THE TERRITORIALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14820, 25 October 1911, Page 4

THE TERRITORIALS.

BY SENTINEL. The formation of the Auckland Mounted Signal Company, with headquarters at Matangi, has been approved. The transfer of tho headquarters of tho Akarana Defence Rifle Club from Penrose to Auckland has been approved. A Gazette notice states that LieutenantGeneral Sir H. 0. 0. Plumer, K.C.8., has been, appointed ban; colonel of the 4th (Waikato) Mounted Rifles. The same boards as detailed in the previous district orders will assemble at the same centres on November 17 and 18, .for the purpose of examining second lieutenants for promotion in examination A (practical and oral). Captain G. E. B. Micki'e, R.N.Z.A., is appointed all additional member of the boards for examination A, which site at Auckland and Hamilton. The presidents will make all arrangements with commanding officers direct, to Obtain the attendance of sufficient men to enable them to carry out the practical portion of tho examination. They will also ifltOfltt the various candidates of the hours of attendance and place of drill.

A district order issued states that boards composed as under will sit at Whangarei, Auckland, and Hamilton respectively on November 21 and following days, to superintend th© examinations of officers for promotion ih examinations B and D : — Whangarei : President—Captain .1. E. Barton, brigade major, Mounted Rifle Brigade. Members—Captain D. Poison, D.5.0., adjutant 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Itiiles; Captain F. A. Wood, adjutant 15th. (North Auckland) Infantry. Auckland : President— C. W. Melvill, brigade major, Infantry Brigade. Members Captain H. C. Nutsford, adjutant 3rd Regiment Mounted Rifles ; Captain C. L. Hawkins, adjutant 3rd (Auckland) Regiment Infantry, Hamilton : President—Captain W. L. H. Burgess, adjutant 16th Regiment Infantry. Members—Captain A. B. "Morton, adjutant 6th Regiment- Infantry; Captain G. A. King, adjutant 4th Mounted Rifles.

The programme for the Palmerston Military Tctffnament, which will open on December 30, lias just been circulated. Tho tournament is now an annual fixture of considerable importancea national event, in which all the leading corps take a prominent part. It is ril high educational value, and assists materially in smarteni;ng-up and welding a corps together. It is in no sense a carnival or sports gathering only it is a fixture for the purpose of encouraging skill with arms, discipline, and general efficiency, fostering esprit do corps, aiid to act as an incentive for the individual territorial to improve his training. It holds the interest of the ffiert, attd affords them an interesting" and instructive training. Attention .is specially directed to the following events drill competition for Cadets, for challenge cup, value £50: New Zealand physical drill championship, challenge cup, value 25 guineas; a route march under service conditions (over about seven miles of natural county), for which, in addition to cash prize, a gold medal for each fiiember of the winning team will bs presented. Also a handsome challenge shield, value £25, is added as; an aggregate points prize.

EMPIRE DAY MATCH.

TROUBLE OVER THE PRIZE. r FRO SI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] _ London, September 8. . Tliw Wellington correspondent of the Standard of Empire sent the following cable through this :" Considerable indignation iS expressed ,in • shooting circles at the action of a London newspaper in refusing to forward the cup won by a team of marksmen, from suburban fioofcing clubs at lie Empire competitions, pending investigations. It is pointed out that t156 Scores were attested by the authorities* and the* executive committee representing the . clubs states that 'if there is to be any humbug over the matter the newspaper.can _ keep th© Clip.' " The newspaper referred to is the pvSrse.ia Daily Mail, which runs the Empire Bay Rifle contest, and a representative of the New 55ALAHit Herald to-day saw Mr. Evelyn Wtfcflfch, editor of (he journal and organising secretary of tiie competition. It may be said at the outset that* s<> far from there being any "humbug over tho matter," the Overseas Daily Mail has only desired to make thci award in accordant*® with the rules and regulations governing the .contest; The Wellington Suburbs Defence Rilie Cltlb isent tlli-oiigh the refnarkable score of 1324 out of a possible 840, and a Wellington resident wftrts alleging that the target® used in the match were of larger size than permitted by the rules. In "justice to all the other* competitors the objection had to be considered. The Advisory , committed, has decided „in favoiir of the Wellington Suburbs Defence Rifle Club; which will receive the clip Without delay. There was » similar dispute in South Africa three years ago, and now that the, Wellington dispute has further illustrated tlie difficulties, underlying, a contest carried on in all parts of the' Wttrld, the Overseas Daily Mail has ho other course open than to discontinue the , scheme. The Wellington Suburbs Defence Rill Club 'frill receive the 50-guinea cup to keep outright and the 200 guinea challenge clip to hold for one vear. Mr. Wrefich ftajte the engraving has Been (lone arid the cups are ready for sending. It will lie the last Empire Day rifle contest, and when the challenge cup is returned from Wellington it will be used for some .other competition. These are the facts of the, > case, and it is quite cleat 1 that, Hie attitude of the Overseas Daily Mail, has been quite impartial and correct throughout.

