THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13995, 30 August 1907, Page 2

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Bγ Sektht, [Items of interest concerning corps (town ana country .hooting, n»d doforjEmitters generally wil bo accepted. Copy, addressed iLsfry? m hM(I by noon on Lieutenant-colonel Headland (Oamaru) has ken transferred from No. 3 Battalion wunkr aotivel,st{ " natt!i<:hed)wi,h .The Government lias accepted the servicesi of. a reserve corps to be known as the Canterbury Soouls Volunteers Reserve, with headquarters at Christehurcli. In consequence of tho holding of the general class of instruction for officers next month tho O.C. No. 1 Battalion V.h.Y. has decided not to hold tho inspection, of companies during September. Captain Loubjr, of the Cliristchurch City Rifles-formerly of the Cavereham Kitlcs,-is said to be leaving the Volunteer tore© in consequence of n projected business venture. A Chrietclmroh paper speaks ot him as an excellent officer, who, taking over a weak company, had thrown a great (leal of energy into his work, until at the present time the corps was strong numerically and ono of the most efficient in tho district

Tho regulation requiring half company s.rength at a ■daylight parade before payment can bo claimed lias been amended so that in future payment for approved parades will bo made to the individuals attending, irrespective of the strength of the muster. Tho amended regulation wads as follows:-"In the ca6C of parados ot garrison artillery> divisions, regiments of mounted rifles, and battalions of infantry, personal payment 'for attendance at duly-approved daylight, parades of such units will be paid to cadi officer, noncommissioned officer, and man present irrespective of tho proportion of strength or total number of officers, non-commis-sioncd officers, and men present." The Dunedin Pipe Band has decided lo apply for enrolment as a battalion band, attached to No. 1 Battalion O.R.V. This is the outcome of a suggestion upon the part of Colonel Stonehani. O.C. Battalion, who has now received the application! which will b» duly forwarded on. Whilst this will bo- an acquisition to the battalion, it will also mean a. good deal to (ho band itself—increased dignity, capitation of 22 lOs jxjr head and nn ivnnual grant of £25. besides which tho I'nttalion will lake a greater interest in the pipa bind now. My correspondent who reefntly found tho pipe music so tlolftrlifful to marcli to will bo pleased at fhis announcement.

Captain Johnston, of the North Dunedin Rides, yesterday handed in his resignation. Although it has been known for some time that it was his intention to close his long connection with tho Volunteer Forces, general regret will bo fait at lii« retirement. He has been highly esteemed by his corps, and his influence has been shown hy the fart that for years I lie North Dunedin Hides had the largest musters at battalion pamlos-not always on the parade states, perhaps, but usually in the ranks. Captain Johnston'e military training , commenced when a boy a.t ths old Stone (Union street) School, "nnil lie was afterwards in the High School Cadets. Ho joined the North Diinedin Uifles in August, 1874. the company then being under the command of Captain' James Copckml. He passed through all -the noncommissioned ranks, and "while holding the position of colour-sergeant of his company wjis appointed (ho first , sergeantmajor of the Ist Battalion O.R.V. INovpmbor 16, 1883), then under command' of Major (afterwards Colon!) N. Y. A. Wales. Whilst still holding the position cf ser-geant-major of tho battalion, he was elected lieutenant in the North Dunedin Rifles in 1885, the company then beins; under ths command of Captain R, M'Nab (now Hon, Defence Minister).. Upon the promotion of Captain (now Colonel) S. Myers in 1902, Lieutenant Johnston wae elected of his company. Captain Johnston has taken a keen interest in rifle shootintr, and has cornnoted in a number of the meetings of the New Zealand IliGe Association and tho Otago Rifto Association, holding office on the Executive Council of the latter asGOciation for many years, ami taking a_ leading part in tho work of tho association. Vie lias several times been a member of the team winning tho Ladies' Challenge Shield and the District Champion Bugle. Ho has held the Champion Bolt of his company, and holds the N.Z.R.A. badge. Tho North Dnnedin Ttifles have for over 40 years been pna of tho strongest shooting companies in the colony, and CaptaJn Johnston has for the last "25 years been ono of its most consistent phots, winning numerous trophies. fie lias taken a. special interest in the training of younir shole. During his long connection with tho company ho has rarely missed a parade, and has been present at all tho encampments since ho Joined. During the visit of the Duke of York to the colony he acted as adjutant 1o Ist Battalion O.R.V. at (lie royal review held in Christchurch, and had command of the guard of honour nt Femliill Club on the arrival of the Duke and Duchess in Dunedin. He holds the New Zealand and Imperial longservice and efficiency medals, and also the A'olunteer officer's decoration entitling him to tho distinction of V.D. Upon more Ikm one occasion lie has declined offers o! 6taff rank, proferrinpr to romain wiih his company. Upon a Raiifte Commtitee lwinjj appointed in 1900 Captain Johnston was elected dmirman of the committee, and has held that position up to the present. He was recently 'appointed one of the trmtnei of tho 'Pelicliet Bay rifle range. Tn spite of rain and gusty winds, some remarkable scores were put on at the Bielcy meeting last month. At long ranges on tho opening day Captain T. Ranken, of the 6th Royal Scots, made 66 bulls out'of 68 shots. Possibles .at 800 and 900 yards were made quito frequently. In the Albeit Match—lo shots at 600 and 900 yards and 15 at 1000 yards—Colonel J. Hopton made 17Q out of 175, beating Colonel Gibbs, of Gloucester, by 1 point. Shooting at tho Army Rifle Association meeting at Bisley recently Sergeant-major Wallingford, Hy'the School of Musketry, firing with tifc Lee llctford. made some capital scores. He put on 100 at his first attempt, and followed tin's with 102 on his second venture before luncheon. In. the afternoon, in adverse circumstances, he mado the full scoro of 35 at each of the three distances, thus scoring three " centuries" and upwards in one day. Continuing his shoot on the second day, Ser-geant-major Wallinfrford added 93 and 93. mp.kinsj a crand total of 498, or within 2 pointa of five centuries in five consecutive series. The average wa? 99.6 out of tho possjhl') 105 in each series, a record far sur-pa-sing any previously made at- first stage ranges.

