VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13519, 16 February 1906, Page 2

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Bt "Sextbt." General regulations (now and revised) of the Defence Forces of Now Zealand aro to bo found in the Gazette of February 8. . , The Gazette also notifies tho promotion of Surgeon-Major W. J. Will, M.D.Y.D., to be Surgeon Lieut.-Colonel, and tho appointment. of Thomas Ross, of the Mat-aura. Mounted Rifles, to ho lieutenant. , On Monday cvenincc the Dunedin City Guards and Dunedin Rides were paraded by Ljout.-Col. Myers, V.D., and after inspection were la-ken outside and exercised in attack and defence practices, and will bo put into further practice to-morrow afternoon. / The following is the plan of campaign to bo worked out by the No. 1 Battalion to-monrow:— The North Dunedin Rifles will represent- tho blue force. His strength is about equal to -half of rod. It is not certain if lie has any guns. Blue froce has occupied a position between Opoho and Signal Hill, and is entrenching. Red force is at headquarters, Garrison Hall. Blue force, as a skeleton, is to hold tho position. Acting on information contained in general idea red force, will attack blue with the object of regaining the position. No attempt to lie made to cut off the retreat of blue. It is the intention of the O.C. red force to form a main attack; via the Opoho road, and an easterly attack via Pelicliet Bay Range (15). Communication io be established by battalion signallers. Captain Johnston, in charge of the blue force, can bo depended on, with his knowledge of that part of the country, to select a good position, and oho that- will give some trouble to the attacking' force to take. Tho ground on which the operations will take place will lend itself to tho taking of cover, so that good use can bo mado of thin important department. Though some did not anticipate it, the Battalion representatives were able lo convince. tho Rugby Union and delegates that, the inclusion of a Volunteer team would be in tho interests of Rugby football, as well as in tho interest of the Volunteer. From the opinions expressed at the meetiilsr by members if tho Rugliy Committee and some of the delegates, it was seen that they appreciated the work put in by the A'oluntcer, and also his present efforts to increase the interest, jf the outsider by wanting to join in football battles. The support, accorded . the proposal was very gratifying to the Battalion delegates, so much so "'that they now have -no fear whatever hut (hat l-lio outside public will evince a strong interest in tho new club's doings. • In view of tho approaching Trent ham meeting intending competitors may with profit make a note of some, of tlr conditions obtaining in connection with the fixture. Railway passes, first class return, will hp. issued to commissioned -officers and captains of rifle clubs, and second ciass return to all • other competitors, but no pass will bo issued unless the competitor lias paid at least £1 5s in entrance fees. Tents and straw will bp provided on the range, but competitors must bring their own blankets and tent furnituro; stretchers and chairs call be procured in Wellington. Arrangements will be made for catering at tho camp at a reasonable charge. The Trentham range will bo open" for practice up to two days before tho meeting, atid the Kxecutivo Committee will try uiul arrange for markers to bo in attendance. Competitors will, of course, have to pay the marker. • Arrangement? will be made with the Union _ SteamshT Company to obt-oin a reduction in fares, Lyttclton to Wellington and Onohunga to New; Plymonth. Ammunition will be supplied to competitors at the firing points frco of charge, and no other tihan tlrnt- supplied must he used by competitors. The comparative efiicieney of the. Volunteers, the Militia, and the Regulars was recently brought under newspaper criticism iu the Homo Country, when a correspondent, Writing to The Spectator, claimed that- he woidd train a specified. number of militiatiicn for six months, and at tho ehd of that time Would have mado them moro efficient in every way Mian any corresponding number of regulars t-fiat. could bfl brought against him. The Military Mail thereupon expressed ils willingness to go a step farther, and lo Select a corresponding number of men from the ranks of the Volunteers who, without any preliminary training, would thoroughly heat those spc-eially-1 railicd Militia men in every direction. For intellieenee, and all those other fundamental qualities that, go to make tip the clover soldier, the Military Mail considers tho Militia men cannot hold a candle to the niclt of the Volunteers. Tho football season will soon be here, and ill order to set things going a meeting is to be held on Tuesday night next at the Garrison Hall, when tlie preliminary steps will he taken iu the formation of both Association and Rugby Clubs. It is to bo hoped tho men will be there in largo numbers. In a note to O.'s C. corps, Major Sloiiuham, as cßnvener of the football subcommittee. expresses - the belief that the men of the b.lttttlioh will not bo fotiiid wanting, mid that, 'With proper atfciif-ion to the necessary training and entering into it- with an ainoitnt of ehtbusiasm such as volunteers call give, the festtlt will not long bo in doubt, and will bo satisfactory alike to the volunteers and tho football aiithorilies. ' . Anropos to tlia subject of Volunteers ami .football and tho extent, to which the game has taken hold ill tho- Homo Country, it is instructive to read in an English journal that "Army football has indeed become a power in the land, and has takoli its position accordingly." And again: "One of the features calculated to populariso the Volunteer .movement in the city (Manchester) is tlie football league, which has been formed lo bring tho various battalions into closer touch with each other.