VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14220, 17 November 1909, Page 5

VOLUNTEER AND SERVICE JOTTINGS.

j 'BY SENTINEL. ■-•.; Auckland Mounted Rifles went into camp, 40 strong, on Saturday, the location being Bethel's, West Coast. > The promotion of Lieutenant . Marshall Nicholson Atkinson, of No. 1 Company New Zealand Native Rifles, to be captain, has been approved in the Gazette. Lieutenant-Colonel G. C. B. Wolfe, officer commanding the Auckland militarydistrict, left for the Waikato yesterday. He is expected to return home to-morrow.

No. 1 Company G.A.V. will parade at the Drill Hall on Friday, when the final selection of gun crews for camp will be made. Any member being absent may not be selected.

Trumpeter Sharp, of the Seddon Horse, who entered for the trumpet and bugle competitions at the Palmerston North military tournament, obtained second place out of 35 competitors.

No. 3 Company Native Rifles is one of the companies to be examined on Saturday next in connection with the competition for the efficiency shield of the battalion. A full muster is expected.

Major Geo. Clark-Walker, lately of the Third Regiment Auckland Mounted Rifles, who recently resigned, has been posted to the active list (unattached), with rank of major, as from October 8 last.

The promotion of Lieutenant. (Adjutant). Roy Wm. Cumming, of the First Battalion Auckland Infantry (Countess of Ranfurly's Own), to the rank of captain, has been gazetted. Captain Cumming's commission is to date from June 2 last.

His Excellency the Governor has accepted the services of the Thames Rifle Cadet Volunteers as from October 29 last, and those of the St. Stephen's;, School Rifle Cadet Volunteers" as from November 3 last. ...',..'■

The following appointments have been approved in the Gazette:—The Rev. Chas. A. Vauglian, to be hon. chaplain Coromandel Rifles; Mr. Wm. D. Littlejohn. to be lieutenant No. 1 Company Ohinemuri Rifles; Mr. F. C. C. Webster, to be lieutenant Waiuku Mounted Rifles.

■ Record entries have been received by the Auckland A. and P. Association for the military events to be contested at the show next "week. Thirty-four entries have been received from the First Regiment Auckland Mounted Rifles, the officers of the regiment having taken a great interest in the matter.

Signalling is taking on very well with the No.. 3 Natives. Three more recruits are going to take it up. Complaints are received that the instructors do not give much attention to beginners, but no doubt the Palmerston North ' tournament had something to do with that. , Instructors were anxious to give all their time to the men going South. "":.,.■

The recruits joining 4 the volunteers at the present time are very fastidious in their tasks, and the matter of dress is very pertinent to them. One recruit refuses to wear a slouch hat, because it does not fity him like a glove; another wants a.perfectly new uniform, etc; In these circumstances recruiting is a very costly matter, at least the skipper of the No. 3 Natives is beginning to find it so. '

The recent visit of the Thames Volunteers and Battalion Band to Auckland S roved to be one of the most enjoyable yet eld. The hospitality of the No. 2 Company Garrison Artillery and Garrison Band was very much appreciated by the visitors, who are looking forward to a return visit to the Thames, when the •Aucklanders are assured' of a hearty welcome'from the local volunteers, and band. , . .... - \.' . ;

No. 1 section Gordon Rifles will hold' a handicap y competition on the Penrose range on Saturday next, the-condi-tions being seven shots and an optional sighter at two ranges. There will rbe three cash prizes to the value of 12s 6d, the first prize being 7s 6d, second 2s 6d, and third 2s 6d. This will be followed by competitions of a similar nature . for the other sections at convenient dates.

The Hamilton papers of .Monday ■" announce that the officer commanding y the Hamilton Naval Cadets is calling a meeting for to-morrow, for the purpose of forming a troop of boy scouts in connection with the company. They will be a separate branch of the company, yet be under its jurisdiction, and, further, should be the means of bringing the company to its maximum number—63. This will be. the first troop formed 'in the Waikato, and ;it will be interesting to watch the progress it makes amongst. the country boys. s The boy scout uniform will be . adopted. ■ y

A paid daylight parade of < the No. 2 Company Garrison Artillery Volunteers is being held on Saturday at the North Head forts. The company during the past 12 months made remarkable progress. The recruiting is still going strong, and a very desirable stamp of men are coming forward. The company has always endeavoured to uphold its reputation of accepting only the right stamp of men, with the result that it claims to be one of the most select in the Dominion. Classes are ; being held on Friday evenings by the N.C.O.'s on signalling, both semaphore and Morse, and the specialists are endeavouring to become as efficient as possible. The outlook is very bright, and the company will no doubt make a good bid for the , efficiency shield this coming year-. , : I ■■■ mm __ mm ____ m _ t