VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12324, 11 April 1902, Page 2

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Bt " Scout," The Alexandra Rides have obtained capitation For 63 men—the maximum.

Tardiness in talcing cover and in lying down under fire was a fairly general fault of tho route march of the Wellington Battalion at Easter.

As the result of tho late tournament, the No. 1 Battalion expects to net something liko £350.

Tho trenches for the disappearing targets to be erected at the l'elichet Bay range are about finished, and volunteers will soon lravo an opportunity of trying their skill at tho now targets. Before his departure from tho colony the Cavcrsham Rifles intend presenting Lieutenant. Bromner, of the Tenth Contingent, witli a gold chain and Maltese cross.

The Queen's Cadets, at Christchurch, hold fencing and boxing classes in connection with the corps. Professor Burn is instructor.

It is not generally known (says tho Post) that Arthur Ballinger, of Wellington, and Simpson, of Kaiapoi, were asked to go to Bisley, but were unable to get away. Both were members of tho team which the colony sent to Bisley a few years ago. The Clutha Mounted Rifles has been transferred from tho No. 2 Battalion, Otago Mounted Rifle Volunteers, to the No. 1 Battalion. Tho • Wakatipu Mounted Rifles have been transferred from the No. 1 Battalion to tho No. 2. Tho mtmbers of the D Battery, Christchurch (says a Christchurch paper) avo all covered by an annual insurance policy in tho New Zealand Accident Company. The work done by the battery not infrequently leads to accidents, ami the prudential step taken by the corps has already proved beneficial to its members.

Sergeant Willoughby, of the Wakari Rifles, is going Home, probably for good. He will bo missed by tho company. Right from its commencement he has taken a keen interest in its affairs, and on the occasion of the bazaar hold last year he rendered very, considerable service by acting as secretary. His genial and pleasant manner have made him many friends amongst tho members, who to-morrow night intend entertaining him at a social in the Drill Hall. On May 21, 22, and 23 the No. 1 Battaljon will hold a ping-pong tournament. It will be a championship meeting, and valuable prizeß will be given. One of them has been promised by tho Australian Manufacturing and Importing Company, Christchurch. Tho tournament, which is likely to be a very big affair, may possibly be made an annual thing. A committee from the outsido public will be 'asked to assist.

Tho School of Instruction for officers and non-commissioned officers will open for a term in Dunodin on the 24th inst. The term will last fqr about a month, anil the classes, which will be held in the Garrison •'il i place in the evenings, and Will bo open to officers within living Distance. Now that the long-looked-for iliance of attending the school has 'come, it behoves all officers who can do so to send in their names at once, Only 20 officers can be accommodated at the school at one time, so those who delay run tho risk of not being able to get the instruction. art -union is to be held in connection With the big carnival in June. Arrangements tor this are nearly completed, and tickets wall be issued to volunteers for disposal date. The prizes are valuable, the three first being gold nuggets, assayed at a value of £35, £15, and £7 10s respectively. The fourth and fifth prizes will be pictures, painted by Mrs M'lndoe and Mr Morrison, cach valued at £5 ss. There will also be 11 other pictures given as prizes. Apropos tho creditable show made by the mounted infantry—more particularly the ft alive mounted.infantry— at Mastcrton on Jiaster Moday, and the proposal to increase the number of Maori volunteers, the Premier is reported as stating that tho Commandant of the Forces had told him that the test the Maori corps had performed on that occasion was equal to anything he had seen in the colony since he had been Commandant.

Corporal Peterson has been appointed secretary of tho Caversham Rifles in room ot Oo our-sergeant Bremner, who is leaving With tho Tenth. It. is the intention of the company to keep Colour-sergeant Bromner's place open until his return. During his absonoo Sergeants Stead and Searle will respectively act as colour-sergeant for sixmonths' term cach.

An officer has made-the statement that on Sunday, just before the night attack on tho Wellington Battalion's camp at Mastcrton, one of the mounted men found a ball cartridge in his pouch. In the ordinary courso he would have drawn on his bandolier first and then his pouch. This (says a writer in the Post) recalls a recent fatality at Feilding, and raises the question how often such a mistake may occur, and how often the sham fighter comes near stopping a leaden pellet. Possibly the ease is entirely isolated, but at any rate the statement should be worth inquiry. Volunteer ,7.' Kerr, who won the gold medal for highest scorer in the North Island, is a member of the Victoria Rifles. He is only a young man, but is a shot of great promise. His scores wore 36, 35, and 38 at the three distances of 300, 500, and 700 yards.

