VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11642, 2 May 1901, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

i ■-. o . - • .- i ! '■'' ';Jbt SENTINEL.} ■'■.'', y , v The Volunteer Bearer Corps is still recruiting.' The No. 3 Native -Rifles had the biggest muster on parade at the battalion inspection on Tuesday evening last. The Waiuku Mounted Rifles to a man have expressed their willingness to come to town during the Royal visit celebrations. The Ponsonby Navals will hold a meeting for the purpose of appointing a petty officer to tho vacancy caused by the promotion of P.O. Ewen to commissioned rank. It is expected that upwards of 1500 volunteers will be in Auckland during tho celebrations in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. Members of the Coastguard Artillery who were candidates for the rank of N.C.O. were examined by Captain Mackenzie at the south battery, North Head, on Monday evening last. Sergeant-Major- Shaw has been elected junior subaltern of the Franklin Mounted Rifles. Sergeant J. Wilson takes tho noncommissioned vacancy caused by Mr. Shaw's promotion. Tho Auckland Infantry Battalion was represented at the funeral of the late Gunner Taxlin last Saturday by members from the Nos. 1. 2, and 5 Native Rifles and tho Victoria Rifles. Evidently out officers are going to rnako some use of their revolvers this wintor. A requisition for revolver ammunition has been in tho hands of the Defence Department for some time past. Tho Coastguards are ordering new uniforms from Homo, and all members are requested to call on Mr. Borland, tailor, Vic-toria-street, as soon as possible, and be measured for same. The Whangarei Rifles have purchased the necessary land, and will proceed to the erection of a drill shed shortly. Captain Steadman is sparing neither time nor pains in bringing tho company to a high state cf efficiency. Colour-Sergeant Mcintosh, of tho Gordon Rifles, is shooting consistently well just now. Both on Saturday week and Saturday la=t lie topped the score in the company competitions, and on both occasions his score was over inners. The Ponsonby Navals fire for LieutenantCommander Patterson's modal, on the Mount Eden range on Saturday afternoon next. Entries close on Friday evening, and as the match is a handicap one, it is to be hoped that some of the company's young shots will take part. Lioutonaut-Colonel White, officer commanding the district, who has been inspecting some of the country corps, returned to town during the week. Ho was very well pleaded with tho corps inspected (including Waiuku and Franklin Mounted Rifles), and states that good progress is being made. The members of the Federal Cabinet (Australia) regard a salary of £1500 to £2000, with travelling expenses, and passage from and to England, as ample for tho post of Federal Commander-in-Chief. Such a salary should enable the Commonwealth to secure the services of an Imperial officer of high standing and attainment. Mr. M. Tobin is lending Mr. T. Kerr in the aggregate for the shield presented to the members for competition by the captain of the AkaraiM Rifle Club by a matter of ono point, th.o respective scores being 337 and 336. Mr. Carlson is two points below the latter in third place. Tobin has been shooting very steadily throughout the season. I From the small musters that have hoKn on parade lately, I should say that there I is a strong probability that the Auckland I Riflos will not hang totrether much longer. It would bo a pity to see the corps disband, but should.it do so no uiame will be attachable to tho officer commanding. No ono could have done more for a corps than has ! Captain Caughey. ! In a military general order issued on April I 19 the organisation of tho Nevv South Wales ! Contingent which is to take part in the forthI coming celebrations at the opening of the Federal Parliament in Melbourne was pubI lished. It shows a total of 59 officers, 1015 • men (grand total, 1074), 281 horses, four guns. and three waggons. The guns aro to be taken by the Field Battery of Artilllcy. Tho companies of the No. 1 Battalion, Auckland Infantry, were put through a courso of drill in preparation for tho Royal reception, after the inspection on Tuesday evening. Most attention was paid to the march past, and as the men showed a very keen iiterest in their work, there was a noticeable improvement in the marching before Ser-geant-Major Carpenter dismissed them. On Saturday afternoon next the members of tho Akarana Rifle Club will fire the final matches for the championships. Competitors will therefore have a last opportunity of improving their aggregates. Concurrently with the above, competitions will be fired for Mr G. Read's medal and Mr. E. T. Buchanan's medal for A and B classes respectively, so that members who do not happen to bo in the