VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12910, 5 July 1905, Page 7

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

[bt SENTINEL.]

Lieutenant F. A. Wood, of the "A" Battery Artillery, has been transferred to the Palmerston North Guards.

" W.M." : The Auckland Rifle Association's annual prize-firing meeting is usually held' on January 1 and 2.

A daylight parade of the No. 8 Company New Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers takes place next Saturday afternoon.

The "C" class members of the No. 1 Native Rifles will fire for Mr. Morrison's (lion, member) trophy on Saturday next at the Penrose range.

The resignations of Lieutenants R. A. McMillan and G. Ccutts, of the Waihi ami Hikurangi Rifle Companies respectively, have been gazetted.

The next outdoor parade of the members of the No. 3 Native Rifles takes place on Wednesday evening next. Fines will be enforced for non-attendanoe.

The Garrison Football Union members will meet in the Victoria Rifles' orderlyroom this evening for the purpose of adopting rules and, electing an executive committee.

On Wednesday evening next, at Fort Takapuna, Sergeant-Major Richardson will instruct members of the No, 9 Company Garrison Artillery Volunteers in practical gunnery.

A start has been made with the work of converting a portion of the lecture room at the Drill Hall into a billiard room for the use of members of the Auckland Garrison Officers' Club.

Captain Baragwanath, of' the No. 8 Company Now Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers, will be the ofiioer in charge at the Penroso range on Saturday next. Firing will be. at the 200 yds and 500 yds ranges.

The members of the No. 3 Native Rifles fire the second stage of the competition for the company's champion belt at the Penrose rifle range. There will also bo a handicap match for one of the trophies presented to the corps.

-y Lieutenant C. W. Harris, who recently resigned his commission with the Whakatano Mounted, Rifles, has boon appointed pay and quartermaster to the No. 4- Battalion, Auckland Mounted Rifles, with the rank of lieutenant.

The colonial auxiliary forces' long-service medals (21 years) • have been granted to Corporal T. M. Corbott, of tho Auckland Garrison Baud, and Private Jas. 11. Parslovv, of the No. 3 OhiiLomuri Rifles. Private Parslow, who has seen upwards of 23 years' service, is an ex-ohampion rifle shot of the colony.

' I regret to hear that Corporal Stephens, secretary of the No. 1 Native Rifles, has been confined to his bed with pleurisy for several davs. Members of the corps, and volunteers generally, will be pleased to hoar that lie is making a satisfactory recovery, and hopes to be about .again by the end of the present week.

Tho College Rifles will be "At Home in the Federal Hall, Wellesley-strcet West, on Wednesday, July 19, at half-past eight p.m. Lieutenant L. M. Shera is honorary secretary, and strong committees of ladies and members of the corps have been appointed to carry out the preliminary arrangements.

Mayoral duties and pressure of private duties have led Major A. M. Myers to resign his commission as second in command of' the No. 1 Battalion Auckland Infantry ("Countess of P.f.n.furly's Own"). The major, who was extremely popular, materially assisted the movement during his term of office, and his resignation will be generally regretted in volunteering oircles.

The Nos. 1. 2 and 3 Native Rifles and the Gordon Rjfles held a very successful church parade last Sunday forenoon,- _ when the corps, headed by • the Battalion Band, marched to St. Matthew's Church, where Divine service was oonduoted by tho vicar, Rev. W. 1?. Gillam, who is a military chaplain.. The No. 1 Natives were not very well represented, but the other corps had very fair, musters. .

A shooting match has been arranged for Saturday next (July 8), at the Penrose range, between teams from the No. 1 Native Rifles and H.M.s. Phoebe. The conditions, provide for 10 won a-side (ono sighter), and the ranges will be 200 yds and 500 yds. The following will represent the No. 1 Native Rifles:— Hntton, Sergeants Smith and King, Privates Lucas, Eyes, lumber, Collins, Cutler, F. Smith, and Wliitcombo.

A special general meeting of members of the Auckland Garrison ( Non-commissioned Officers' Club will be held on Friday evening next, July 7, to clect a. vice-president in lieu of Colour-SWgcant R. Aylett, who lias been promoted to th© rank of lieutenant in tho Devonport Coastguard Artillery. Several suggested alterations to the _ rules of tho olub will also come under consideration, and the question of opening the annual ball to civilians will bo discussed.

