LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15610, 15 May 1914, Page 11

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

BT rnON-TIERSMAN-. Tn« following have been admitted to the Lesion:—9os4 H. Armstrong. 0055 A. J. Railly, 9056 N. Ncwlinff. 9057 D. McConnell. 9058 L. Dixon. 9059 11. Crowche, 9060 D. L. Cochrane. 9061 ,1. B. Cairnie. 906'2 T. Shacklotoa 90G3 R. W. Thompson. 9064 J. Trail, 9065 J. Riddel!, 9066 J. Law, 9067 T. Scholes (Samoa), 9068 R. W. Wise. 9069 R. burn Murdoch, 9053 C. M. Campbell. 9052 A. F. 1. Ansley, 9051 G. Davis. 9050 T. P. Short, 9019 R. (i. Gallien, 9048 R. J. Luudon. 9088 R. S. Allan, 9DS6 T. W. Clotworthy, 9037 P. L. Hodjtea. 9088 A. Knudsen. 9089 H. G. Dingle. 9090 W. A. Morgan. 9091 G. E. Mor ley. 909-2 C. P. Newman. 9093 C. F. Smith, 9094 S. T. Rosaer, and 9095 J. Dempscy. . A page of illustrations in this week's issue is devoted to the camp held by the Poverty Bay Squad-en, under Captain V. M. Twistloj ton. at Waraata Valley, Inst month. Tho ; camp was the first of its kind held in. Ausj tralasia, and was a splendid success, illlusj tratins the fact that members Of the Legion. . when out on their own and keen and enI thusiastic, can do work of the highest order. ; The whole camp, field operations, scouting j work, firing practice, conimissiariat and j I overland trek was arranged and carried out i I by ihe men themselves and at their owe j cost, and their uniforms, horses, and rifle* j i were provided by themselves. The work j done was more than valuable: it was all I carried tint under active-service conditions; j every day was a day of hard work, and j when the camp broke up and the squadron j marched through the streets of Gisbornc tho whole outfit could have gone on board l troopship and gone to any part of the world, | fully equipped for war. That this squadron should have rtached- such a high state of • efficiency, and been able to hold a camp I speaks volumes for the spirit oi the mem ; bers and for the indefatigable efforts and the whole-hearted enthusiasm of the leader of the squadron, who has gathered the men [ together in much less than 15 months. Atter I last shearing Captain Twistleton, at his own r expense and in his own valuable time, rode : up and down the district anil into far outi lying areas, to tell the story of the Legion ■ to the men who wanted to hear of it. -He : found new applicants, and fathered in unattached members, and every member ot the i squadron is a picked man. It is scarcely j necessary to odd that the members of the I Ppverty Bay Squadron almost idolise their j leader and are prepared to follow him any '"where or, earth. | The Poverty Ray Squadron has set an ! example to members of all other squadrons, ' and 1 hope it will not be long before other | camps are m course of preparation in a I number of other districts. If the leaders are keen and enthusiastic, the men will respond readily, and I trust to see logionarein co-operating with the defence_ authorities at future territorial camps In various ways .'n which the special knowledge of frontiersmen will prove of value in the training of the territorials. The Auckland maritime and specialists' section, finding that a great deal of mis apprehension is ctused by the word "mar l time," whereas the section is a land inrce, | has resolved to change its name to the W'.ii i temata Troop. The troop has secured very comfortable quarters at No. i:>. Grafton Road, and it is arranging a good programme of work. The majority of the member-! follow the sea as their profession, and it a particular coastal boat puts up a record passage to reach Auckland on a particular night it may he assumed that is the meeting night of the W'aitoniata troop, for the members of that happy family would sooner lose a day's pay than mis-, their weekly gathering. A frontiersmen'* ball is to bo held in Auckland on the night of Thursday. June 18, at the Royal All>ert Hall, and the members of the Woilemota Troup, who are arranging it, promise to make it a first-class frontier social gathering. It is hoped frontiersmen from all parts of the district, will attend A string committee has been set up to carry out the arrangements, and the invitation cards are- lie issued shortly. Members of the Legion who possess uniforms will foe expected to attend in the frontier dress. Frontiersman Hopkins is the secretary of the ball committee. i The following teller from a lady speaks for itself and will be appreciated by all members of the Legion :--" I am sending you a postal note for 2s in aid of the frontiersman'* widow mentioned in your notes lait week. My son is away, and may not seo the. paragraph, so I -end a widow's mite. I am an ardent admirer of the Legion, and proud that a con of mine is a. member of it. My father, a pioneer of New Zealand, bo# arms against (ho Maori) in those troublous early days. I mist that the widow will receive the bairn of kindness and sympathy in her great trial." ' The annual reunion of the Sixth New Zca I land Contingent is to be held at Ondber's ' rooms. Cuba Street, Wellington, on Tuna dav. June '2. A number of ex-members of lhe 'Sixth are now members of the Legion, , and ill" Lathering will prove doubly interesti ing to them. Colonel Andrew hag arrived I from India on furlough, and will occupy the i chair, and Colonel Colvin. the corps com- ' mander. has presented a trophy, which will I be handed over to the Sixth by General I God Icy.

Th« Wcstoort members arc holding a meeting on the night of May, 16.f0r the purpose o( arranging to organise a troop. Tin' Kcretaunan Squadron (Hastings, H. 8.) is "oiling down to work, and reports new members jomiw: up rapidly. The men are very keen and arc anxious to get into uniform and have their first parade. They hare elected a treasurer, finance and general purposes committee, and social committee, and fixed the annual subscription, to include, headquarters fees and renewals, at £1 U per annum. Since my last notes were printed word has been received from the Canadisu Do fence Department regretting that it ha? now no Lee-Enfield rifles for sale to frontiersmen in New Zealand. It is. therefore, evident that we will have to depend upon getting rifle.", from London at .£! lfis v as mentioned by the commandant-general in the note 1 published last week. After all. £1 15s is a very reasonable price tor a new. service weapon, and wo can rely upon 'Loudon headquarters seeing that only selected rifles are •cnt out. Ido not know yet what the freight will be per case of 25 rifles, but a long rifle should not cost much more than £5 and a short rifle much more than ,ti landed here, for, of course, the duty will lie remitted, and duly at 20 per cent, is" a big item. In another week or two a com mittcc of four or five frontiersmen will be appointed to handle all the rifle business, and then members desirous of purchasing weapons can start straight away.