- The league, which litis been affiliated with tlie Football Association, is now organised on ti working basis, nearly all the corps having enteted one tram." .ti On Tuesday evening, last the Cavcrshaiti Rifles were impeded*by. Major Sfoneham, a satisfactory parade .state being shown. I After the inspection the corps marched olit to a suitable part of, the roadwiiy, and vnricd work Was gohfe .through under both officers and noli-tdrits. The expenditure involved in artillery practice is a matter upon which tlie general public has tint vagito ideas, Tllo B Bftltefj fired 100 rounds at, Bare wood in addition to tho 40 rounds expended, at the Mrelimiimrv shoot at Lawyer's Head. The cost of "this ammunition comes to Something over £260. Wheli the SxpeftsH of the encampment and thd .cost.of trarisjlqit to Barewobd are added it will be seeti that the aim. required lo give the Accessary, training til this branch bf tho service is it considerable on?. Tl.iU Waif Office has In contemplation the estabiishnichf. in the easferii counties of a large riiillt&ry cfihtrd. seeolid In.iftlpoi'triilec rip Aldershoi; and Salisbury Plains only. Colchester will be the.cqntre of this.trails ifiir ground,•" whlfiti Will bt) cotiiifcclcd tt'iflt Aldcrsbot by a military railway. Possible

conflict with Germany at. some time or other is doubtless the reason for providing special protection in this locality. The austero character of rifle meet ins programmes is departed from in the Wairarana Rifle Association's production just to hand. Its daintiness partakes so little of the military and so much of the theatrical souvenir that the programme after reaching the offico of this paper was delivered first to the dramatic critic. The meeting is to bo hold at. tho Papawai rifle range, G.rcytown (only 25 miles from Trentham), and commences four days before the New Zealand Defcnee Forces' Rifle Association meeting, (.'ouoluding in time to allow two full days between tlie two meetings. The prizo list is a generous one, 19? cash prizes, amounting to £165 10s out of a total of £170 10s being open to any competitor from any part of New Zealand. The ltoyal Army Temperance Association is an institution whjch is supported by many prominent military officers in the Old Country and is steadily increasing its membership. SOUTHLAND NOTES. My Invorcargill correspondent writes:— The Southland Mounted Rifles completed their annual week's training; on Saturday evening. The company is to bo complimented pon tho very successful issue of its efforts iu the way of general improvements. Several company prizes, competed for during the- calnp, were present;/! as follows:—Oeanest Juan, horse, ijid gear, Trooper Wilson; cleanest tent, Trooper Crow. Lieutomini-coloiKl Hawk)is, V.D., congratralntcd officers and men upon tho enthusiastic acceptance of their duties as 'Volunteers, and Colonel Robin during inspection remarked iipor tho very liigh standard set by this troop in tho matter of physique in both men and horses. Oil Saturday evening the Defence Cadotg went into quarters for a week on the sito immediately vacated by the mounted men. Captain J. Hawkins is in command, with Lieutenants Heywood and Bain as subs. Tho parade state shows 47 all told. On Sunday afternoon Lieutenant-colonel Henderson inspected the corps, and in the evening a ehureh parade was held. Aceom. panied by tlie Garrison Band, the cotnpany was inarched to tho Don street. Primitive Methodist Church, where Chaplain Raino delivered an address attended with a splendid choral service. In tlie way of drill five lads are being cxcrciswl in outpost and general field work. It is proposed to hold a sports meeting in connection with the company, and, judging from the programme, there should bo no lack of entries from tho members, and interest generally. In heavier vein again, towards the week end Hi® corps foi'niing a. skeleton battalion will commence operations against tlie right half battalion at present located in the Queen's Park. Thus the field wottk and movements to which the O.C. has devoted some time and energy will bo brought into active utility. Tho right half of No. 2 Battalion, 0.K.V., comprising the Invercargill City Guards, Oreti Rifles, Awarua Rifles, and Mercantile Rifles, together with tho Invorcargill Garrison Rand, started camp life last Wednesday (Febriu.try 14). upon tho machinery annexe, Queen's Park, under extremely favourable weather conditions. Licutenant-colonel Henderson is in command. with the following staff officers:— Adjnlant-eaiitnin Murphy. Captain Watson, Lieutenant-Quartermaster Hall, Quarter-master-sergeant Ferqusson. The parade slates ore not completed, more than half of some companies bavin? vet to make sin appearance. Tho Wednesday half-holiday is not the general rule in Invercargilt. and many men do no.t report, in camp until tho evening. The afternoon was devoted to tho pitching of tents and settling to business generally. Short parades will bo held (luring tho mornings, the idea being to get tho men away to their daily duties as fresh as nossible. In the evening the ordinarv field movements and musketry drill will occupy attention. Iu the course _of ocueral remarks made to the battalion, Lieulenatlt-eolouel Henderson referred especially to the apparent fitness of tho men. after a close inspection, for their work in camp, Never had lie seen in the cottrse of his career so much in the demeanour of his mill; niUl file as the eagerness ami displayed. Ho also complimented Lieutenant Riddall on tho I splendid march miisle provided by Ihe Garrison Baud. However, there is no ddiibt that the band is thntoiighb' appreciated on all sides, and wliil" fhe Colonel makes Ins remarks publicly Tommy swears them nrivafeiy in his f<mt (o his eotnrndes. Lieutenant Siddiill has evrv reason to be proud of hi° commend. Kvery member Of No. 2. O.R.V.._will loin with me in Wishing them success et the l 7i'eat contest to be held at Christcliureh during 1907.