VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13941, 28 June 1907, Page 2

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Br Sentry. The pioscnlation of prizes in connection with the Dunedin Highland Rifles has been until July 9. A concert programme and a display by tho corps will bo features of tho gathering. The latest Gazette officially announces tho appointment of T. .1. Hussey to be captnio of tho Hibernian Cadets as from December 5, 1906. The Hon. R. M'Xab conferred with the Garrison Hall trustees last week upon t.ho subject of the now drill hall. His object, however. v.;i* irerely to cot further information lo lay before Sir Joseph Ward. The Minister of Defenco will liavo nji exceptionally busy time for a while, but it is to lie hoped that this matter of tho now drill hall will not be one of the questions placed aside for consideration, at some later and indefinite period. The following medals aro jjt the local Defence Office, and will bo presented at convenient seasons by tho O.C. District to those entitled to them:— Colonial Officers' Decoration—Captain Crcagh (Waitaki Mounted Rifles). N.Z. Volunteer .Service Medal—Sergeant Appleby (Waitaki Mounted Rifles). N.Z. I.ong and Efficient. Service ModalSergeant O'Driscoll (Dunedin City Guards). Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal—Private AV. Blair (Dunedin Rifles) and Privato A. Dippie (North Dunedin Rifles), Tll a paragraph in last weok's notes it was stated rather obscurely that field "emergency" sections would not- be examined in bridging. HlO word " emergency'' is a compositor's libel upon /'Sentry's" caligraphy, which intended "engineering." Tho number of officers in the Otago district who havo signified their intention of attending tho proposed General Class of Instruction extending over the whole of seven to 10 days ' sufficient, to warrant tho holding of the ciass, which will therefore be arranged for suitable dates. Seventeen officers have intimated their willingness to attend during the whole time, whilst oilier 14 are prepared lo attend during portion of tho time. Doubtless more entrants will yet bo received for the class, which, of course, is additional to the district classes to be held in August. It is a pleasant indication of zeal in the cause of defenco that those officers should bo prepared to dovoto spccial time to classes of this kind in order to render themselves more efficient, in tho service.

By tiro transference tn Wellington of Lieutenant J. Hitt, of the Duncdin Engineer Cadets, the corps loses one of its most enthusiastic and capable officers. Joining the Cadet. corps 'at its formation over six years ago. by much study and hard work lio gained promotion steadily till lie reached the rank of senior lieutenant. Being originally a member.of the signalling section and subsenuently in oharge of the left-half company, his knowledge of the signalling, art lias been invaluable to bis company. as was evidenced at the last Ba.rewood camp, the signalling by both flaps nnd lamps being taken in hand by the Cadet signallers under Lioutenant Hitt. At the late Exhibition tournament the team came fifth out of 15 entries, the other 14 beimr senior teams. In recent years Lieutenant Hitt has also been chairman of the Shooting Committee, and more recently the handicappor. At the conclusion of the parade on Friday last, Captain Denniston, on bohalf of the officers and N.C.O.'s. presented Lieutenant Ilitt with a dressing case, remarking that of late years their senior lieutenant had been the life and soul of tJie. corps. In reply Lieutenant Hitt, exhorted the members fo keep up the reputation the company had gained. Lieutenant Hitt- left for Wellington bv Monday's first express, many of tho members turning out to give him n parting cheer.

The weather on Sunday was altogether favourable for tho brigado church |-arado, and, as a consequence, there was a very largo muster of Volunteers, and a largo number of tho general public took tho opportunity of watohiifg tho parade. Most of the companies can march well as companies, but there is so little practice obtained iu parading as battalions that tho marching on Sunday, taken as a whole, was below tho average standard of companies, Towards (lie end of the_ longer parade, for instance, tho marching inclined towards unsteadiness, but this was in some moasure duo to tho distance separating the band from tlip tail of tho procession. It is a pity there should be occasion in connection with all parades of the kind to decry the. habit- common to somo Volunteers and to many Cadets of gazing around and acknowledging their friends in the crowd. The effect is very bad. If I were asked to award the palm for steady marching and soldierly carriage I should fix upon an individual—the chaplain who inarched alongside tho Dunedin Engineers. The O.C', District, «nd his immediate staff, did not march with tho Volunteers, presumably in order that the O.C. might have a better opportunity of inspecting tlje parade. At the parade of the Engineers on Wednesday evening last, Lieut. I/aooy delivered an interesting lecture on the use of signalling in the field. He dealt specially with the necessity of being conversant with the ufo of cypher, and explained the simplest method of working this. In conclusion, lie suggested thai all 'recruits upon joining Volunteer companies should be instructed in practical signalling. A vnlttnhlo a-nd handsome trophy—a combination thermometer and barometer— has been presented to the local Field Hospital and Bearer Corps by Messrs Hallcnstein Bros. In all probability the trophy will be awarded to the winner of an examination to be held at the conclusion of the advanced course of lectures now being given tho company by Surgeon-major Evans.

A eopv of tbc programme and regulations of tlio National Hifltt Association of New South Wales Empire prizo meeting, to wh'di teams am to lie sent from England and New Zealand, is to hand. The meeting is to be held at Randwiek Rifle Range, from Fridav, October 18, to Saturday, October 26. 1907. A total of over £4000, phis cups, bugles, and special jlrizos, is spread over 33 matchcs, which include schools and cadets' competitions. The sum of £750, in addition to special prises, is allotted to Hie Kin it's Match, which will be fired in three stages—seven shots at 200, 600, and f>oo yards; 15 shots at POOyds: seven shots at 900 and 1000 yards. The first prize is £100. Tho time limit is eight minutes at 200 and 500 yards, nine minutes at. 600 yds, 17 minutes al 800 yds. 10 minutes at 900vds. and 12 minuteV at 1000vA<. For the T.onpfiold affßrcgate. consisting of matches 2 to 6 inclusive, £60d is allotted. For the Brown aL'f?rc/atc, consisting pf matches R to 10 inclusive, the prize-money totals £260. and £200 is allotted for the Australian Hatch (running man. disappearing, and plain bracts). tt'even other matches carry over £100 each, the remaining matches ranging from £5 to £15. Entries elose on Pelitomher 23, but will he received up till October 16 at .->>> advance of 20 ncr rent. For each of'the King's.and the Lomrtield asgregate the entry feo is £1; the fees for tho other matches ranging from 2s 6d to 9s. Each competitor is required to lv> a member of the association, the subscription for members of defence forces being ss.