VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13226, 11 July 1906, Page 7

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

' uy'SESTixi:i« - The adjourned' smoke social under the auspices of the ''Non-commissioned Officers' Club will' he held on Friday evening. : .V; ■ ' . The monthly social of the Non-commis-sioned Officers' Club was held in the Hibernian Hall on Wednesday evening last, and was attended 'by every Blicccfifi.-; No. 1 G.A.V. intend having an open night during each month, and upon these occasions each, member- is 'requested to bring a friend to view the useful work put in by the corps-. Colonel Davies, reports a Southern exchange, has offend to lend it pushball for the military sports if the executive take the responsibility of its rcturr in good order, subject to a valuation of £25. No. 1 G.A.V. commence shooting early next month. There are several valuable trophies to. be competed lor, and the events .should be very keenly contested, as there are several good shots in tho corps. Mr M. Atkinson,, who, has been elected to the position of, lieutenant, in No.' 1 Company Native Rifles, went up for his practical examination on Monday night, and, I understand,' acquitted himtclf most creditably. No. 1 G.A.V. will hold their social on the second Friday in August, instead of the lirsl Friday, as notified in a previous announcement. The committee are working very hard, and, intend to make the function a success.: : I hear that the No. 1 G.A.V. have -still room for a number of suitable ,recruits.. As ..the corps is fast approaching its full strength, all intending members are requested to present themselves for enrollment as soon as possible "* Dr. Har-die Neill delivered an interesting lecture in the Officers' Club on Friday evening upon " The Medical Branch of the Service in Warfare." There was a*good attendance, and the doctors remarks, which were of a very interesting character, were much appreciated. Directions are being despatched to the High Commissioner in London to procure the necessary rifles, spring bayonets, guards, aprons, gauntlets, and lances for tent-pegging, and quarter-stall's for righting. All this equipment is necessary in connection with the military tournament. No. 1 G.A.V. are having their orderlyroom renovated, the intention being to make the room a social one so as to bring the members of the corps together. Already in possession of a number of pictures, a few members of the corps intend to present several more to brighten its appearance. ■

Though the entertainment given by No. 9 Company G.A.V. minstrel and variety troupe at the Federal Hall on Friday evening was largely attended, it appears that very few officers were present This has been much commented upon, especially by the non-coms, and privates, who complain of the lack of interest displayed. Tile three companies of the Native Rifles held their usual weekly parade on Monday evening, each having a very good muster. The companies were put through a. course of drill in preparation for the-inspection on the 21st inst., and some good work was done. No. 8 Company Garrison Artillery Volunteers, paraded upon the same occasion, and were put through a similar course of drill. , .."'' • , Lieutenant G. T. Kretschmar, of No. 3 Natives, has invented a collapsible cupboard, which is eminently suitable for camping purposes. The cupboards can he made to any size, and are easily taken to pieces and fitted up, and when fitted up are as strong as though the timbers were nailed together. One is at.present on view in the lecture-room at the Drill Hail, and has been generally admired. The minstrel entertainment provided by No. 9 Company Garrison Artillery Volunteers' minstrel and' variety troupe, in the Federal Hal! on Friday evening, in aid of the funds of the Non-commissioned Officers' Club proved a great success, and it is anticipated that as a result of the concert, the club's funds will benefit considerably. The programme submitted was an admirable one, and found much favour with the audience, who applauded the contributions most heartily. Special thanks are due to the contributors for their services. 'Staff-Sergeant-Major Russell, R.E., has concluded his term of service as instructor to the New Zealand Engineers., and leaves for , England on the 19th inst. by the Athenic, to rejoin his regiment. SergeantMajor Russell's departure will be a severe loss to the colony, as there is absolutely no one to take up his duties. During the term of the School of Military Instruction in the colony Sergeant-Major Russell acted as assistant-instructor, and to his methods* of instruction was undoubtedly due in a. large measure the large percentage of passes. The shooting committee of No. 1 Natires, I understand, are taking steps to introduce a system of handicapping in trophy matches, whereby the competitors, be "they scratch or limit, will be credited with a certain number of points for attending parades. The- object of this, as will be seen, .is to endeavour to improve the parade states, and will no doubt be '. generally commended. It is . proposed to carry the resolution into effect straight away. ' If the measure is found to work satisfactorily, as is hoped, several of the other companies will very likely adopt the same principle. A letter has been received* by the officials in charge of the arrangements for the military tournament to be 'held in cow-: nection with the forthcoming Exhibition at Christchurch inquiring, on behalf of the Third Australian Light Horse Regiment, what would be the approximate cost of sending over a section of four men and norm to take part in the Exhibition military tournament, together with the expense involved while the section is in New Zealand. The writer adds that the programmes for the tournament sent to him have, been distributed among all the units in the - regiment No. 2 Company Native Rifles proceeded with the election of a lieutenant on Monday evening, and unanimously declared in favour of Sergeant Dickey, of No. 9 Company Garrison Artillery Volunteers. The company are to '■ be congratulated upon their decision. Sergeant Dickey being an exceedingly capable officer of long experience, especially in connection with gun work. Now that.' ho has been elected to the position of lieutenant in the Native Rifles, it is more than likely that, having had more experience in gun work than any of his brother officer", he will take charge of the Maxim gnu. Amongst the exhibits at the Rcval Society's conversazione; which was held at Burlington House recently, was the model of a naval sun-sight by Professor G. Forbes, F.K.S. It seems to correct mechanically every conceivable element if inaccuracy. Decreased muzzle velocitv owing to erosion, the rate at which the object is travelling, the difference between a shot fired through the air when the barometer is high and when it is low, and other pitfalls in the path of the man behind the gun, are all allowed for. and one of these eights is being fitted to a 6in gun n H.M.s. Africa. "It thinks for itself," as one admirer said. |

