OTAGO VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2072, 25 September 1868, Page 3

OTAGO VOLUNTEERS.

The follbwing correspondence haa^Jjeen handed to us for, publication— . Wellington, 2Qth July, 1868^ >r Sir—l hiveHhe honour to enclose tne'rei? ppri of Captaiaiand Adjutant Atkinsonybtl Musketry Instruction and Practice in, the Otago District; forthe^ year ending3ofch June last. .<,,: ! It is a matter of; satisfaction that, not- i withstanding the. iuclemency of the past season, the-number of menpractised, and the av.epge.-of: merit, has shown an increase overf \ that of former years.,., ; • ' zl '. This result is to be attributed t® the zeal and assiduity shownJby officers and, leading members of Volunteer corps, in urgmg on this, branch of their duties ; to the targets, ranges, and appliances that have;been liberally supplied by the Provincial Government, and to the stimulus arising, from competition for the coloniisi prizes; but a large, share of the credit is due to the Musketry Instructors, who contribute much- of their time to. the public service in carrying on their unobtrusive but iinportanii duties; -it would be both just and politic to give them official status, besides putting on a iriore practical footing the carrying out of target practice. ] I would venture.tb ; suggest that the mus-' ketry practice should close in each year on 30th April, from which date, for 12 months I following, those entitled to badges should be authorised to wear them- also that the badges be supplied at' as early a date as pbs. sible after the;returns areis.ent in., ■ -: '^® r?P°rt'Tnow enclose,' together with the returns arid analysis of class firing, sufficiently «peak for the zeal and ability shbwn?! by Captain arid Adjutant Atkinson, in the performance pf this, as, well as. all the other ; duties he has to perform.—Lhave, &c ' i ; • (Signed) J. CAfeqiLL, Lt.-Colonel • Commanding Otago District The Hon. theDefenee Minister,:, , ; / . Wellington.

Militia and Volunteer O£sce, ■*■* o- J\- 'P unedinii6th July, 1868. fair— 1 have the honour to forward the musketry instruction and. practicereturasof the Volunteer force under your command for the year ended 30th June last, together with an analysis of the practice of the various comEanies, shewing the .strengtha'nd number who aye gone through their preliminary drill and pra tiee, with the figure of merit. ~ \ It will be seen that the total strength of the force on 30tb June was 874, of : which377 af^ gone r ,thrpugh their 3rdi class ; 234 through their. 2nd5 class ;: and 108 through their Ist class- 93;0f which are marksmen! following-return Bhews the improvement both inthe nuiriberpract sed and points bbtlained:— ;■ ; ■■•;.*,.;:

•• ■- - - " ' Average Points. 1866. 1807. 1868. 1868. 1867. 1868 3rd;class.... 206 307 377 — .38-06 i.42-81 2nd:class ... 176 184 , 234 — '32-43 35-02' S5-93 Ist class.... 89 91 108 - 20-66 2780 29-20 Marksmen.. 48 83 93 —• ' ■

Gunner Alex. Grant, of the same Com.pany, has the highest score in the 2nd class. 63 points. ■ v; ; ; ' '■: 1 Gunner Walter F. Stevens,. Dunedin Nayal Company, takes the Ist place in the 3rd class, with the score of 75 points out of a possible 80." ~'; O

-Gunner Stevens is entitled ; to wear the Battalion Badge, he haying made the highest total score in the three ranges.; Sergeant Sidney Muir, Dunedin Artillery, second. I cannot refrain from noting their scores, as 1 am confident they have never been excelled in the colonies:— ,„_ : ..; . ■•'

' ' ■ ' .■" " 3rd class. 2nd class. Ist class. Tl Gnnner'W.l'.SteTens 75 53 55 —183 Sergpant.S.Miiir.... ; . 60 61/ V' : 53—179

- The Oamaru Rifle Company has not practised during the season, it has however, made considerable progresa both in numbers anddrili. .; ; ■■■■- -•.-• .: , ,

__ The Captain has.secured a good and safe rifle range, and a set of targets at the exgensa o£ihe corps has been forwarded during

the past month. I trust to be able to put this-company through their rifle practice during the current year, as 1 intend spending a week.at Oamaiu during each, quarter, for the purpose of qualifying the company's instructor; ~ ~ " : "

The Port Chalmets Naval Company has been deprived of its rifle range, it being required for Municipal purposes. The Captain has no^ yet: succeeded in obtaining another, but there is every prospect of his doing;so; before the shooting for this year commences. ;

The North I)nnedin Company is now provided with a rifle range to the extent of 600 yards, also with new : targets ; the members have made good use of them during the season. ' v

TheDunedin Artplery Company has had shot and shell practice twice during the year in addition to their 'rifl? practice. The Gun. nery Instructor, Sergeant Inglis, is satisfied that. Captain M'Farland is qualified to iastr act his company. The Duriedm Naval Company has also been, under instruction at the battery gun exercise, and about four gun detachments can take their duty aa runners. ;■ ? This Company has also had shot and shell practice during the season. , . The other Companies in the Province are increasing Jii numbers, and,efficiency,..., At thefmonthly battalion parade there has been a good attendance, there/being frequently over 300 men present. AH appear anxious to.; receive instruction in, battalion movements.