running for the championships will have a chance of getting a "leg in" for ono of these trophies. Now that it has been practically decided that the drill shed shall be erected on the old site, would it not bo well that the authorities should take into consideration the question of levelling up the whole ground, by cutting down the hill at the back, and filling the front portion in up to a level with tho asphalt parade-ground? The hall could then be built so as to extend right across the front of tho ground, starting from who.o the old shed stood, and would not then need to bo carried sufficiently far back to interfere with the parade-ground, which would then bo a really fine one. The annual meeting of the Victoria Rifles was held in the Garrison Rand room, through the courtesy of Bandmaster Hunter, a- few evenings back. Captain Skinner was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the splendid financial state of the company. The Shooting Committee were able to report r.. verv successful year, the corps having won, among I other competition.'!, the Ranfurly Cup and I Gordon Shield. They also secured second and third places in the teams' match at tho Auckland Rifle Association's meeting. In individual shooting, Volunteer Carlson won the gold medal for the best shot in the island ; Lieutenant. Cox won the champion aggregate match at tho Auckland Association's meeting, and the corps filled second, third, fourth, and fifth places in the District Belt competition. The company was represent.. at the championship meeting by Captain j Skinner, Lieutenant Cox, Sergeant KretschI mar, Volunteers Carlson and Tobin. Iliis ' team won about £55 between them, and. in j the teams' match divided first honours wit : . j the Timaru Port Guards. Lieutenant Deri roin's trophy for most regular attendance I was won by Volunteer Schofield, who attended every parade during the year. Iho ] following were elected as a Shooting Committee for the ensuing year Lieutenant Cox, Colour-Sergeant Aylett, Volunteers Arroll, T. Kerr, and S. Rowe. "Spotting Disc" writes: " Dear 'Sentinel': Our .gallant comrades are returning from the front, and the different companies are preparing to welcome them with the usual smoke concert, etc., and are anxious to give them a right royal time, but, unfortunately, the numerical strength of the companies are not what they might be, and the question of cost is a serious matter, and ! in tins connection I should like to mention I the indiscriminate issuing of complimentary j tickets to the officers. This item is a serious ! charge on tho companies (30 is well within the mark). Again, it has also been the cusi torn to provide whisky, cigars, etc., solely | for the use cf the officers. Now, sir, when j you invite a guest to your private table, you I make to distinctions, nor at any public func- | tion, other than volunteer, are such distinctions made. They are against all the rules of breeding and good taste. Further, I do not think it is tho wish of the officers that they should dine, at the expense of the men, but, on the other hand, I think that they would be only too pleased to pay their lair share of any such entertainment. I write the above for an expression of opinion re complimentary tickets in case I have taken an erroneous view of the subject, not necessarily for publication, and will esteem it a favour if you would givo- me your views on. the subject." I. certainly do not think that complimentary tickets should be issued broadcast at the company's expense,, .

AUCKLAND MILITARY OYCIJST3' . CORPS. The fact that" wo have amongst us a thoroughly up-to-date military cyclist corps, : properly equipped and res.dy to answei? the bugle's call at a moment's notice, does noli teem to bo generally known, and so, with, r, view of bringing this useful branch of our volunteer sen-ice under public notice, I sallied forth -with my camera, and in spire, of the squally weather, ; succeeded in obtain-" ing some fairly good photographs of the corps, ; which will bo found 1 in the pictorial supplement of this weak's " issws •of the- Auckland "Weekly News.