! So fat little or nothing has been done in i local volunteering circles in connection with ■ raising Mibscriptiona towards placing a bed in [lie Wellington Hospital in memory of I (lie late Minister for Defence. This is to j be regretted. The matter, according to I Southern exchanges, if. being taken» up j heartily in the South.' and larqe amounts have already been received. The fact that ,'so many calls are now being, made upon

':the purses of local volunteer?, in the way of : socials,-halls, etc., no doubt account.* for the apathy displayed to a large extent,., but still the cause iff*a worthy -me, and it behoves the members of the Auckland forces to see that they are not behind their Southern brethren, "if anything is done it shouldbe dose soon. * .

The Austrian Minister for War has recent!}' decided upon a matter of vital importance, and his decision. published .at large in the Aririeebjatt, has no doubt been perused with feelings of immense relict" by all concerned. It appears that for some time past officers of the Austrian army have been considerably exercised in their minds as to the correct nnuinei of saluting, not only 4 whcii they are so fortunate as to have ladies on their arms, but also in the case—-' an extreme one. no .doubt-—when the warrior lias taken the lady's; .arm. The War Minister 'has delivered the judgment of a«, modern Suloincq; he decree* that when an. officer's movements a re..somewhat congested by having a lady" hanging on his arm, and the necessity for saluting is imminent, he miiv bo permitted- to salute in the >< usual, manner with the, disengaged hand without casting the lady adrift.. , In the event, however, of the lady having been sc ill-, advised as to have permitted the attendant swain to take her unit, the officer it required to remove his band from beneath the lady's arm and salute as usual. -.

Miijor-t.icncval Babington. who arrived on Friday, left Auckland on Monday for the purpose of inspecting the various squadrons of the. 'Fourth Battalion Auckland Mounted j Rifles. He was accompanied by Colonel Davies, C.8., officer commanding the Auckland provincial district. The squadrons, as already announced, will parade for inspection ass follows: —Opotiki Mounted Rifle?, at Opotiki, at half-past two p.m. on Thursday, July -12; Whakalauo Mounted Rifles, at Whakatanc, at half-past two p.m. on Friday, July 13: Matata Mounted Rifles, at Matata. at half-past two p.m. on Saturday. July 14 ; To Puke Mounted Rifles, at "Puke, at half-past two p.m. on Monday, July 16; and Tauranga Mbxmted Rifles, at manga, sit half-past two p.m. on Tuesdai-. July 17. The Commandant of the Forces and Colonel Davies arc expected to return on the Wednesday or the Thursday, and on the following Saturday, the 21st, the Auckland garrison will be inspected. The various companies in the garrison are now being put through a course of drill in preparation for the inspection, and as all are entering into the work with a will the garrison, as a whole, should no doubt acquit itself with credit.