I would again urge the necessity of the Marksman's Badge being given to those who obtain the requisite number of points in the Ist Class, also that their pamestbe gazetted towear thesame, as.l am' confident it would induce more to practice at;tbe longer ranges! You will observe by the returns the number who have fired and passed the 2nd class, and have not practised in the Ist class this year, is mainly owing to, the " badges" not being issued to those who have earned them in previous years. .;

The Company Musketry Instructors are in nowayreeognisea by the Defence s Depar : ti merit;;, they are ajiard working body^of toe^ arid deserve to betaken 1 ribtice of, not onl^r, for the labor, they bestow: in : w.oi^kuig their Companies in the preliminary drill, but. also' for.their attention at the rifle;ranges. May! I suggest ;that they be gaiett.id as Company! Instructors after passing an examination, and that they-take charge of-all firing partieswhile bo ;engaged, ;i aud also that they be permitted. 4 ,..t0 inetruct their x;ompan:ea. in ,the preliminary; drill r.Tho'Tristructorwouldtheri' (as in the regular ar ny) be responsible for the^ platoon exercise arid firing of the re-, emits; if thisi >bove.were adopted,:it%putdi materially, iinprpve the. -discipline of the^ corpa, and - also define duties bf the '■ ■■■'"'/>■ -■ ■ —■•'■ v";, ■■•'• .-■.'•• :

; Thequaiitity of ammunition expehded during the year has exceeded that of any previous -•- 64;755 'rounds*: have been purIchased from th? >oejti|r»liiiiria3ss,soo rounds from ,the .rroViacial . Governriienfc. -There ;haye also been 21,120 pounds; fexjjeud^L in ;ctass ; firing and preliminary, fit inga;; aii& |11,796 rounds in districfcijJrizeattdiepresentaT. ;tive firing; thus sho^ibg; that\t% prtotlce p^.noTj.^rtagedL^^^.;.^ ;: r \y. t:; ~^/,7 Afi .;i ] *jTt^iaveeyiry confidencetfiatiin subniitting ithiamy third.annual?*lport to $M Hd^:;^he i MinisterJy^.wiU ; «xpr^ai/^yj)u]e: •eiitirbsatisfactibtt withth&iipreaeiit^ffiqientr' state;6f the force ■'< in -general,^ of th^pVo? | ,gi^|^d(&:|i : uirifig;;tK&^aajb:^ ph^6ugh x yyiiu^tq- tender-my c^nfei^ihe nomcomiriissidhed. officefsS^the 1 jdjfferei^tcompanies, fo?, the kiad'^ndgenLfcler M^al^Jmanrier v^ye assisted" IhaVe^ &c, ! ■I '•;.'•;■■ .(Signed)^; ;- J.J.; Atki^on, ( :. ■■. , 1 '^^'■!;^!:^;, ' i.Captainarid^dJatant, : -V-':,!• ■"■ * r .„'--. Musketry Instructor, ■--

-.I _^XlTO^W f^r4!Sepj^rn!jcr,:iß6B. . i, Tjia Mlmfuig- analysis,:,of . :P^eliininary ©pl¥an6H-Glass Fuitfg o'f;;^^^^^^^^^^ ■ti&ftj*t fo^te-year ejided>3OSthjJttoeias pubushed fbtg^r^lnftfnlatuiiQ;" ?ff^VV/'f """; '■■■ V!"'" ...■S'v"',-." IT- T/j&.llAjjmAiiir m J.

Anolysw of PrelimmaryX)rill and Ciaas Firing 1 ~;for the-Yearended 30fch-Jttire7lß6Br—r

•J. Cargili,, Lieut.-Colonel, Commanding <rtago District. ■ :. Johk Bathgsate, Major, • ■ . Istßatt.,,OtagoE,iil<2 Volunteers. :< jNO,JAS.;ATKjir.Soir, .; Capt. and Adjutant, Instructor. Colonial Defence Office, Wellington Idth September, 1868. . Sir—l have the honor. to aoknpwledge receipt o£ jour J.e£feer of .tta 20th July, trans-

mttmg Capt. &.tkinson7s report, with the .musketry drill,-an^. practice returns of the Otago Volunteers for the y year 1867-1868. These returns show an amount of diligence, zeal, and efficiency on the part of yourself, the Adjutant, arid the Company.Musketry Instructors, =. and a spirit amongst the Volunteers of the Province that are most creditable to those concerned, and will be highly gratifying to every one wlfo takes an interest in the progress of the Volunteer movement within the Colony.; Copies of these letters, with the analysis, have , been laid before the Legislature, and will be forwarded to the Commanding Officer and Adjutant of other Provinces, that they may see \hW much has been effected in your district, and be stimulated to increased exertion in their own. - ' The names of marksmen, will be inserted m the Government Gazette, arid badges will be furnished on requisition-; arid you are requested to forward the names of men whom you wish to be appointed, Company Mv ketry Instructors."

