VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11841, 19 December 1901, Page 3

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

[BT SEXirNKI..] I No fresh news about the new Government rifle range at Penrose. j

Application"! for enrolment in the Eighth New Zealand Contingent for South Africa are- pouring in at the Auckland Brigade (>moe.

To- Auckland Mounted Rifle* will complete thei.* volley-firing on Saturday after noon nest, and those qualified will fire for the marksmen's badges.

Lieutenant Reid. who has for some time past been acting commander of the Seddon Horse, was unanimously elected captain of that company on Saturday last.

The 20 Martini-Enfield carbines now being issued to the cadet corps of the colony are only to be used for shooting purposes, drill exercises to be carried out with snider carbines, as heretofore.

The general opinion among writers of volunteering throughout the colony is that no rifle team will be sent to Risley to represent New Zealand at lite National Rifle Association meeting, England.

A notification has been received from the Defence Office that Lieutenant bees, of the Devouport Coastguard Artillery Volunteers, lias successfully passed hi- examination as a lieutenant of garrison artillery.

The companies using the Mount Eden range to-day for firing- purposes will be the Devouport Coastguards (resident marker). Newton and Victoria Rifles. Lieutenant Meredith Hill be in charge of the tiring point.

General order No. 39. issued -from Wellington under date of December 9, states that Quartermaster-Sergeant Frederic!- Kearsley (" A'' Battery) and Sergeant John A. Hatswell (".A" Battery) have been transferred to the district reserve, as from November 22, "1901.

ft has boon approved to issue rifles to all officers ami staff sergeants of volunteers (excepting field artillery), who arc now required to so through the course, of musketry as laid down in volunteer regulations. Requisitions should be sent to officers commanding districts.

The British War Office recently decided to conduct a competition for self-propelled lorries for military purposes. Fourteen British firms, one Canadian, and one German firm signified their intention to enter vehicles in the competition, the priw;s in which were to be £500. £200, and £109.

A rather now idea has been hit upon by the No. 1 Natives, a lxulge having been adopted, which it is intended shall be worn on Iho hatbands of the members when in mufti. The badge, which was designed by Volunteer Pick ford, is in the form of a fern leaf, having the device "No. Y) and a rifle standing out. boldly on its face.

The members of the Akarana Rifle Club fire the following competitions at the club's range at Avondalc on Saturday afternoon: — A and B class championship and -Mr. Kearsley's medal; P. class, Mr. J. G. Buchanan's aggregate medal. The ranges will be 300 yds, 600 yds, and 700 yds, seven shots and two sighters at each range. In the event of weather proving unfavourable, the captain of the club may postpone the championship matches and substitute next trophies on programme. The train leaves Auckland at a-quarter past one p.m.

The Auckland Navals tired the first stage for the company's belt on .Saturday at the Mount I'alcii range. Firing was at 200 yds (kneeling), 300 yds, and 500 yds, five shots at each range. There was a large number of competitors, a.nd with the exception of the top scorer the shooting was poor, owing no doubt to the squally wind and frequent showers. A good contest ensued between Pettyofficers Latham a.nd Turner, who easily outclassed the other competitors, and whose scores, under the circumstances, were very good. The Following are tin principal scores:— 200 yds. 300 yds. 500 yds. Tl. P.O. Turner ... 19 18 19 56 P.O. Letham ... 15 21 13 49 P.O. Mead ... 18 ' 21 9 48 (lr. Thompson ... 6 13 18 37 P.O. Murphy ... ?• 15 18 35 Or. Weaver' ... 14- 8 13 35 Or. 0. Leatham 7 9 17 33 Tho 'Jay that Australians are called upon to resist the onslaught of some great invading force by massing troops for the defence of their coasts will mark the close of our rule of tins seas, and consequently the disintegration of our vast dominions, says the United Service Gazette. We would therefore rather see the new Commonwealth coming forward with proposals for assisting to maintain what roust always be the first lino of defence than introducing schemes which can only come into operation if the navy baa proved inadequate for its task. In other words, Australia should make sure that she has her first line, before she provides for the second. "Maintenance of sea .supremacy has been assumed as the basis of the system of "Imperial defence' against attack by sea," arc the words of the president of the Defence Commit toe of the Cabinet, but we arc unable to see why the United Kingdom should alone bear the cost of providing for the maritime security of tho whole Empire. Australasia has very considerable sea interests, her sea-borne trade being nearly double that of the whole Russian Empire. Her relations with Europe and : - the East are also growing in importance, and sometimes threaten to involve the .Empire in complications which might lead to the exercise of naval force. For example, the attempt which is now being made to carry a Bill in the Federal Parliament to restrict .lapaue.se immigration will most probably • cause some, friction with the Eastern Power.

