VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13214, 27 June 1906, Page 7

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

Bt SENTINEL. No. 1 Natives elected three more recruits on Monday evening. The second shoot for Private Eves' trophy (clock) takes place on Saturday next, the range being 800 yds. The three native companies will very likely hold an outdoor parade in the Domain on Monday night. The Victoria, Rifles will celebrate their 18th anniversary on Friday- nest by a. euchre party and dance in St. George's Kali, Great North Road. No. 1 Natives, under Captain Coutts, paraded at the Drill Hall on Monday night, and had a splendid muster, 43 in all attending. Two recruits were enrolled. Colonel Da vies, C.8., officer commanding the district , inspected the Garrison Band last Monday evening, when there was ;c good turn out under Lieutenant Hunter. The tickets for the entertainment in aid lof the Non-Cotnmissioiicd Officers' Club- ! room, to he given on July 6, are going very freely, and there promises to be it, good iIOUSC. A meeting ot the No. 2 Company Native Rilles will be held after parade oil Monday evening next, for the purpose of electing a, lieutenant. A lull muster i.v requested. On Monday evening, July 2, No. 8 Company G.'A.V. will man the whole of 'the miniature forts at the gunroom. Sergeant-Major Wither.*, with his staff of instructors, will he present. The Military Affairs Committee ha.* suggested that the game of push ball should be played in connection with the military competitions to be held in the Exhibition sports enclosure on December 26 and 27. The lecture that was to be given by Lieu-tenant-Colonel Davies, on Friday* itijrht next, to the Non-Commissioned Officers' Club, is postponed until further notice as the colonel will be at Waihi on that date. At a meeting of the No. 8 Company, G.A.V. on Monday evening it was decided to hold the annual dance of the company on August 3, in the Royal Albert Hall. A successful function is confidently anticipated. The Bearer Corps, under the command of Surgeon-Major Knight, mustered at the Drill Hall on Monday night, there being.a good attendance. The men were put through stretcher-drill in the earlier part of the evening. No. 8 Company G.A.V. intend having a. paid daylight, fort-manning parade at an early date, and the whole of the }Ntyment will be donated by the men to Ser-geant-Major Morgan, who has been in hospital for some nine months. No 8 Company G.A.V., commanded by Captain Fortes, are. making good headway, and with the extra facilities provided in the gunroom should give a good account of themselves in the next, report issued by the artillery staff officer. Major-General Babington, commandant of the colonial forces, will inspect- the Auckland Garrison in the Domain on July 21. at half-past two o'clock, when there sjiould be a full muster. Any office, absenting himself will be fined £5. and anyone else £1. ■

Although the Akarama Rifle Club's .season does not open for a couple of months, applications for membership are already being received by the secretary. The officers of the club anticipate a strong membership next season, which, testifies to the great popularity, the club hits attained. .

The second competition by the' No. 2 Natives for Lieutenant Richardson's trophy took place on Saturday, and resulted in an easy win for Lance-Corporal Westray, whose score was two points over inJiens. The conditions were 10 shots at 200 yds and 500 yds for each competition.

The Government silver medal given for competition amongst the cadets of the Otago district, which was won last- season by Sergeant Thus. Mark, of the Lawrence High School Cadets, has been received 1 by Mr. J. Mcintosh for presentation to the winner, who is now resident in Auckland.

