VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12638, 16 April 1903, Page 6

VOLUNTEERS.

B BATTERY N.Z.F.A,

Only now that the Easter camp 13 over have tho B Baiter/ N.Z.F.A. completed their work of the volunteer year 1902, inasmuch as they were enabled to satisfactorily get off their shell practice, which they were prevonted from doing during their annual camp of last January. From every point of view the recent camp has been, one of the most successful in the annals of tho battery, although handicapped in many ways. The battery is at present officered by but two officers—namely, Lieutenant H. Jj. Tapley (officer- commanding), supported bv Lieutenant Haydon. A large percentage of the trained men'were unable to attend camp, but there was a good attendance of recruits, who have recently joined the batterv in rather lar»e numbers. They could not be expected to be so efficient in their duties aa the others, and this circumstance rather handicapped the battery as a whole, and, in addition, tho corps had only been in possession of their new guns a month or 30, and thus had a lot to contend with. The battery on reaching Barewood found that they hadto proceed about a milo and ahatf.uphill to,tho. site of their camp, which, owing to a. mistake of 0:10 of the staff, of 11011commis3ioncd officers, had been pitched in the wrong position, and this entailed a lot of extra work,- as, on the advico of Colonel Robin, C.8., the camp had to bo shifted on to tho (tat next day. On Saturday morning a mounted parade was held, tho battery being exercised in field movements, etc. In the afternoon a gun and detachment, under Lieutenant Haydon, proceeded with Captain Stoneham ilnd a company of infantry a distance of four or fivo miles to tho Barewood Bun Homestead, where they bivouacked for the night. The bivouac was astir by 3 a.m., and, after Captain Stoneham had described the mode of attack, tho advance on the outposts of the main camp was begun, and it was here that Lieutenant Haydon showed how valuable bis active servic; training in South Africa had boeii to him. The manner in which lie bandied his gun over rough country, round ridges and over gullies, without once being at fault, and tho splendid position be took up whcii coming into action against the artillery of the defenders, was deserving of the highest praise. , The Garrison Band, under Lieutenant George, armed with rifles, acted as escort to tho attacking gun, and, as they took their instruments with them, they supplied somo welcome, music to the bivouac party while under canvas. On arriving in camp at the conclusion of the " fight" the members of the opposing forces, in many cases, almost camo to loggerheads, over the question of who had " came off beat." A portion of the rest of Sunday was devoted to "fire-discipline," under Bombardier Williams. On Monday morning, before breakfast, the officers engaged in revolver practice, the target being an empty bottle. Later in the day the battery went through their sficll fire at four different ranges. Tho first was at targe's representing a four-gun battery; tho second at a line of infantry in extended order standing; the third a. line of infantry kneeling; and the fourth at a moving target advancing towards the battery at full gallop. The actual detailed result of the practice has not yet been made known, but from the number of " hits " it may be deemed to have been quite satisfactorily. At the conclusion of the shell practice Colonel Robin, C.8., addressed tho battery, eulogising the work done by them, The battery renched Dimedin shortly after midnight on Monday, and, after entraining their horses and baggage, proceeded to their

homes. On being dismissed at the station three hearty cheers were g;ivcn for the commanding officer (Lieutenant 11. L. Tnpley). Men and officers of the battery are unanimous in their opinion that the efficiency displayed by tho liattcrv was due to ft very largo extent to their popular instructor, Bombardier "Williams, of the Permanent Force, who has con- ' scientwusly striven to make every man ' tborou°hly acquainted with his work. Lieu- • tenant Taplcy and Qtiavtermastcr-sorgcMit ' Niven are to be congratulated on the manner in which they carried out their respective duties, and the thanks of that portion of tiie battery forming the bivouac party at the Barewood Homestead are due to Mr Maider, the station manager, for his consideration and kindness to all alike. I 5 ——:_