THE TERRITORIAL FORCES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7319, 24 December 1910, Page 1

THE TERRITORIAL FORCES

TAUHERENiKAU GAMP A STRENUOUS TIME AHEAD Everythin" is well forward in regard to the holding of tho two mouths’ - camp at Tauhoreuikau. for the training of adjutants and instructors under the new defence scheme. Eieutcnant-Ool-cnel E. S. Hoard. Director of Military Training : and Education, who will ho director of tho camp, will ho assisted by Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. Burnett-Stuaut, D.5.0., - Director of Military Operations and ‘ Intelligence; Major Hughes, late A.A.G., Nelson district; Captain H. 11. Browne,/Instructor,' of Mounted Seiw vices; Captain J. Ei Duigan. Instructor of Engineering subjects and signalling duties; ' and'/Captain 1, Chesuey, A.A.G., Wellington District. . Provision is being made for the accommodation of about forty officers, sixtysix non-commissioned officers, and twenty members of It.N.Z.A. and camp followers.,, There will be four lines of tents, one for staff officers, one for officers undergoing instruction,, one for N.C.O.’s, and ,ono for the,permanent force, cooks, etc. 'in addition.tnere will be nine large marquees tor use as dining-rooms and lecture ualUI ■•Thfj sanitary arrangements will 'be ,'carried- out on modern Hues,, and as there is ample water supply in the vicinity'of • the' camp, a proper service -will be'laid'ou;: Taps will connect with washing: basin'sj,;aud there will be a shower bath in, each, line of touts. , The camp ■ Will: ’ Iffi, efliiifently lighted ‘iwith acetylene gas. .r. - r ~ ■ ,' . i 'in the- district have been most considerate and have placed’ every facility id the way of officers in' regard to going' across their land. I,etc. ,Major Hughes and Captain. Duigan were at Tauherehikau on ! Thursday ; oil business bonuected : -with ; the -water-supply ~ and lighting. u£ tho camp. ... , / The camp .■will be organised into two ball companies, tho officers comprising diie l\alf company and. the N.C’.O.’s the iothej'i. Both; Captain Cheshey and CapTain' Duigan w ill take-attractive part in. the.; instructional .work. Everybody will be ; kept exceedingly busy. for the two -months.;'iWork will commence at &.30 ‘a.m../daily and .will -not .cease until 8 p.m. ■; Uu-- January ' 4th ' a . squ;vd of iho R..\A. will proceed to Taviherenikau to pitch camp. ’■ Tenders /have; '.already been called,’ for'"supplies. . 'Blankets and' rations will .'be supplied, to .’all ranks,. but; any .other: cainu lurniture needed will have lb ,'lie procured‘ by ..the men themct’lvcs. -jf V'.‘-

iai* as- .the - AVelJiiig'ton district is Only-, one officer and 'one -non,'C]6iuiHisisioned • officer, iliave declined ap- 4 pomtmont. These arc Captain Iloache anil -W. ;J 3. Grant,- ' Several replies have yet to come in,, hut it seemslikely.;.tbat ; ipost of those selected will accept . •All those appointed have" been notified that - they will have to ' be - medically examined before going: into camp. The medical board consists of : Colonel J. E. Purdy, - Acting- ot Major JBegg and' Captain Holmes. Officers and K.C.O/& may present ! themselves for fexainination at Or Hogg’s surgery between 2 and 4. pan. Oecember'2Bth, 29th, and 30th, and January 3rd. 4th -arid.; sth.

THE MILITARY COLLEGE DATE OP CLOSING APPLICATIONS. . AppLicatibiis •' from' those \ desirous Of enteHD ; i ‘. foi;.,:the/ coini>eiitiv© examination for;, admittance '/.to 'the 1 /;A-iistralian Military' inust‘ with'tjie officer-• commanding ■ tlie district in; which, they reside, ■ bn or before. January. 15th Wet.. Examinations will be held at the ktoi of January, In ortfei* that the ton .cadets selected may. be in- a* position to join the collcgo,. on the -opening'; day an |March. CAPTAIN TRASK’S POSITION - OTHER APPOINTMENTS TO BE MADE. Captain. S.' V. - Trask, who v was staffofficer i- to Colonel Robin during that officer's term as Chief of the General Staff, will sever his connection with .headquarters to-day.: He leaves tonight;. Nelson on -holiday. , leav.e, extending until... January /11th,;,: On -hits return lie will act temporarily as A.A.G. bo the Wellington, military district, relieving Captain Chesney, who will be on the instructional staff in connectwm with the Tauherenikau. encampment. •When Maj pr-General Godlcy re-ar-ranged the headquarters staff 'he left two positions unfiiled-rfchose of Assistant Quartermaster-General ‘ and Assistant Ad-jutant-Gonera]. There has been a good deal of speculation as to who will be appointed, to these- positions. 1 ; It . may ,come about that-New Zealanders will 'be' .passed! over in favour of Imperial officers. ~. . WELLINGTON RIFLE EATTALION . buring. the encampment; of the Pirst Wellington Rifle liattalion. at Karori, which commences on January 14th, visits of inspection will be by, his Excellency the Governor and the 1 Commandant, Major-General Godley.

CANTERBURY ENGINEERS AN EFFICIENT COMPANY. Reporting on the'recent annual camp of.-the No. 1 Field, Engineers, Christchurch, -Captain Duigan, instructor for Signalling and engineer .-services, states that discipline of the*-company iy good, and. has improved during'the last twelve .mouths, while' the officers are keen and;well abl# to impart instruction to their men. The N.C.O.’s are smart and well up in their duties, all of them having been in the company over three years. The sappers are very intellectual and willing, and are of the right stamp, most of them having a trade. ; The work carried out during the winter - months consists of the theoretical of engineering. practical demonstrations with lantern slides being' given. These lectures .arc a. complete success and very, popular. From time to time the company has had models constructed,' and these are of great benefit for training purposes. Bridging is taught by models and earthworks are modelled in plastic l

on a modelling table. Every sapper is grounded in the theory of cover. The whole of the training during the annual camp was devoted to* practical work and short lectures. The work was most efficiently carried out, ~ the one fault being-that officers were liable to take all the responsibility’ and leave none to the N.C.O.’s. The field telegraph section is most efficient, the men all being able to road and send ; well on the buzzer, the electrical knowledge gained being excellent. The air-line ' work'.is very good. Sixteen men are’: under trainingin the signalling section, and dll improving rapidly, while the lamp work is exceedingly good. Every officer,*N-C.O. and man has been taught semaphore signalling. In Captain Duican’s opinion the company is efficient and capable of doing good work. .