Several New Zearanders ore among the Transvaal Volunteers who have pone, to Natal for service against the rebellious Zulus, remarks the Otago Daily Times. Among tliem arc Mr. H. F. Fraser (formerly of the Fourth Contingent), and Messrs. Jock McGregor, Gat-land'. Peebles, and "Yorky" Smith, from Pretoria. The following time-table and list of officers for duty has been arranged in connection with the Penrose ride range for the month of Jul}*: —July 7, 600 yds and 300 yds. Captain Plugge: July 14, 700 yds arid 500 yds, Captain Hazard; July 21, sCoyds and 200vds, Lieutenant Hherson; land July 28, 600vds and 200yc!s, Lieutenant Dawson. Tho Shooting Committee of No. 3 Natives has decided that in future all handicaps will cease when the fiver has reached the following number of points at each range:—2ooyds, 32; 300 yds, 30; 500 yds, 32; 600 yds, 31: 700yus, 30; and 800 yds, 32. The handicapping is to be carried on on the same conditions as last year, with the exception of the alteration just mentioned. Colonel Davies, C.8., officer commanding the district, inspected the No. 8 Company G.A.V. on Monday evening at the Drill Hall. There was a capital muster of all ranks, all available men but one being on parade, the other absentees being sick. The company presented a fine appearance in their smart full-dress uniform, and, headed by the Garrison Band, marched along Queenstreet, and back to the Drill Hall. The competition for the champion- belt in the No. 3 Natives is a very keen one, Lieutenant Ivretschmar only Icing in the lead by two- points, with one match still to be tired. The runner-up is Colour-Ser-geant King, whose aggregate is 177, as against. Lieutenant K ret scam 179, for the three matches which have been fired. The forthcoming match, which is to decide the contest, is looked forward to with a good deal of interest. The No. 1 Native Rifles had a splendid parade of 50 strong on Monday evening, and were marched to the lecture room, where Captain Coutts, oil behalt of Mrs. Coutts, presented the company with a very handsome gold medal, to be tired for among the company's members. Captain Coutts also promised a belt to the company, to lie ilred tor. Both these trophies were left in the hands of liio Shooting Committee to arrange dates and ranges. Sergeant-Major Morgan, caretaker- of the Penrose ride range, who has been in hospital for some months in consequence of a bullet- wound which lie received in the leg while performing his duties,, is to undergo another operation to-day. This, I understand, will be for the purpose of cleaning up the wound, and if the operation should prove as successful as it is hoped, the popular sergeant-major should make a rapid recovery. For the recent concert tendered for his' benefit in Albert Park SergeantMajor Morgan tenders his sincerest thanks. Major-General Babington, itticei commanding the colonial forces, lias communicated with Colonel Davies suggesting that each adult volunteer should contribute 2s, and each cadet- Is, towards providing a memorial in the shape of a bed in the Wellington Hospital to the late Minister for Defence; the naming to be left :fi the hands of Mrs. Seddon. Colonel Davies has brought the proposal under the notice of the officers commanding the various companies. who arc now taking steps to collectthe amount ieijuired. . It j's hoped that all j volunteers will tont-ribu/' i

Revised regulations for commissions in the British army have been gazetted. The syllabus and distribution of marks for the examination in military subjects for candidates for commissions in the Imperial army are given. They include military history and strategy (one general paper on military history and the principles of strategy, for which 500 marks are awarded), and one paper on The Peninsula Campaign, from .March, 1811, to the end of October, 1813," for which 500 marks is the maximum. For university anil colonial candidates only, an alternative paper on "The Franco-German War of 18/0, lip to and including the Battle of Sedan, omitting tactical details of actions," will be set. The examination, in these subjects is to be held in October.

The energetic captain of No. 3 Natives is taking steps to make his company one of the most efficient in Auckland province as far as shooting is concerned, and as ail inducement to the men to practice lie is offering a trophy for every Saturday upon which 10 or more men put- in an appearance at the local rifle range. This offer should no doubt have the desired effect, and as the company possesses a number of young shots, who have shown considerable promise, it is considered that it will not be long before the No. 3's have a. team which will prove very formidable in future shooting matches. The commander of the company has also provided his men with a social room, where they can rpeiid their'* evenings. All kinds of games will bo provided, and one night cacit week will be left open for visitors, and upon these occasions Sergeant Howies will be in charge.

My Clevedou correspondent, writing in reply to the letter from a member of the Victoria, Rilles, which appeared in last week's jottings, expresses his surprise at, the statement made with refeience to the proposed match between the Franklin Mounted Rilles and" the Victorias, aud says he can only account for u- by an oversight, as he does not think the "Vies." would be lacking in courtesy to such an extent as not to answer a, challenge, even if they did not accept. The writer says he is informed on tin* best authority that the challenge was telegraphed through a fortnight prior to March 17 hist, with it view to anaugiug the match for that date, which, falling as itdid oil a Saturday, and being a recognised holiday, was thought a most suitable date for the town men, but- the looked-for answer was not received. " However," concludes my correspondent, " it would be much better if controversy were ended, and the match arranged, and if it takes place it should produce a good light for the ' champion' place as a- shooting team of Auckland."