VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13286, 19 September 1906, Page 4

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

BT SENTIXEI. No. 2 Company Native Rifles will fire a match at Penrose on Saturday next for a trophy presented by Lieutenant Ricluudson.

No. 2 Company Native Rifles intend placing a framed photograph of their 1905-06 shooting team in their orderlv-room at the Drill Hall.

The arrangements for the annual balls of the '• A" Battery and No. 1 Natives, which will take place on the 28th hut., are now well in hand.

The members of the Non-Commissioned Officers' Club will hold a, smoke' concert and progressive euchre party in the clubrooms on Saturday next, at eight p.m.

No. 1 Natives started shooting at Penrpso on Saturday, and had a good muster. The company fires a match with the Huntly Rifles on Saturday. September 29.

The annual general meeting of the Akarana R ; rle Club will be. held in Jarrett's new buildings, Swanson-street, this evening, commencing at eight o'clock. A full attendance is requested.

.Captain W. Hazard, of No. 9 Company Garrison Artillery Volunteers, who underwent an operation about a fortnight ago. is making rapid progress, and should be about again in a week's time.«

Now that the fine weather is coming the Garrison Artillery Corps will be able to resume work at the forts, which would be looked upon by the men as a welcome change from the "dummy" guns at the Drill Hall.

Public school cadets, in parties of not Jess than 12. may now travel by railway to battalion parades, rifle matches-, and annual competitions for manual and physical drill at the rate charged for school parties, and the masters as officers at Id per mile.

Gunner T. Mark, of No. 9 Company Garrison Artillery, late of a Southern cadetcorps, will be presented, after the Garrison Artillery Division inspection, with the Government medal for the best shot in the South Island', which he won last. year. The presentation will Ik- made by Colonel Davies.

The Ist. Battalion Auckland Infantry ("The Countess of Ranfurlv's Own"* will parade at the Drill Hall on.'Mondav. October 1, at [half-past seven p.m., and will probably march to Victoria. Park, Freeman's Bay, where battalion manoeuvres will he executed. Arrangements, I understand, are now being made to secure the park for the purpose.

No. 3 Natives fire a match against the Newton and Gordon Rifles at Penrose on Saturday next. The ranges will be 200 yds and SOOyds, and tho conditions are seven shots and a sighter at each, and 12 men a-side, the scores of 10 only to count. The team representing No. 3 "Natives will be chosen from the following":—Lieutenants Kretschmar and Bodle, Colour- Sergea/nt King, Sergeants Hogan, Bowles, Canon, Jenkinson, and Willoughby, Corporals Kretschmar, Barriuger, and' Martin, and Privates Brown and Huntly.

The colonial auxiliary forces officers' decoration has been awarded to Captain L. P. Skinner, of the Victoria Rifles, lie having "'a tut rank and commissioned sen-ice of 20 years and 62 days, which en-titles him to tho distinction. * Hie Exce'" the .Governor has also approved of the colonial auxiliary forces long-service, msdal being awarded to Sergeant-Major J. Spinley, of the divisional staff (Auckland), New' Zealand Garrison Artillery Volunteers, Ser-geant-Major Spinley on February 28 last had a total service of 20 years 295 days.

I Tiro Victoria Rifles, ■ having formed a. spoofing club in connection with their 'fc&rps, got to work on Saturday; when they •commenced a handicap match at Penrose. The ranges were 500ydsi and 600 yds. The following were the (highest scorers: —Private Roue. 40 at 500 yds, 42 at 600 yds (handicap 7), total 89; Sergeant Jackson, 42 and 37 (9). total 88 ; Captain Skinner. 45 and 40 (scratch), total 85: Private Farley, 41 and 37 (7), total 85 Private Yeo, 44 and 40. (scratch), total 84: Private W. Cox, 46 and 37 (scratch), total 83. The match will be continued on the 22nd and 29th in st.

No. 3 Natives will firs a handicap match on Saturday next for a half-yearly trophy presented' by Lieutenant Kretsohmar. The ranges will bo 200 yds and 500 yds, and the conditions aro seven shots at eaoh, with one sighter. The company will also fire at the siinra time for Lieutenant-Colonel Reed's aggregate prize at the same ranges, and under the same conditions. The following are the handicaps for the respective ranges: —Lieutenant Krotschmar, 200 yds scratch, and 500 yds scratch; Colour-Sergeant King, 2 and 2; Colour-Sergeant Rowlcs, 4 and 2; Lieutenant Bodle, 5 and 5; Sergeant Jenkins.cn, 5 and 5; Private Talbot, 5 and 5 ; Corporal Kretseihmar, 5 and 6 ; Sergeant Hogan, 6 and 8; Private Brown, 8 and 8; Sergeant Canon. 9 and 8: Corporal Barringer, 9 and 8; Corporal Martin, 9 and 9; all others, 10 and 10.

At a meeting of the shooting committee of the Rodney Mounted Rifles on Wednesday last it was decided to hold fortnightly target practice for the next few mouths. During the meeting the non-commissioned officers subscribed £5 5s between them for trophies to he competed for by recruits, and it was agreed to divide the money into six prizes or? follows: First, gold medal valued at £2 2s; second, silver medal valued at £1 Is; third, Pelham bit valued at 15&: fourth and fifth, pair of stirrup irons valued at 10s 6d : and sixth, pair of spurs valued at 6s. The ranges will be 200vds. 500 yds, and 600 yds, Bisley targets. Further conditions will be fixed at a; future meeting. The Rodney Mounted Rifles evidently mean to encourage recruiting, and the example set might well be taken to heart by other country corps.

Colonel Davies left for the South on Sunday, and was consequently unable to undertake the inspection of the three Native com* panics and the Newton Rifles, which he had arranged for Monday evening. LieutenantColonel Reed, officer commanding the Ist Infantry Battalion, therefore undertook the work of inspection himself, and matters passed off successfully. Lieutenant-Colonel Heed afterwards put' No. 1 Company of the Native. Rilles through the work for the month of August. The company acquitted .itself most creditably, especially the. noncommissioned officers, who were warmly complimented. No. 2 Natives were utilised for the purpose of putting Lieutenant Cook. .of the College Rifles, through his practical examination, the examining officer being Lieutenant Carpenter, of Colonel Davie*' staff. The other two companies of the battalion who paraded, the Newton Rifles and No. 3 Natives, were put through some useful work under their respective officers. Each company had a good muster.

The fact that Colonel Davies, C.8., officer commanding the Auckland district, was unexpectedly called to Wellington, is generally taken to mean that his presence is required there in connection with the establishment of the proposed Board of Control. It has been persistently rumoured that the Book! of Control, when set up, will consist of the officers commanding the four big districts (Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago), the Under-Seore-tary for Defence, and perhaps Major Johnston, who has an Imperial service record. Colonel Davies. the popular commander of the- Auckland district, should certainly receive a seat on the governing body, as he is a man who not only understands the requirements of the colony, but is also an experienced and well-tried officer, who inspires confidence wherever he goes. The fact that he was the only New Zealand officer who had charge of a column of his own in South Africa speaks for itself, as also does the fact that since he took charge of the Auckland district the defence forces here have made rapid strides, both as regards numerical strength and efficiency.