- " Twenty-' five men and two officers s*- to ft na. a military: cyclist corps.' The > Auckland. ■' corps at present lacks only; three of that ; ." number, they haveing departed with the last contingent for South Africa.' ; The'costume, worn is the usual khaki, the. trousers being - ". of the kniekerbocker pattern, while strong. ;J leather leggings aro worn below tho knee. The rifles used are the .303 ' pattern, 'and.. ''■'•'. carry the short sword-bayonet; two clips, ono at each end of the top bar of tho cycle, hold tho rifle- snugly and firmly, while on V dismounting the rider can remove his rifle. . easily and quickly. MivLomas Smith, lata of the Burwood Rifles, New South Waif*?, who is tho lieutenant-commander -of : th<!» corps, deserves great praise for the energetics way -in which ho has worked, first for its promotion, and since for the good drill instruction which he has given his men. Mr. R. H. Biss holds the rank of second lieutenant, -;■■■•. whilst tho sergeants are Messrs. Henning and! Dobbs. Mr. Henning has been dubbed Ser-geant-Farrier Henning, owing to his § ready . aid whenever a breakage or puncture occurs, and proves a Most useful member of the corps. Corporal Cooke is the corps' energetic secretary, and has dono much towards • furthering tho interests of the corps. The corps has the use of Henning's asphalt , court, where drill instruction is given at re- ■-' gular intervals, and from the way this com- • i pact and quick body of men go through their manoeuvres, it is easy to see that the drill • is having a very good effect. It is now W«SI known that military cyclist corps. arc doing excellent work in South Africa, where they push on ahead of an army and hold strategic, -°\ positions until tho infantry arrive. A good, cyclist corps in South Africa can coyer 60 : ■' miles in a single day, and Tor carrying despatches, scouting-, etc., have b-5 en found invaluable, Tho usual cry against; military corps of one sort and another by young men, is that the drill is monotonous and uninteresting. This, however, cannot be said of . a military cyclist corps, as the men find great variety in both the drill and parade. In conclusion, I may mention that the Auckland Cyclist Corps had a very successful church parade last Sunday week, .their destination. being Enthusiast. V 'k Y v SWITZERLAND'S ARMY By law, every Swiss adult is liable to serve personal lv. but the physical test is so strict , that, nearly 50 per cent, are, in fact, rejoiced (says the National Review). Those pay . v instead a yearly tax of 5s per head, with au .-' income tax of about 4d ! in tho £. In prac- .' tice this tax is not exacted from the very poorest. The man who, in his 20th year, passes tho tost is called out to do his "recruit school" in barracks for a period varying from six weeks (infantry) to three months (cavalry). . By this short training ho at once fulfils one- ' •■ quarter of the whole military duties to which ho will ever bo liable, except, of course, in case of actual invasion. For the first 13 years of his service he belongs to the "Elite, 1 ' and is called out every other year for a "course of repetition," varying accordimj . to the arm, from 14 to 18 days.- The cavalry alone aro called out every year, but only 10 days. In his intermediate years ; tho , soldier shoots, at his own time and pbco, but under strict Government conditions. ■ 40 rounds per annum at the range, failing which ho will be called out at his own expense, and at the time and place fixed by the '.authorities, - for a "shooting school" of three days. With the beginning of bis 32nd year the soldier,, passes for 12 years into the "Landwehr," or first reserve. Here ho is nailed out every fourth year only, for from eight to 11 days at a time; during the other years he shoots his 40 yearly rounds as before.' With his 45th yea; ho passes into the "Londstrum," or second reserve, which is composed of the whole body of citizens between 17 and 50 (except, of course, tho Elite, the Landwehr, and tho actual halt and maimed). This, body , is partly armed, partly sorted into clerks, porters, otc.; it is never to be called out except in cases of invasion or similar great emergencies. At 50 tho citizen retires altogether. The enormous majority serve in the infantry, and have therefore at this age -devoted a. sum total of not quite half-a-year— less than the hundredth part, that is, of their livesto the duty of contributing to that , military security which alone could assure the freedom and prosperity of their country." And not a duty only, but to most a real pleasure also. It is tho rejected candidate who is, pitied in * Switzerland, and who goes -homo '■■■'■-;:." with his tail between his legs. - Typical of tho sentiments which one may, heat everywhere are those which aro expressed to me - by a banker, no military fanatic, but simply : d. public-spirited , citizen. "Next to the pain I felt when one of my sons was rejected for the army, one of the saddest moments of my life was when tho tirno camo for my own superannuation." • V THAMES NO. 1 RIFLES. [BY TELEGRAPH.-— CORRESPONDENT.} Thames, Wednesday. The Thames No. 1 Rifles paraded last night. Lieutenants Mackinlay (in command) and Batlson were present; also Lieutenant and Adjutant Sommorville. After the men were put through a course of drill, a special meeting of the company for tho election ol officers was held. Mr. J. 1 A. Shand was unanimously elected captain of the company, and the appointment of Mr. W. H. : rotts as honorary captain was confirmed. -