VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13858, 22 March 1907, Page 7

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

1 By Sentrt. Quartcr-moster-scrgeant West, B Battery, li&s been awarded the New Zealand long and efficient servico medal. To complete their class-firing, it has been ne:essary for the Palmerston South Rifled and the companies comprising the first and second North Canterbury Battalion to obtain nn extension of time up to March 31. Tenders tire now being called for tho eupply of leather bells, pouches, and frogs for issue to Defence Cadets, and as soon as supply is completed all cadet corps will be equipped with these. Fresh orders for Easter detail No. 2 and J Companies N.Z.G.A Volunteers, with t.ho Dunedin Signalling and Cycling Corps; and portion of Xo. 2 Company F.H. and Bearer Corps attached for manosuvros on | the Otago' Peninsula, nnd B Battery, N.Z.F.A A 7 oluntecrs, with portion of No. 2 Company F.H. and Bearer Corps for AVaikouaiti. The district staff and' tho O.C. Detachmcnt R.N.Z.A. will be allotted particular duties an umpires, Captain LYl'Ara, of the Dunedin City •Rafles being attached to the umpire staff during tho manoeuvres. Tho general idea for tho Peninsula forces is, baldly, that the Australian squadron has been ordered to rendezvous at Singapore, New Zealand l>eing thus laid cpen to raiding attacks by eruiscrs. The Garrison Artillery is required to man tho forts to repel attacks. I'ho High School Cadets (three companies), who will bo in camp for seven days, will take part in these manoeuvres, and will bo at the disposal of the O.C. Division (!.A. A r oluntccra, who will arrango for their transport, to and from the Heads. Tho general idea of the Easter manoeuvres for Canterbury district, is thatabluo force, having landed on tho AVost Coast,is moving towards Sheffield, the intention lieing to seize the railway line and force a passago to Christehurch. A red force will offer a. defence against the movement. The Diincidn Engineers have been for somo timo taking a keen interest in shooting, ami their success in gaining tho ladies' challenge shield this year for the first time, will bo very gratifying. Some time ago, in company orders, the memgora of tho corps were advised to practice assiduously at snapping. Some of the corps have kept, up this practice, and Captain. Ross attributes tho success of his team partly to that. The corps had additional cause for congratulation last evening, when the cadet cup was handed over to tho Engineer Cadets. The senior team is oneouragod to make a .strong bid for the bugle competition,

The D'.iW'ilin Navala held their annual meeting last evening. Tho report presented shows that the corps capitated with 140 men last year. Ninoty-cight men parsed the 'examinations in gunnery, 13 D.R.F., 8 signalling, and 33 gun-laying. It is proposed to make sonic additions to tho orderly room, and to add a. room for tho use of non-coms. A miniaturo rajigo for USO in the winter is also spoken faf. The attendances throughout, tho winter have greatly improved, being 78 per ijqnt. this year, as compared with 56 ond 58 per cent, the two preceding years . respectively. Thirty-eight men received each a prizo for being present at every parade during tho winter programme. Tho discipline is also vastly improved. Tho ilanitoto Mounted Rifles are to bo congratulated upon winning the shield competition tarried out by tho First Regiment Otago Mounted Rifles. They secured 135.85 points, t.ho Otago Hussars lwiug eocond with 116.52, while tho North Otago Mounted Rifles wero disqualified for not completing the task in one day. The Hussam wero superior with respect to marching, etc., scoring 84122 points, against 77.55. secured toy the Maniototo Mounted Rifles. The latter, howorcr, obtained a, great lead in tho shooting, the points being 40.3, as against 22.3. Tho additional marks for over half strength gavo the local corps 10, and l the winners 18.

A circular issued by tho chief of tho general staff for tho guidajicc of Umpires at manoeuvres should prove of considerable value to all oflioers whether, or not they nro ever called upon to act ae umpires. The circular sets forth clearly a.large number of points that are likely to arise, and upon which the .umpire is required to rule, and in so doing it convoys to tho officer who may be carrying out the manoeuvres information as to what is to be avoided and what, attempted,

It is notified for goiicra.l information llvat. from and after March 1. 1907, every efficient member of a Volunteer" corps, defenco cadet corps, or defence rifle club, will'lie allowed lo purchase 100 rounds of service ball ammunition per annum at tho reduoed price of 5s per 100 round, any necessary expense for freight and carriage being paid by the purchaser as at present. Green Island Rifles are endeavouring lo arrange an Easter tour for its shooting team. The proposed plan was: —Friday, Gore; Saturday. BlufT; Monday, South land Riflo Cluli. . Rlulf has advised it, cannot manage ■ a Icani: Goro cannot arrange for Friday, hut would be glad to shoot on Monday; Southland cannot reply until negotiations for a match with Mataura are ended.

.Quartermaster-sergeant Ilarpor is resigning his position .in No.. 1 Battalion, and retiring altogether from Volunteering. Ho lias carried out Hie somewhat .thankless duties cf Q.M.S. with such success as,to avoid complaint, which is saying much. As president of l.lie Non-coins. Officers! Cltib lie will be grcntly. missed, and will always bo remembered as having piloted the club throxigh a very critical period. ' The outlook for the Battalion Association Football Club this year is, I am told, encouraging. Tho annual meeting will probably be held next week—most of the other Association football clubs have already held theirs,—but already there are inquiries from prospective members. A special effort, should be made this year to draw in all tho available football talent in the battalion, so that (lie club may improve on lust year's record. During his last visit to Dtiuediit Major Johnston, who has Iwen invaluable in the capacity of stall' artillery officer during the past three years, and who is leaving tho colony at t'no end of this 'month, was given a send-ofT by the- officers of the garrison and Held artillery. Major Johnston's departure is regretted by all who ktlcw liitn, but especially by artillery officers and men. Following upon the announcement that certain competitors luid been caught faking; scores there has been a remarkable silence. It is said that the offenders tit Trenthnm were detected in this way: — An 'officer overlooking a scorer saw a bull recorded for a shot which the target showed lo be a 3. Ho immediately remarked that the slict was a 3, and the scorer hastily agreed it was so and corrected Ibo score. TIIO officer then aeked what tho previous shot bad been. The scoro showed a bull. Suspicion being ■aroused, the officer telephoned to tho marker, inquiring, tlm value of the preceding shot, and found it was not a bull. Firing was immediately suspended. Members of defence rifle clubs when travelling on orders issued by Ihe Dcfenra Department may, even in plain • clothes, 011 production of the authorised badge, be charged for at the saino rate as VdlunIcors in uniform. The production of the badge is, however, ossential, and captains of defence rifle clubs should see that, their members am supplied with these as soon 11s possible.

Tims the. Sydney Mail" Sergeant D. ll'Cully, of Sydney, who won the Southland Match and £10 10s at the Christchurch meeting, got 32 at 500 yds and 33 at 700 yds. Two local men ran him close with 64. It took all ilav to decide this event, owing lo there being only 20 targels. The majority of the range officers, us well us tho secretary, were competitors, a state of affairs which was adversely commented upon."

There is a possibility of a Canadian rifle team visiting Australia, probably about October next, in conjunction with a- British team. A proposal to send a New Zealand team at the same time is under consideration. If all these, visiting teams are competing the next Rtindwicl; meeting should lie a memorable one. especially if the Empire Match takes place at it.