THE TERRITORIALS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16035, 29 September 1915, Page 11

THE TERRITORIALS

BY BBKTIHEL. PARADES. The forthcoming territorial parades arc as follows;— To-night: 14th Platoon, C Company, 3rd (Auckland) Regiment, No. 7 Company Garrison Artillery. Thursday: A Battery Field Artillery, D Company 3rd (Auckland) Regiment. 13th Platoon, C Company, 3rd (Auckland) Tteaiment, at Avondalc; Nos. 1. 2, and 5 (Auckland), and No. 8 (Takapuna) Plntoons, Coastal Defence Infantry. Saturday: A Company 3rd (Auckland) mentMonday: No. 6 Company, Garrison .Artillery; Field Engineers and Signal Company; B Company, 3rd (Auckland) Regiment. , • Tuesday. No. 1 Company, Garrison Artillery; A Company, 3rd (Auckland) Regi- > ment; No. 3 and 4 (Onehungo). No. 6 (Devonport), No. 7 (Birkenhead) Platoons, Coast Defence Infantry. Advantage will be taken of the slack period between the football and cricket seasons to hold daylight parades of both companies of the 3rd, Auckland, Regiment. A Company will hold a musketry parade on Saturday next and R Company on the following Saturd.ayr A non-commissioned officers' class is being held on Saturday evenings and those who desire to attend the lectures are asked to hand in their names to the group officer as early as possible, as only a limited number can be taken. A meeting of senior cadet officers will be held in the lecture room at the Drill Hall to-morrow at 5.15 p.m. in connection with the, carnival queen election. Every officer is expected to be present The officer commanding the Auckland district has placed on record his appreciation and thanks to the Auckland branch, National Reserve, for the magnificent parade on September 12, to assist at the railway station on the arrival of the wounded men from the troopship Tahiti. As the assistance of the National Reserve was only requisitioned at mid-day on the previous Friday, the numbers on parade were exceedingly creditable, and the steadiness of all ranks noticeable. Applications will shortly be invited by the local staff-officers from senior territorial officers, not below the rank of captain, who are willing to take charge of enforcement drafts proceeding to irentham. When submitting their names to district headquarters, officers are requested to state what notice they would require if called upon for duty. In regard to the foregoing order, it is stated that much valuable time is wasted by staff-officer.* when taking drafts from Auckland to Trentham, hence the invitation to senior territorial officers to relieve the staff. The junior division of the schools of the Empire shooting competition was again, won this year, the third in succession, by the Auckland Grammar School cadets. The team thus won the Natal Shield and a set of bronze medals. The details of shooting were as follows:—Colour-Sergeant H. R. Hill, 31--32tt63; Sergeant P. W. Smallfield. 31-32—63; Corporal R. A. Mal:ne, 28-33—61; Corporal C. A. Taylor, 28—29-57; Corporal R. Baigent, 30—29 59; Cadet L. H. Prangley," 33-31-64; Cadet P. 0. Veale, 29-31-60; Cadet R. C. Matheson, 31—29—60. Total, 487. "The best individual score, 66, was made by Colour-Sergeant D. Mac Williams, Calgary Collegiate School, Canada. The Auckland Grammar - School finished sixth in the senior competition.

BOY BOOSTS. Lieutenant-Colonel Cossgrove, Dominion Chief Scout Commissioner, is'at present visiting the scout centres in the Auckland East Province. ■~'",' The Edendale troop, now 60. strong, promises to be one of the most progressive in % the Auckland.,central district! In Scoutmaster ,J. "E. Turner/, the troop possesses an enthusiastic officer and a firstclass instructor in ambulance and signalling work. Comfortable ' quarters for the boys are provided in ■ the Presbyterian school room.

An arrangement .has been made which should make it possible for' scoutmasters, assistants, and non-commissioned officers to receive uniform instruction in the various scouting subjects. Through the kindness of the vestry of St. Matthew's, Parish the large building adjoining the church will be made available for the purpose, and a staff of instructors is already prepared to assist. The date of the first course will be announced shortly.

• The scouts in the Auckland district are taking an active interest in the patriotic fund for the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers. It is suggested that scout officers should encourage the boys to promote entertainments in connection with their respective troops, and to earn small sums of\ money for special services rendered in any useful capacity. Cards will be supplied to scoutmasters on application to the organising secretary, the Hon. ChiefScoutmaster H. Stebb'ing, of Nor|hcote, whereon the name of the-Scout employed and the remuneration received is to be recorded. Each shilling received ■bv the treasurer of the Patriotic Fund will represent four votes for the " Soldiers' Queen." As the colours chosen for the latter are red, white, and blue, scouts are requested to wear these colours as soon as possible daily.

The Ponsonby troops,' under ChiefScoutmaster Jas. F. Pearce, paraded on Thursday evening for inspection by. the district organising secretary. Some 220 scouts were in attendance, and after a march through Karangahape Road, dissembled at the headquarters in the Congregational schoolroom, Baresford Street, where they were addressed by the Rev, E. H. Taylor and the organising secretary. On Saturday afternoon there was a large muster of the troops at the Domain for the purpose of obtaining a cinematograph record of scouting exercises. In these they were joined by the newlyformed Mount Eden Congregational Troop, under the supervision of the Rev. SteeleCraik, and the Avnndale Troop. On the march to the Domain the Ponsonby Drum and Fife Band, under the leadership of Mr. Callinan, played several airs. Altogether, a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon was spent. The troops also attended at the hosnital on Sunday afternoon with flowers for the patients, and in the evening paraded it the Beresford Street Congregational Church.

It is proposed in future that, instead nf one district, committee, several local committees will be formed to administer the affairs of the scout movement in the Auckland Province (central). Each application for enrolment as an officer, examiner, or instructor will require to have the endorsement. of the local committee. It will then he forwarded to the Advisory Board, which will consider the application and make the necessarv recommendation for the issue of a commission or a warrant to act. It will he one of the functions of the local committee to occasionally visit the troops in their district and extend advice and encouragement to the scout officers and boys generally.

Scouts srjeciallv required for service at the French P.«d Cross Society's concert at the Town Hall to-morrow evening are requested to report themselves at a-quarter past seven o'clock to the officer in charge.