VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12604, 6 March 1903, Page 6

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

By Scout. From a brief note scut me by Ex-sergeant Willoughby, of the Wakari Rifles, I gather that ho hopes to bo with his old company before another Christmas comes round. Alter tasting of the freedom of New Zealand, Mr Willoughby finds it very difficult to settle down in the Old Country. On Saturday, the 23rd of (his month, flic Wakari Rifles intend holding a match with the ex-members, and as an incentive to the latter to come forward they are giving prizes to the three highest scorers on thoir side. The Wakari Rifles have lost one of their oldest members in Sergeant Melroso, who has removed from the district. Sergeant Melrose was ono of the most enthusiastic members in tho corps, and was ready at all times to do his share in furthering its interests. A writer in a Wellington paper complains that the Trcntham riflo range is being regularly used by various corns oil Sundayn. Those in charge of the shooters, or tho men themselves, are apparently so much ashamed of their dostcration of tho Sabbath that, whonever a train passes, they cease firing, and all the targets are lowered. With the oommencemcnt of the new Volunteer year there will be vacancies for a few recruits in tho ranks of tho 'Eearer Corps. To secure enrolment early application should be made by those who intend to join.

The corps offors a splendid opportunity for men to become thoroughly efficient in first aid ambulanco work, while at tho same timo they are given that military instruction which will enable them to utilise their surgical knowledge to tho best advantage in tho field of battle.

During the progress of the camp of the Infantry Battalion at Invercargill two or three of the men possessed of "an itch for scribbling," issued a little sheet called the " Kampskytt," it boing published to use the words of the editor's " here and there" like tho currants in somebody's duffs and " now and agen" like the spots on Tim Howard's dog. Tho "Kampskyte," which was issued in printed form, contained a few pars reporting on tho work done, and a number hitting off those littlo individual peculiarities which life in camp brought under notice. Some of tho pars wcro wittingly written, and caused a great deal of amusement in camp. The tight-fitting British uniform is tho causo of much heart disease among soldiers. This is tho opinion of Dr Wynn Wcstcott, coroncr for N.E. London, who states that nearly all tho soldiers upon whom he has held inquests have suffered from heart affection, duo, ho contends, to the tight-fitting and strapping in which men are enveloped for hoaw cxorciscs.

In the courso of a week or eo tlia B Battery hope to receive the last of the three 15-poundcrs with which tlicy arc to be equipped in 4aco of the six 9-pounders called in and despatched to "Wellington this week. Three iragzons accompany the gun, and. the Battery on receipt of thorn will bo thoroughly 1111 to (late in their armament. Bombardier Wiliams, of the permanent force, has been giving the members instruction in the ueo of the new guns, and they aro now fairly well w> in tho handling of thorn. It han been decided that the Battery shall go for a routo march at Easter time, a practice with shot and shell to be hold on ono of tho four daji? wliieh will be thus speut. Nothing definite as to the direction in which the Battery will move has yet been dcciued on, however. Like other companies, the Batery will have several vacancies at the beginning of tho Volunteer year, and suitable reoruits will bo acceptable. Now that the Battery are thoroughly up to date in their equipment, young fellows with any inclination for military service may he heartily recommended to join tho Battery, and undergo the interesting training which tho members receive.

Evil days seem to have fallen on that old company, the Bruce Rifles, and a big effort will have to be made if the corps is to continue in existence. Last week a parade was called for the purpose of electing an officer. Owing, however, to there not being two-thirds of the company present, the parade was dismissed. Captain Stewart impressed upon the men the necessity of obtaining more recruits, as at. present the company was just at its minimum strength, and on Eoveral occasions only half a dozen men have attended parades. If this state of affairs continued he would consider the advisability of recommending Colonel Robin to disband tho corps. At an after-meeting of non.-coms. and privates it was decided to advertise a publio meeting with the idea of having h publio opinion of what is to be done in the matter.