That New Zealanders are inventive there can be no doubt, but up till recently their inventive faculties have not been turned in the direction of military weapons (says a Southern writer). Mr. C. A. Trotter, of Opunake, has, however, broken the ice in this direction, and lias invented a rangefinder which can be used either with the .303 rifle or ordnance. Patents have been applied for and from, experiments which have been made with the weapon there can be little doubt of its success. The machine is attached to the rifle as a sight, and with it the shooter can produce the angle required for the rifle, and that, too, without knowing the distance or exposing himself to the fire of the enemy. The length of the finder over all is 3£iii, and the weight 3oz. The mechanism is placed in the wood of the stock, and is worked by the thumb of the left hand. To use the sight the operator lies on the object with ail sights at zero. By gentle pre--siu-e of the thumb the intersecting line of sight rises out of the plane, and as soon as it comes in contact with the object the sight is set. The operator then throws in the gear of the tangent sight, and, pressing the button, the sight rises up to the elevation required for the distance. All this is done in two seconds, without the rifle having beon removed from the object. It will be thus seen that the machine is automatic. Recently Messrs. Kirk and W. and A. Ballinger had a trial of the machine at Lyell's Bay. They used the finder attached tc a .303 iiovernmeut rifle. They fired at distances from. 700Vds to 1500 yds, which distances the rangclinder was responsible . for. They found the elevation perfect, and upon firing with their sights at the distances named they succeeded in striking the object sighted. The test was made under the three conditions of fire. viz.. the angles of depression, elevation, and horizontal. The te.H was a complete success. Mr. Trotter will probably give exhibitions of his range-finder in the different centres of New Zealand.

The secretary oi the Auckland Rifle Association has received intimation from the Defence Department to the effect that the Cfovernment. intends contributing a good round sum towards the prize money for the association's annual prize-firing, to take place at the Wr.ihi range on January 1 and following days. I understand that the prize list will aggregate over £200, which handsome sum should induce competition from all parts of the Auckland district. The programme i-; as under:— 1 match: The Nursery, of £15; 15 prizes; ranges, 300 yds and 500 yds ; seven shots at. each range. This match i only open to members of the association who have never won more than £1 at any previous rifle association meeting. No. ?. match: The Waikato, of £20, and Hf.p.ai.d Gup; 15 prizes: ranges, sCoyds and 60Oyds; seven shots at each range. .No. 3 match: The Auckland, of £25, and the Avondale trophy; 20 prizes; ranges, 600 yds and 700 yds; 10 shots at each range. No. 4 match: The Defence, of £i 5 ;25 prizes; ranges, 300 yds and 600 yds ; 10 shots at each range. No. 5 match : The Waihi, of £35, and Star Cup: 23 prizes; ranges, 500 yds, 600 yds, and 703 yds; sewn shots at each range. No. 6 match: The Teams'. Open to teams of five men from any volunteer corps, rifle club, or civilians; association adds £5. Three prizes, but if more than nine teams compete, four prize.'. This match will be fired under the time limit of 40 minutes pe/ team at each range. No. 7

match: The Rapidity: ten shots at 500yrl-'. Time allowed, Irn. 455. Competitor?, will i lx) allowed ours sighting shot, which will by : disced. Tho targets will then bo lowered, ' a in.!, .-it given signal, will rise, and remain | up for lm. 45.1., during which competitor | must fire ; the targets ore lowered, the hits I and their valuo counted and disced. No. 8 match: litres aggregates trophies) will bo giver* to the three highest scorers in matches 2, 3, 4, 5. and the highest aggregate- scorer will Is,- the. champion for ISO2. Entries dose with the secretary. Mr. W. 11. Shopherd, .it tho drill hall or Mr. W. IT. Hazard, Queen-street, up to December 23, at nine i p.m. J.uto entries wi'l be received up to 1 the morning of .(arnrarr .1 ".rid entries for tho Teams' Mulch will close on that day at, six p.m.

TARAXAKI RIFLE ASSOCIATION. [DT TELEGRAPH. — I'KKSS ASSOCIATION. *, StkaTFOKU. Wednesday. An enthusiastic meeting of officers commanding volunteer corpus and captains of rifle clubs was lK>ld here l?_st night to discuss tho formation of a Taranaki District Rifle Association. The mooting was ino;sr, successful. All preliminary work is in hand, ami the first mooting will bo held at Stratford possibly in February.