BOY SCOUTS. Despite the fact that some of the city and suburban patrols left for tramp camps on Saturday afternoon last, so as to take, advantage of Monday's holiday (Labour Bav)' there was a very good muster ot scout's at the Outer Domain for the purpose of completing the series of cinematograph pictures which are to Be shown r.hortly. A mounted patrol organised by Mr. R. *. Chapman (late chief scoutmaster at Undhunca) lent additional interest to the scout manoeuvres. In the absence of Colonel White through illness, District Commander H Stebbing made the presentation to patrol Leader Lord (Sdtltli Auckland Battalion) of the life-saving Badge received from the chief Scout. The district commander feferfed to the fact that Patrol Leader lord Bad won the . admifatiftn of the whole of the scouts for the courageous manner id which he had performed his duty on tfireo occasions when life Was* in danger. Tho Scouts were also reminded of the happy circumstance that the presentation was' being made on the anniversary of Trafalgar Day,' Mifen the word "duty" carried with it a historic significance. District Commander Bellamy (Dargaville), Chief Scoutmasters Rust; Kingsbury, Abel, George; and Astley ( together with ii Dumber of gSbdtriidslerS, W6rt» present.

The King's trOop (Devonport No. 3) looked remarkably Well with their Badges when on,para.de last, Saturday. There ilr'S now 23 King's scouts in the troop. , The honour which has been Avon for Auckland by the Devonport No". 3 has given a considerable impetus to scouting in this district. Mr. 0. H. Bellamy (district commander), 61 Dargaville, ie ih town at present. He is making a point of acquiring as much information as possible relative to the scout movement. Mr. Bellamy Is very enthusiastic, find has a very lte'en lot of boys in his care in the North.

A reunion, of scoutmasters and other officers will take place at Biichaiian's Cafe, Karantfahape Road, oh. Thursday evening next at ieven o'clock. Coloriei White (provincial qommissioner)_ hopes his health will permit lilrh to be present so as to meet for thS fipst tuns fnMy wfirJ are Actively fnxsnred in this work of the organisation.

Chief Scoutmaster J. G. Rust, who is also provincial and district secretary, has recruited from the city troops some 120 boys who are eligible to become senior scout cadets. ' ■

The Heme Bay troop held an anniversary social on "Saturday evening last, among those present being a number of parents and friends of the scouts. The tables, which were prettily decorated by some of the lady visitors, contained an ample supply of good things, and to these the scouts did full justice. Mr. Dickenson presided, and musical items and addresses from Messrs. J. Stewart, J. Gregory, District Commander H. Stebbing. and District Commander G. H. Bellamy (Dargaville) made up an interesting programme. Mr. Stewart in the course of his remarks eulogised Scoutmaster A. G. Stebbing for his work in' connection with the troop. Chief Scoutmaster George, and his officers are getting tho South Auckland Bat' talion into fine order. The Eden No. 1 (Scoutmaster Thomas) propose holding an entertainment early next month.

A patrol of scouts from All Saints' Nos. 1 and 3 opened the camping season on Saturday with a pleasant week-end, under canvas, on Mr. Buscombe's property at Henderson. The boys went up on Saturday afternoon, and, erecting three tents, remained there until Monday evening. Some good scouting practice was got, including signalling, ambulance, and cooking. An unexpected raid on the camp by one of the officers proved how quickly alarm posts could be manned even at night. The boys had just turned in, and some were already asleep, when the sentry was knocked down, emitting as he fell a yell, which effectively roused the camp. Without excitement the posts were manned, although the boys had no idea what the trouble was. The camp was commanded by Inspector Campbell, assisted by Scoutmaster Partridge and Adjutant Veart. A thoroughly enjoyable outing was the universal verdict "of the scouts, who are already looking forward to a week's camping at Christmas.