Major Loveday. officer in command of the pubjje school cadets of the colony, recently statod that the number of cadets has increased in a surprising; manner. In July last the full muster roll showed 4216 names, while at tho present time it shows 7500.. There was a magnificent young army proving steadily stronger in the colony, and, in a few years' time, it would prove to be a tower of strength to New Zealand, Tho Easter camn, so far as tho No. 1 Battalion is concerned, is to be revived, and should nothing unforeseen occur the members of the battalion will journey to Barewood, on the Middlomarch line, for the purpose, mentioned, Icavinor Dunedin on the Thursday evening. Colonel Robin. Lieutenant-colonel Smith, and Captain and Quartermaster M'lndoe visited Barewood last week, and found that a most convenient sito for tho camp could be obtained. The sito would bo practically alongside the railway station, and water would be easily available. Tho country surrounding was found to be fine and open, dotted plentifully with kopjes, and exreritionally well suited for manceuvring purposes. On the occasion of the present camp the full battalion will muster, which will mean that, in addition to the town companies, the East Taieri, Kiita-ngata. Bruce, Owaka, Clutha, nnd t Green Island Rifles will also take part. It is perhaps not too early to express the hopo that everyono concerned who can possibly do so will attend the camp. With four clear days available, the battalion have a far hotter opportunity of improving themselves than the ordinary camn affords, but full advantage cannot be taken of it if tho musters of the companies are not good. The assistance of employers in the matter of letting the men away will havo to bo in many cases solicited, and it is to bo hoped that tbev too will do what they can to help tho battalion to mako the very best uso of tho excellent opportunity for increasing the efficiency of the men wliieh Easter will provide.

Some little excitement was caused in Eketahuna (says the Express) by the arrest of a trooper by a picket of the Mounted Rifles. It appears that Trooper Brenmuhl on going into camp for a first time was asked to place his horse in the lines, but instead of doing eo he used defiant language to an officer and rode out of camn. A pickot was sont out to find him. but did not succeed. Next afternoon another picket was despatched. Brenmuhl was found at work on Mr T. C. Williams's now building. Immediately bo came down from the building he was pounced upon by the picket, bound with a rope, and carried, coatless, shoulder high, to the camp. He was brought before tho officers and finecj £7. Should he not pay. he may be brought before the court, and sentenced to a term of imprisonment, The right of a picket to arrest a man in mufti lias been questioned, but the officers say that the regulations make ample provision for doing so once a man has reported himself ir. camp.

Tho members of tho Green Island Volunteers aro settling down to shooting practice, and tho members aro attending and taking part in tho competitions for prizes given by friends of tho corps with a considerable amount of enthusiasm, there/having been good attendances at the butts for several Saturdays past now. Mr Swindley. who, it will be remembered, held a commission in the ranks of tho Dunedin Navals somo years back, is again in Dttnedin. and will probably settle down here. I understand there is every likelihood of his rejoining his old corps, the reorganisation of tho garrison artillery corps recently carried out causing a vacancy which will render this possible. Tho company will bo glad to wclcomo Mr Swindley back, as he did excellent service when previously connected with them.

From remarks passed bv the General when in Southland (says " .303 " in the Southland Timoi) I take it- as more than a probability that tho strength of mounted squadrons will soon bo reduced from a maximum'of 84 to the old number —viz., 6-3. With the new drill coming into work now, with tho men of a troop perhaps extended over half a mile of country, and working almost entirely by signal or clso following the movements of a file that they have been previously told is the file 011 whose, movements they must conform, four or five sections will be. quite a big enough troop for one subaltern to direct. And in addition to the advantages that will bo experienced in the field, the internal economy of these smaller squadrons will bo very much better managed than is tho case at present. The only squadron in the Southland Battalion that has the full strength is A Squadron, and even with their big roll tlie.v seemod to be unable to got any better muster for General Bubington than the others. Lieutenant Brown, who was present instructing in the late mounted camp, repeatedly gave it as his opinion that the desiro to have a big troop under a subaltern was a mistake, aixl his idea to make tho subaltern almost a captain of that troop if carried out would very materially, assist captains, who now havo too , much to managa. . 1