VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 4

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

:". '- ■■■ \ BY SENTINEL. • ■ The annual ball of the officers of the garrison will be held in, the gunroom, Drill Hall, to-morrow evening. The Bearer Corps had a fine muster on Monday evening, and were instructed in stretcher drill by Surgeon-Captain, Parkes. Gunners Campbell, Metcalfe, and Childs, attached to the A Battery, have been promoted to non-commissioned officers' rank. Tho No. 1 Company New Zealand Native Rifles were working on Monday evening at semaphore signalling, the whole company being under instruction. Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. B. Wolfe, officer commanding district, has been granted leave of absence from October 1. During his absence the 4.A.G. will perform his duties. It is with regret that I have to record the death,' which took place on Tuesday morning, of the wife of Lieutenant F. Atkinson, of tho Auckland Mounted Rifles. Tho announcement that tho College Rifles had won tho volunteering Rugby football championship was evidently premature, for they have yet to play the No. 2 G.A.V. The ; match will take place next Saturday. Tho No. 1 Natives will have a practice shoot on Saturday next at Penrose. The men will catch the 1.10 p.m. train, for which passes will bo issued. Lieutenant M. Atkinson will be in attendance on the range to coach those who require it. The Alfriston troop of the Franklin Mounted Rifles hold their first annual ball on Friday, the 16th inst., in the Papakura Valley Public Hall. Lieutenant Richardson, Sergeant Dickens, and Corporal Moody are ma]king arrangements for a, big function. The triangular rifle match between the officers of the garrison, the non-commission-ed officers, and the privates, which was to have been held at Penrose last Saturday, was postponed on account of the wet weather, and will bo fired off next Saturday. A complimentary smoke ■ concert will be tendered, to Lieutenant Jackson, of No. 3 Garrison Artillery, this evening at the noncommissioned officers' clubroom. Lieutenant Jackson, whoso recent promotion takes him out of the ranks of the non-commissioned officers, has been a very active member of the club for about eight years. The :'■ entries for the Franklin Mounted Rifles' annual rifle meeting closed on Saturday last, and the secretary reports a. splendid entry of 60 competitors for each match. This is a fine record, for it means that over 80 per cent, of the members have decided to. compete. Tho number of entries is a record for a squadron or company meeting. The meeting takes place oh Saturday next. Officers commanding corps having men who wish to join reserve to corps should make application to the A.A.G. These men will not bo returned on the strength of the corps after posting, but shown separately at the end, of capitation roll under heading " Reserve corps." Their names will be shown on the back of parade states as they attend. . The following non-commissioned ' officers of the No. 1 Natives (Captain A. Coutts) were highly successful in I passing their sergeant's examination last,vock:—tnnceSergeant : Neely, ; Lance-Corporals A. Coulam and C. Thompson. It is alao pleasing to note that Sergeant Neely scored highest marks. He is, a very enthusiastic volunteer, and has made very rapid strides in his company during his short timo of membership. On Thursday, October 1, the Otamatea Mounted Rifles, ex-members and honorary members, met at supper at the Drill Shed, Paparoa, to welcome as a visitor an old Comrade, Captain' Frank Colbeokj : who was the officer commanding the squadron when it was first formed, and greatly assisted it to" its present - position. ' The evening was enlivened by songs and recitations given by Lieutenant Milne, Sergeant Evens, Sorgoanfc McOarroll, and Messrs. Buroh and Allen. . * The instruction class which was to have been held at Wellington on the 12th : inst. for field artillery and engineers has been abandoned for the year, the reason, it is understood, being scarcity Of members; I gather that 20 men would j have attended from Auckland corps, and I should' have thought that number from any one town wouki have been- sufficient to* hold the class. There is a feeling of disappointment amongst the men over the abandonment, several of whom had arranged to get their annual leave from business to attend the instruction class.' : ", • ' The Franklin Mounted Rifles are shortly to suffer the loss of • their popular , and hardworking quartermaster-sergeant and :,' secretary, Mr. Biittimore,'• who is ; leaving ; the district. He lived right at the centre of the squadron's headquarters at Olevedon, and being a keen and energetic volunteer, with a good business head, he made a capital quartermaster-sergeant. Ho was always willing to sacrifice his own interests and time for the sake of "the game," and his loss will be very keenly felt, and his place hard to fill. He carries with hira the best wishes of his comrades, and it is to be hoped he will take up volunteering again when he settles down. ' It is not generally understood by volunteers holding Government property, such fas rifleSj uniforms, etc.i that they are liable to imprisonment should they : fail to return the property when called on.; According to the provisions of the Defence Act proof of service of a letter at the last known place of residence is sufficient notice. : It i would be well for members of companies who have not been attending parades regularly, or ; who have got out of touch, to make' note of this, for the annual inspection by the armourer is now, being made. The officers of the various corps are put to considerable trouble by the failure of certain members ,to produce their arms ■' and accoutrements for inspection. *'■ A district order - states that ; the under-, mentioned corps will parade for inspection by the officer - commanding district oil his return from leave of absence:—Garrison Artillery Division For fort manning at the forts on Wednesday, the.2lst; inst., at 8 p.m. A Battery Field Artillery: In: gunshed on Thursday, the 29th inst., at 8 p;m. Field Hospital and Bearer Corps: In the Drill: Hall on Thursday,; the ; 29th inst;. at 8 p.m. Eden Defence Rifle Cadets: In Drill Hall on Thursday, the 29th inst., at 8 p.m. First Battalion Auckland Infantry, on the Domain, viz.:—No. 1 Native Rifles, No. 3 Native Rifles,; Newton Rifles, on Monday, 26th inst., at 8 p.m.; Victoria Rifles and College Rifles, on Tuesday, 27th inst., at 8 p.m.: No. 2 Native Rifles and Gordon Rifles, on Wednesday, 28th inst,, at 8 p.m. First Battalion Auckland : Defence Rifle Cadets, at the College-at noon on Friday, 30th inst. Second Battalion Auckland Defence Rifle Cadets, at the Grammar School on .- Monday, 26th inst., at 2.30 p.m. St. John's Cbllege Rifle Cadets, at the College on Tuesday, the 27th inst., at 10.30 a.m. / .