TRAINING OF OFFICERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14017, 24 March 1909, Page 5

TRAINING OF OFFICERS.

SELECTIONS FOR ENGLAND. : EFFICIENCY OF THE AUCKLAND GARRISON.' The selection of the four officers to be sent from the Dominion to England for instruc- I tional training is gratifying to the Auckland volunteers and a distinct tribute to the '; efficiency [of the Auckland garrison. Lieutenant-Colonel Wolfe, officer commanding the Auckland military district, was the recipient yesterday of many congratulations . on the selection of four officers from /the Auckland Garrison, for although Lieutenant Robinson is announced as being from the Dunedin Engineers he received his training , in Auckland, and is still on the strength of the No. 4 Company Engineers, Auckland district. v The successes of the Garrison Artillery Volunteers, the- A" _ Battery ' Field Artillery, and the Auckland men who competed at the recent Trentham meeting, have shown in material form the efficiency of the Auckland Garrison in competition with the rest of the Dominion, and ' now the selection of four Aucklanders from ; a large number of applicants from all parts . of New Zealand is further proof of the ' estimation in ' which the officers of the Auckland Garrison are held by the Defence Council. The officers selected go to Wellington for three months, and then proceed to England for 12 months' practical instruction with Imperial troops, with a view to being ap- ' pointed to the New Zealand instructional ', staff. The idea is to create not only a \ spirit of independence, but also to bring New Zealand military methods into line , with those of the British army. . The instruction to be received will be in infantry and musketry work, but the exact form has , not yet been notified to the local Defence . Office. Captain-Adjutant J. B. Barton, Second Regiment Auckland Mounted Rifles,' is a ' son of Mr., J. C. W. Barton," for.'many years town clerk at Hamilton. He 'has for long been interested in volunteering, and is reported to be the youngest, adju- . tant in the Dominion. He recently passed ', an examination in theory and practice for , his captain's certificate. He also holds the certificate course of instruction. Lieutenant W. L. Robinson, of the No. '■ 4 Company Engineers, worked his way up from the ranks. : He went-to Dunedin about two years ago, but is still on the strength of the No. 4.Company. He passed the various classes of instruction, and gained the capital P.S. at the class under Colonel Owen, in Auckland. Captain S. A. Grant is the. youngest son of Major J. Grant, late district adjutant. He started his volunteering career as a private in the No. 1 Native Rifles 12 years ago. Passing a sergeant's examination, ' he was appointed to that rank, and when the Seventh Contingent was formed he was given the commission of lieutenant,' and ' served throughout with his regiment in South Africa, for which he received the Queen's medal and four clasps. He returned to New' Zealand as adjutant, and *' shortly afterwards joined the Seddon Horse as lieutenant, and served * for four , years with thai squadron. About three years ago he accepted the adjutancy of the First Infantry Battalion (Countess of Ranfurly's Own), and is still serving in that capacity. Captain Grant is a member of the Akarana, Rifle Club, and also a member of the council of tho Auckland Rifle Association, and : takes a great interest in rifle-shooting. He ' acted as range officer at Trentham during the recent Rifle Association meeting. Captain Grant recently formulated a scheme for the improvement of the ef- , ficiency of the Auckland Battalion. '■ > * Captain H. Whyte started his volunteering career in the College Rifles in 1897. He attained the rank of corporal two years 1 later, and when the call came for men for 1 South Africa he enlisted in tho First Contingent, and served with them throughout, ultimately returning to New Zealand. -:\ He 1 enlisted again in the Seventh Contingent as a C.S.M., and served with such distinction that he received the D-CM. Subsequently he was;, given < a commission in the Tenth Contingent. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed lieutenant in the Auckland ?Mounted Rifles, and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1905. In 1907 he was offered and* accepted the position of A.Q.M.G. for the Auckland district, which appointment he at present holds. Captain Whyte is the possessor of the Queen's South African medal and five clasps, of the King's "South African medal and two clasps, and of the D.C.M. No. New Zealand ' officer saw more active service in South Africa than Captain Whyte. By sheer merit he has worked his way up, grade by grade, and he is thoroughly worthy""of bis present position-' ; ;