The next man on the list aftev Volunteer •J. Kerr was Volunteer J. Carlson, also of the Victoria Rifles, Auckland. He made 108. Volunteer Carlson won the medal last year with 109, which shows that he is a consistently good shot. lie also took seventh place in the recent competition at Trontlwm for the Champion Belt of New Zealand. Auckland volunteers think him good enoinrh for Bisley,

Last Saturday Jhe Kaitangata Rifles neld the third competition for prizes donated by Dr Fitzgerald and Mr E.Kirby. The distances were 500 and 600 yards, and some good scores were made. The highest scorers m the first class wore Private G. Duncan 6t, Private G. Byers 61 (handicap 4), Corporal Smaill 63. In the second class shots Privato ,T. Eraser with 5+ and Private M'Lcan 53 wore the highest. The annual meeting of the Murihika Mounted Rifles was held last Saturday evening, 57 officers and men attending. The zeal of the members and the suitability of mounted companies for country men is indicated by the fact that all of them rode to headquarters. The distances covered were in some cases considerable, the farthest being no less than 61 miles. The election of officers resulted in Messrs John Dunlop (of Pine Bush) and A. J. Holms (of Wainiahnka) being appointed lieutenants; Trooper John M'Glinchy (of Wyndham) was elected secretary and storekeeper. After the annual meeting Captain M'Nab entertained the moil at supper in the A'tiienaaum Hall. The Caversham Rifles had one of the best musters they have ever had last Tuesday night. Only four men were alwent, and they sent excuses. The cadet 6 paraded the BRme evening, their muster «I?o being The two companies were given battalion drill. In regard to the cadet corps it may be mentioned that they have already supplied two men for vacancies in the adult company. Because of their training in the juniors the boys start in the senior company ahead of the ordinary recruit. Captaiii Rendel has a number of prizes which the cadets have to shoot for, but the difficulty is to get the use of the range. As soon as it. is. available the competitions will be held.

In the garrison artillery competition practice for 1901-1902 the Pctone Navals have done some remarkable shooting. They used two 6in breeeh-loading guns. The highest score for one series was secured by the Wellington Navals. The competition consisted of two series, and in the first round tlio detachments under Lieutenants Biss and Monzios scored 1.196, which Master Gunner Richardson states is a world's record. The competitions were conducted on the same lines as gunnery competitions in English garrisons. Tlio following are the district results: —

The following are tho eight highest scorers in tho Otago district for the Government medals competition: — Order Average Fig. of Merit. of Merit. Wellington .... Ist .. .957 Auckland 2nd .7SO Dunedin 3rd .760 Lvttelton 4th .'155 Corporal A. M'Kenzio (Queen's Rifles, Oaraaru), 10S, 1; Lance-corporal Cooper (Wakari Rifles), 102, 2; Sergeant, Shanks (Gore Rifles), 100, 3; Sergeant Poole (Dunedin Rifles); 08, <•; Private Diypie (North Dunedin Rifles), 95, 5; Private Keay (Southland Mounted Rifles), 94, G; Privato Kelly (Gore Rifles), 91, 7; Sergeant Spiers (Waitaki Mounted Rifles), 91, 8. Regarding the new departure in the colony's defence policy, as announced by tho Premier at the Native gathering at Papawai, the proposal iB that in any district where there is a sufficient number of Maoris to form a corps, a mooting shall be called for the purpose of enrolling tho men and the election of officers, who will receive instruction cither at a camp or at one of the centres before assuming their duties. The assistance of the chiefs in

selecting tho officers will be asked, and when they are selected the Government will give them a month's training to fit them for thoir positions. Thn Premier anticipates 5000 volunteers in six months' time. The Government will also appoint a Native as commander of all the Maori corps, and lie will have under him instructors, who will go from place to placo drilling the various companies.

Since the beginning of the year tho Maniototo Mounted Rifles have been busy competing for tho various trophies presented to the corps—viz., Captain Logan's cups for recruits and for trained men, and also for the Irishmen's Cup, presented by the Irishmen of Maniototo. Some good shooting has been done, the most notieable being that of Trooper Tisdale, of Middlcmarch, one of the latest recruits. He pushed Trooper Hay hard for the Recruits' Cup, and scored a well-merited win in the Irish Cup (handicap), making 92 and 84 out of a possible from scratch. Shooting on the second day's competition at the Hyde range, he made 28 at 300 yds, 29 at 500yde, and the possible at 600 yds. The day was not very favourable for good shooting", being dull and f°Sgy> with a smart breeze blowing across tho range, making fully 6ft of windage, at 600 yds.

