifle club, and a match is being arranged during the Christmas holidays, to take place at the Te Mata range. Some of the fair shootists can already talk bull's-eyes, magpies, and outers. A meeting of the Napier Volunteers was held last week, at the Garrison Hall. Major Chicken in the chair. It wa3 unanimously decided to form a rifle association, to be called the Hawke's Bay Volunteer Rifle Association. It was decided to ask all the country corps to join in with the scheme. It was arranged to hold two days' shooting at Waipawa early in January next. Quarter-master-Sergeant Fraser was appointed secretary pro tern. ' A large number of trophies and prizes have been contributed for the shooting competition among the members of the Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles, which takes place during the holidays at the Te Mata range. It is a great pity that out of the members of the Hastings Volunteers a decent band could not he formed. We are worse off in:! the musical line at present than we were 15. years ago.— [Own Correspondent.]