Your suggestion, that: the Musketry Instruction is to cease oh the 30fch April in each year, from which date those entitled to wear badges are to be authorised to wear them, is approved. •; * 1 have the honour to be, , ; Sir, Your mosfc.obedient servant, T . , „ T. M. HAtfLTAisr. Lieut.-Colohel CargilJ, Commanding Otacro Volunteers, •Dunedih.

«.iI||iillgISitliv fliilllflits • : S: s^: '?S§:': f : I • : T:":"-:': i f ? : t • .i;7,: •..'.' (.•;.•••(>■••;»:.:!:■ .i ■>>.-■ "' \yi': ■■■■ i ■ • . .= -. ... I ,.-■;.-,:-.-• •^ 00 ca to m t s» co if- cc ha tj ca ce:unj ! Officers O' !• |NCtK3« cc>a ia- ec to to « ri'e.^et (iSprcauits 2 r vT: I '. mmmmm! I Iluplers cc: • M :/:--i,y.' I Band e» I I ccl w o eo I co jp i«. > to *.«>*:*. it>. c» en t-<cji. < Volnu- '■■■ tcera * 1 1 t '. t it ! ; i i : : r i : rsnglers' »s k» I.:': : »: :j_jj: :::,:: Tfoifncers . I ...■.."■ -^ " *i ~r i r 7 ■; —. ' . ■ ■—j »'^ ■ i : w t : t : ; *j: : : :■: :. .sergeants § ": J :::":':•:::':::::: : Irsngiers' *® p-J '; ■•''._.• S" w I•.•.-. cow.-, f : ■■■,■■• wi-i . 1 'Volun- : 5io I • <5o»- rfi:mrfk.eah^.. noiu'i j ' tears ™ ■ i : w t : t : ; *j: : : :■: :. .sergeants 51.. cow.-. , ; ■■■,■■• wi-i . 1 'Volan- : 00 s ■'ftitioMjfk'dt'a'oiftJ'eiii^'oocj'- "I'Strenprtti on 31 Mn^.i-'oiwi-sc-ipfiMbor- >-* ii-cscs I June th to co can't to* to eo ts ta a to ee ia ' Oflicers •^ eocito! eoJ *^ to la to tcit* eo *. I Sergeants & I h! J'! I • .•:• M''i-Ji: hj'I ..J*' Eiiglers , o oocaco. o. f«iwceoocooKS. '.tcers'en • ■■■■ ■ ■'■ ~< ct i-". ti. to►-<oif«cs !£w to• i-Otal 3 j,: ; SJ§:,»? .«"^ok"SS: j Number ; ' M . . ■ . < ~ - ' . -■-.'-■ j»- • osca.. V. "!-J'*ciT-'bo'ii'tc%.t Points; ■ G0 9 ,■:: *: j • ccw. o. ccoooo'tt!SeSto£: Number .00 . W •■' # M ■ ; '• M. ''■ ' ' '■■- * 2:S # ■a-.'t-'e>Kias-g>.as'U-~.tl Points to ceo . c-< •»-n-<- ) ,E.X-.~3<x r cj .■ ■■ ■ - Q cc • fee- c.t tsiCiiivboBH' -*-V(rage CO O,O.:—J ve«-»«l.Kll»SH '; •'" • I * oa*:* ec* '"a*.k>.c*: «'«« I I Kimler-; ■g; : S: :- §: : gsg: 1 feg-fe:. .PomiB-" 1': *• ,™ .:' M, C •> .' *» 50 *• . : : 2 ™ Si t #-£§• -»• poo-^t kukI t I 3rd Class ; ft m I•!£»• to'.• t^csScowotsPt I 2ml Class ; g CO • CO . ■ V M,» kO (-» MMMtOMi :1 1 i/M ' £ ►-■ .,.qse..«. o*.,«oeis.-»»oos«aSo5.- ; lStCIasS i •,§ s 1 2, k to I '. ,o» » o*,« coiEvtp! Sew' | MarkEmen.;•;' ggsfgi:|:' i::-::ir::-;.Vv:| tll!^f:\ ;f:^ ;:JJ■f ; I ■■■!§■■ ■^■ 1- ■ O w •§•■■■■•■ . S>'"'"\ . , "'.'■ '■,§"'■■ .. . r ■ . -