Last week the Gore Rifles held their fifteenth annual meeting. Captain Boyno presided, and in reviowing the report and balance sheet said he was pleased to. state that tho corps continued in a flourishing condition numerically and financially. Out of 63 men, 58 had capitated, and tho causes preventing three out of the remaining five from doing so were unavoidable. Seven men had altogether been supplied to the forces in South Africa. Tho fast camp was tho best attended and tho most profitable tile company had held, and the men had greatly improved themselves during the year in shooting. Last year Sergeant Tumbull had been champion of Southland; this year Lieutenant Domigan had gained that honour. Tho corps had had five representatives at Trentham, and as a team and individually they had shot creditably. Matches at home had been numerous and well contested. | In the annual report of the Kaitangata Rifles, it was stated that the corps was in a good financial position. During the year 36 parades had been held, the attendance, being generally goo'd, but leaving room for improvement. This remark also applied to the annual camp,, though the musters at it were also fairly good, and enabled the Compaq .to get in a good deal of valtiablo training. At. (the camp Surgeon-captain Fitzgerald had a squad attending to wounds, and all of them showed they had profited by their instruction. At the meeting the following office-bearers were elected:—Secretary and storekeeper. Corporal P. Brady (re-elected); finance—Sergeants W. Lane, T. Middlemass, Private George Dnncan, and the officers; auditors—Sergeant Middlemass and Private John Clements: Shooting Commit-tee—Colour-sergeant Johnstone, Corporal Bryce, Privates G. Anderson, T. Frazcr, J. Smith, G. Duncan, J. Wilson, Corporal Smaill, and the officers.

A Vickers-Maxim gun lias, been presented to the Amuri Mounted Rifles Canterbury) by Mr A W. Rutherford. It is magnificently finished, and although the mechanism is very delicate, still the care which ia being bestowed on the gun already by both officers and men (says a Christchurch paper) will neutralise this. The gun is mounted on the latest pattern of the celebrated Dundonald galloping carriage, which is paid to fit it for the rough&t work. Like the gun, the oarmgo is beautifully built, and will no doubt do all that is required of it. Addressing the Maoris at Papawai, ihe Commandant said he would havo great pleasure m training Maori volunteers. JTe would also like to see the boys taught' the elements of what soldiers had to learn. ." hen in India he oncp saw about 20 small boys standing about, and was told they were being taught outpost duty. AVliat the Rajputs oould do the Maoris could do. He was anxious to teach them as well as he could, because of the possibility that- he might one day command them in tlie field on active service.

It tots been a grievance with the field batteries in New Zealand (says the New Zealand Times) that, although within the classification of mounted corps, they are allowed the capitation of foot corps only, which is £1 per efficient pei year less than that of a mounted corps. Until now, however,' the question has been met by a sort of compromise, the Defence Department making, a grant for horsing* the nccess&ry number of men when mounted duty has had to 1)6 performed. This Easter it was intimated, in reply to the usual application for permission to hold manoeuvres, that ' mounted numbers" would not receive any allowance for saddle horses other than forage allowance—the only horses for which a gnuit would be made would be the gun teams. This announcement made as it was at the eleventh' hour, seems to have struck the Wellington,D Battery "all of a heap,", and no different arrangement having been arrived at before Eaeter, the intended programme was reluctantly abandoned. There appears to be a strong feeling among the artillerymen .that tliey have not been treated fairly, to say the least of it, on this head, and that one of the moat valued of the few opportunities that exist of undergoing practical training in the field has been needlessly thrown a way. Taking into consideration the numerical strength of the Defence staff, and the fact that it has practically the Volunteer Force only to engage its attention,, it it thought that a better' fate should have befallen an application made in .February than to be shelved . until the Saturday before 'Raster and then dealt' with in tho manner here described.

The North Dunedin Rifles paraded tlie other evening for the monthly staff. inspection; present—Captain Johnston, Lieutenants Slowley and Longjvorth, 1 coloursergeant, 4 sergeants, 3 corporals, and 40 privates;—total, 51. Lieutenant-colonel Smith, who was accompanied by Captainadjutant Hislop, was the inspecting officer. After a thorough inspection had been made of the arms and accoutrements, company drill was gone through, also the manual and firing exercises and muscle drill. At the conclusion of the inspection the Lieutenantcolonel expressed himself as satisfied with the condition of the arms and' accoutrements, and stated that he was pleased to learn that the company had started a class for physical culture under Mr Lex M'Lean, and urged the members to take full advantage of the class. Ho also brought under notice the necessity for vigorous efforts in connection with the military carnival and bazaar to be held in June next, and stated that he was glad to find that the members were doing good worlc. The following promotions were announced:—Corporals D. ttorney, W. Harbour, and A. Phillips to be sergeants; Lance-corporals Campbell, J. Kilpatrick, Privates Annan arid W. Kilpatrick to bo corporals; Private F. D. Gibson to bo lance-corpdr.il. Six new members were elected. ■

After drill last Thursday evening the Tupanui Rifles held a meeting. Captain Rodger submitted a draft copy of .the first four matches, to he held at.the latter end of this month and tho beginning of noxt. The matches will be for eat'n prizes, about £8 being given, ranging from 20s to 2s 6d, and well divided up, so that tliero should be good entries. It was decided to hold two matches at each range—one on Wednesday (to suit the half-holiday) and one on Saturday (to suit the country members). Should a public holiday be declared during tho Coronation week," a full day's programme will be anungetl. It was also decided to endeavour to get off a match between teams from the Kelso Mounted Rifles and the Tapamu Rifles, and this should induce members to practise.