NEW ZEALAND RTPI/B TEAM. ■ Tlie following comments upon the team chosen to represent New Zealand at the .Wpr Australian mrefr'ng in October are from Hie pon of an authority upon rifln shootiiiT:— Tho first thins that strikes one on looUiiift .over, the names of .the chosen New Zealand rifle team for Australia is that

it is composed of almost all rifle club men. No fewer than eight out of the 12 being representatives of riflo clubs, Arson, Mills" Duncan, and Purnell being the only Volunteers to sccuro a. coveted place, Tho only reason I can givo for it is that owing to tho small amount offered to each member— viz., £10 (from which they have to pay entrance fees, about £5, and for uniform, leaving practically nothing for expenses over there and lost time)— Voluntcens were not able lo afford tho pleasure and honour, wliilo riflo club men, ae a. rule, are in a better position and moro able to boar the expenses of the trip On glancing down the names of tho latter I find they aro nearly all in fairly good circumstances, and I would like to say here that I think tho Government might have encouraged tho Volunteers a little more and been move liberal in the grant for 12 men Tho abovo is the reason I assign for the paragraph wired from Wellington to tho effect that others were asked lo .join, but declined owing to business ongagemente. I repeat that four Volunteers in a team of 12 men lo represent New Zealand is not jusiico to tho Volunteers. The team is a fairly Rood one, but not so strong as either of the teams' which have been sent to Eieloy during recent years. A team without G. Hyde" Driimmond, Cbinjr. and Winslado (fdur of the best shots in tlic colony) is not by any means the best

Arthur BaUinpror has proved himself to bo one of tho best shots' in tho colony. Rarely brilliant, he is always very reliablo anil consistent, never beinjr far away at tho end of a match, and it is this good" average shooting which puts him near the top in the aggregates. He lias won the' Champion Belt on thvoo occasions, and is the present holder. The most, likely man to score in' Australia.

W. Ballinger is much after his brother's style—perhaps not. m reliable, getting on a big shoot occasionally. To a stranger it is hnrd to distinguish between the brothers. They aro considered the best pair of shooting brothers in tho colony—perhaps in tho world. Both have had vast experience nt Home and abroad, including Bislcy. William has twice won the Championship and this year was fifth

Duncan is colour-sergeant in the Denniston Rifles and shqt well at tho last Trentham 'meeting. He finished second to Ballinger in (he Championship and in tho grand aggregate tied with Moslem for first place. Ho has fired at previous meetings, but never with the success of this year. He is a new man amongst tho top notchors, but has deservedly ivon liis place in the team.

Sergeant Mills (Dunedin City Guards) has shown what perseverance can do. Ho has attended a. great number of rifle meeting with more or less success, and has at last been rewarded by a place in tho Now Zealand team, having shot woll at tho last Trontham meeting, finishing, fourth'—a very creditable performance for Buncdin's renrosentativo.

A. J. Cameron, one of the many Opaki cracks, fully deserves' his placo in the team He has shot extremely well during , the last two Trentham meetings. The mooting before last he won tho Rifle Challenge Cup for highest score in final (10 shots at 1000 .Yards). This year, he lost tho cup on a tie with Dnimmond, or it would have become his own property. Ho was a member of the Ot&go Hiyh School team which won tho Ladles' Challenge Shield from Ofago Volunteers a number of years ago. He is a. good lonjr-rango shot. He finished fifth with W. Ballinger in tho Championship. W. Moslem is ji new name to the shoot, ing , world. Ho shot well at tho last meeting, fiuisjliing tenth in the Championship and tying with Duncan in the grand aggregate, Co should give a good account 'of himself in Australia,

Wilkic, Upper Hutt Riflo Club, is a veteran at the game. Ho shot very well at tho last meeting, and has generally been about at previous ones. Ho was a member of tho last.Bisley team. He finished fourteenth in tho last Championship. A. R. Ayson is a corporal in Murrhiku Mounted Rifles (Southland), and hae attended many riflo meetings with success, having won several championships in. the south Ho is a very scientific shot, and I know.of no bno who has etudiod shooting 6o seriously. He shot well at the last Trentham meeting, finishing fifteenth, and has generally, done very well- up there, as at, any othor 'mooting ho attends, fully deserving of a placo in a representative team.

J. W. 'Milroy, an cx-champion and a keen rifle shot. Ho ie one of tho Nelson trio of champions (Cliing. Irvine, Milroy), and pan bo relied on to put up some good scores in Australia. He finished, sixteenth in tho Championship.

W. N; Mascfield, captain of tho Sounds Rifle Club (Blenheim). He shot, very consistently at ,last meeting, and did well at the long ranges. Ho finished, eighteenth in the Championship. . J. Furncll (Wnnganui Rifles) comes of a shooting family}-hie father having been one of tho cracks in.'his day' He generally has ■success at the Trentham meetings, and finished nineteenth at last meeting. Captain 0. Craw, of Ohorllon Rifle Club, Akaroa, is one of a. family of shooting brothers, no less than four taking part at the last Trentham meeting. Craw was a. member of the last, Bisloy team, and is a very' good shot. He finished foury-fourth at tho last meeting. ■Ho gets on some bis scores at times, and will no doubt win a few prizes in Australia, as he did at Bialey.