VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13672, 13 February 1908, Page 8

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

By SKSTtSJUt.

The volunteer year ends on the 28th of this month, and it will then be interesting to learn how many companies have capitated at full strength. A number of our local volunteers who intend visiting Trentham propose journeying to Wellington via tho Main Trunk line, if the Government will supply them with passes bra* that route. There will be a paid daylight parade of the First Infantry Battalion at the Domain next Saturday, when the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men will be exercised in outpost work. The men will fall in at the Drill Hall at two p.m. The members of the Victoria. Rifles will commence firing for the Scliapp memorial belt at Penrose next Saturday week, the ranges being 200 yds, 500 yds, 600 yds, . and 700 yds, with 10 shots at each. This trophy has been presented by the wife of a former member of the corps. The members of the First Infantry Battalion Band, under Bandmaster Mohr, continue to practise assiduously in view of the forthcoming New Plymouth contest. The bandsmen are being exercised regularly in marching, and early next .week Captain-Adjutant Grant will put them through their facings. Local shots who intend participating in the forthcoming Trentham meeting are anxiously looking forward to the opening of the 1000 yds range at Penrose, which will take place shortly. One complaint against the Penrose range now is' that it is "too honest," and that a few "Trentham zephyrs" prior to the big meeting would bo warmly welcomed. - In reference to the paragraph appearing in yesterday's volunteer jottings, to the effect that a certain religious denomination had been allowed the use of tho Drill Hall when it had been denied the Agricultural Association, Captain R. Carpenter, Assistant-Adjutant-General, desires us to say that our informant's statement is mcorrect, and that it has been decided to allow neither organisation the use of the building.

An effort is being made by tho officers of No. 2 Company Native Rifles to raise the standard of shooting in the corps, and nest year it is proposed to set aside a sum of £30, to be tired for by members. The men appear to be taking si greater interest in handling the rifle '"than'formerly, and there was a very large muster at the Penrose range last Saturday, under Lieutenant Hall Skelton. Two years ago this corps had a very formidable shooting team, and they succeeded in winning several trophies.

No. 2 Company Garrison Artillery, who are stationed at Fort Cautley, under Captain Forbes, were also to have begun their competitive firing with the six-pounders last evening, but the light was so bad owing to smoke from bush fires that the idea liad to be abandoned at the last moment, to the great disappointment of all concerned. Later, however, the. men were marched to Fort Takapuna, where gun drill took place. This morning, if the weather conditions prove favourable, firing will take place from the latter fort.

The Defence Council has decided that only the men in thoso companies which muster more than half their proper strength at the Easter manoeuvres shall be paid for their services. This is a most unfair regulation, and it practically penalises those who attend for those who absent themselves. Local, volunteers have been discussing the matter lately, and it is considered that a number of enthusiasts in the weaker companies are sure to be affected by it. Probably the regulation will be altered shortly, in consequence of its having excited such adverse comment in this and other centres. . i

. No 1 Company Garrison Artillery, who a.re at present in calnp at Fort Bastion, commenced their competitive gun firing yesterday morning, when 10.hit's were recorded out of 12 shots very good performance. This result, however, is. disappointing to Captain Knyvett, his officers, and the men, because they had hoped, after securing a possible of six shots in instructional firing the previous day, to again make the maximum number of hits. Unfortunately the shooting was much delayed by small craft getting in the range of fire, while the atmosphere was very. hazy. Firing will be .continued to-day. ■ -TTie extract below, taken from the Glasgow Evening News, gives the opinion of a representative world ngmaii of that city, who was one of the members of the Committer of Inquiry which went to Switzerland last September. It brings out very clearly the fact, on which we have 60 often insisted; that universal military training lias, on the whole, a good effect morally, as well as physically, on those who go through such training. "In the evening thousands of troops found their way into tho town of ; Freiburg. Every restaurant and cafe was filled to overflowing. The streets were almost blocked for traffic, and it was with very considerable interest, therefore, that a few of us made our way through the crowded thoroughfares to ascertain how the Swiss behave themselves in those stances. There was plenty of gaiety, but we did not see a single case of rudeness or vulgarity. Even in the densest crowd our badge was sufficient to have a way opened for us, and we were respectfully saluted and politely addressed by scores of citizen I soldiers, who were quick to point our i way or give us information on any point we wished. We saw absolutely no drunkenness, nor even the slightest sign of intoxication, and it was impossible to see all this without 'making comparisons whioh in this respect, wore not so favourable to our own countrymen."