VOLUNTEER NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13080, 16 September 1904, Page 6

VOLUNTEER NOTES

Dt Scout. Ti.o monthly parades of tho No. 1 Battalion will bo resumed this month. A parado has been arranged for tho 26th inst.

Surgeon-major Will is to deliver lectures on ambulanco work in tho Garrison Hall at intervals durin? the next three months. The lectures for September wi'l take place on tho "19th and the 27th. Tho lectures apply to tho members of tho No. 1 Battalion, of whom it is expected that as many as can will attend.

Tho Croimvcll Rifles havo not been so siicccsoful latsly, having experienced, with other companies, though perhap3 in a greater degree, tiio effect „of the expected slump which came in volunteering matters. However, the corps is likely to pull itself together, and rursuo its career steadily. At a meeting which was held (he question of changing tho company into a rille club was raised, but. nothing is likely to conic of it. As the local paper points out, tlio Volunteer has, from a financial point, oi view, many advantages that tho rifleman has not..

The " non-coms." had Major Myers with them at their club meeting on Friday nignt last. Major Myers took for the subject of his remarks "Tho System of the Training of Continental Annies." The subjeoi was found to bo too large to be exhausted in a single night, and so tho remarks made \vere confincd to tho training of tho German army. Tho lecturer gave a very elaborate account of the work given to tho soldiers of the Fatherland from tho timo they joined as recruit? until they became trained so'diors, and incidentally compared tho training given with that, of tho British soldier. A free discussion took plnco as to tho merits of the respective methods of training, and although tliero was considerable difference of opinion there seemed to bo a strong belief amongst those present that the British soldier's training was not very far behind—if behind at all—that of tho German.

In order to test the number of successful hits mado by a l'orco of riflemen upon' 11 body of charging cava'ry, a target lias been invented by tho Germans which consist: of a number of lifo-size figures painted oil a movablo serceti. This screen is conr.ectcd with an immense "beam securely fastened to the ground. By menns of ropes passed over pulleys, inserted in tho beam, the target is attached to a team of horsss. Tho team is then cct at full gallop, thereby drawing tho target nearer to tho beam, the infantry firing meanwhile. Within tho next fow days brass shoulder baap.es will bo distributed to tho men of tho companies in tho No. 1 Battalion. The badges will hiive, besides tho letters " 0.h.V.," another letter signifying tho particular compr.ny to which tho wearer is attacned. To ti.-e l ' non-com." and men belonging ( 0 each company who havo bean set aside as scouts an "arrow" badge will be given in addition. Sonio ruther remarkable shooting was tccently performed at Shoeburyness by the garrison companies of tho Ist Essex Boyal Garrison Artillery (Volunteers! with a sin breech-loading gun. At a "Hongkong" moling cn water, at ranges varyiug from 2400 to 5400 yards, out of 154 rounds 94 hits were made, one company (No. 11) making 31 thifa in 39 shots. Tn tho competitiSn between tho right and loft halves of tho heavy battery, the right half scored seven hits out of 12 shots at a standiii" target, the ran go being about 2700 yard?,° _ l'no staft rido for tho "non-coms." of the district which had been arranged for Saturday afternoon, September 24, has been postponed till tho following Saturday en account of the football match Nortii v .South Island.

, Tho members of tho R.N.Z.A. are erecting another big gun (Tin R.M.L.) at tho end of the export prior, for the use oP tho K tJjßlme-ra Naval Artillery Volunteers. ' B u| i and the 64 p.r. that tho company., airesdy had, tho members will r.ow be. able to got plenty of drill. Hitherto when there have been big mutters a number o. men had to do without praotico, as all of hose present could not get a chance m the two hours available. Tho gun-layer? were examined in tho two first tests last Monday, and all of them did exceptionally

TIIO new rifle is causing a considerable' amount of disoussion, and, whilo it 13 adnutted that tho shortening of tho barrel will probably, increase the recoil, it » claimed for it that it . is better balanced; easier tohandle, and has a lower trajectory I tha-ii the old rifle. Experiments havo been made, and at s()oyds the old long rifle'beat the new ; short one by .05 per foot; at 600 yd* the short' riflo beat the long one by .09 nor foot;.at 1000 yds th« long riflo beat the siorfc duo by .17 per foot; at 1500 yds tho fthort rifle , ion 2,.P u 8 by .63 per foot; and at 1700ydsi,fchp snort rifle beat tho lull? one bv .09 per foot.: To convert the old rifle will cost £2 ss. .while t'ho cost of ilie now riflo will bo £3 10s. / Wh®- B Battery. N.Z.F.A. paraded as'ttsual oir Wednesday evening, an inspection parade being the .order of the , night, which, was' \ cr - v N'ell attended. Tho battery Avas under, the caarge-of Liroitenant Hnvc'on, together with Lieutenants;Uitchio and Stacker. After .: tljG inspection wcro taken

1 in gun drill, operating with Scott's telescopic sights, which the men scorn to havo grasped very well. The third detachment underwent a. lcoture on ammunition under their sergeant; tjho drivers meanwhile being instructed .in harnessing and tho anatomy of tho iiorse, under Farrier-major M&tlieson. Tho new Ml dress uniforms havo nowarrived, and present a very smart appearances which is very much added to by the lilies on tho bushys, In a fow weeks tho battery intend luiving a church parade, dressed in tho above uniforms, when the publio will have,an opportunity of judging. Before parade some recruits were sworn in, so tho vaoauaics now opon aro fast, filling up. Cojonol Porter,' who has recently retired from the> command of tho Canterbury Volunteer district, has had an interesting career, during which he has seen much sorvico and has passed through many adventures. He began as midshipman in the (royal navy 'in-1857, and then transferred to tho army, being attached to the 70th East Surrey Regiment at the outbreak of the Maori war in 1662. In-1863 he entered the New Zealand Government sorvieo as a member of the Colonial Dofenoe Forco Cavalry, and ever sineo ho has held appointments under the Government. It will ho remembered that he went to South Africa in charge of tlio Seventh Contingent, and tltafc later on he wont Homo in chargo of the Coronation Contingent. During his period of'service Ik> has passed through all grad-es of military rank to that of full colonel. Ho is now tho senior New Zealand officor. In conjunction with his military -duties ho lias held many civil appointments, his talent as a luigiiUt having" been of great se>rviec with'. tire Natives in the North Island. Colone^Porter took a part in suppressing tho Ha'u Han rebollion in New Zealand, and in subduing the unruly Urcweras. For tho capture of Kcooopa Colonel Porter received the reward of £1000. Thero was » reward .of £5000 for tho capture of Te Kooti, 'who had several narrow escapes from falling into Colonel Porter's hands. Colonel: Porter holds a number of medals. During the Maori war s l\o was recommended, for the New Zealand Crow, and for gallant conduob during the South African war ho reoeived the. dcooration of C.B. at the . hands of tho Queen in London in 1902.