The Auckland Engineer Volunteers (No.. 4 Company N.Z.G.E.V.) having been gazetted to the higher strength, the company requires 30 more recruits. The work carried on by the corps is of a most interesting description, and there should bo no difficulty in securing plenty of recruits of the right stamp. Details of the duties and the course of instruction in the field, engineering and signalling sections, are given in an advert, ment in to-day's paper relating to the enrolment of recruits.

Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Abbott, who was mentioned as a likely successor to Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. White as officer commanding the No. 1 Battalion Auckland, Infantry, has found that the demands of private business will not permit of his taking office. Had the colonel seen fit to accept the post the appointment would have been an extremely populai one, and the announcement of his decision will be hailed with regret by both _ officers and men of the several corps forming the Infantry Battalion.

On Wednesday evening last SergeantMajor Richardson, R.A., delivered a most interesting lecture on "Coast Defences, before members of the Nos. 1, 8 and 9 Garrison Artillery Companies. Officers of several other companies also attended, and the lecture was voted one of the most instructive and interesting given in Auckland on the subject. This evening the sergeantmajor will lecture to officers and "noncoms." of the Garrison Artillery division on the duties of battery commanders and gungroup commanders.

It is expected that something definite will be. heard' during the next two or three weeks as to who is to succeed LieutenantColonel White (resigned) as officer , commanding the No. 1 Battalion Auckland infan try. The name of Captain J. R. Reed has "bseji mentioned in connection with the command, - but it is questionable whether he would be prepared to accept the post if offered to him, as only quite recently he found that volunteering made such inroads on his time that he seriously contemplated resigning office as oaptain of the No. 3 Native Rifles.

Under the new regulations the establishments of the battalion and companies of the various branches of the volunteers are: — Field Artillery: Higher establishment, maximum 81, minimum 63; lower establishment, maximum 63, minimum 43. Garrison Artillery- Higher establishment, maximum 203, minimum 175; lower establishment, maximum 106, minimum 80. Engineers: Maximum 105, minimum 83. Mounted Rifles: Maximum 84-, minimum 43. Infantry Maximum 63, minimum 42. Cycle Corps: Maximum 34, minimum 26. Bearer Corps: Maximum 53, minimum 27. Defence Cadets: Maximum 63, minimum 42. Defence Rifle Cadets: One captain and not less than 14 members. Garrison Bands: Maximum 26, minimum 20.

A much more complete test than formerly, before a man can ba admitted to the volunteers, is laid down in the new regulations. It reads:—"Every person offering himself for enrolment shall be required to pass a physical examination, which shall be carried out by the medical officer of the unit. The chief points to be attended to ill such examination are:, (a) That his vision is sufficiently good to enable him to see clearly with cither eye at the required distance, as laid down in the usual military test, (b) That his hearing is good, (c) That his chest is capacious and well formed, and that his heart and lungs are sound. The standard of height and chest measurement shall (except

in the oa-se of boys enrolled under Regulation 152) be: Height, sft 6in; chest measurement, 33in. Drivers in field _ batteries ma}however, be enrolled at a minimum height o sft 4in."

The Military Affairs Committee of the ChristchuTch International Exhibition propose to arrange for the following programme of events, if approved by the. Executive Committee:—(a) The committee will ask for cooperation of the New Zealand Defence lorce Rifle Association, to ensure their annual meeting for 1907 taking place in the vicinity of Christ-church. (b) If this cannot be arranged, then an Exhibition rifle competition, on lines of New Zealand Defence Rifle Association, shall bo held, (c) The committee will recommend to the Hon. Minister for Dofenoo that a general camp of all South Island 1 volunteers (and such North Island as are available), bo held in the vicinity of Ohristehuroh during Easter, 1907. (d) That a tattoo, fireworks, and military display be held on the Exhibition grounds, after the nature of the ".bombardment of Alexandria," or more recent similar displays, as performed at Home, (e) That arrangements will bo made for a series of performances by the "military circus," (f) That arrangements will be made for the annual field artillery tournament for 1906, to be held in the Exhibition ground, and to N include intercolonial events.' (g) To arrange'" guards of honour," " assaults-at-arms," and military ceremonials.