THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 3

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Bi SENTKT.

[Il«ms of interest concerning corps (town *nd countrj), shooting, and dcfeuce matters generally will be rcccpted. Copy, addressed to " Sentry," should be ill hand by noon on Thursday.] The appointment of Captain Crosby Morris as Intelligence Officcr for tho Otago .Military -District is gazetted. Tho resignation of Captain (Adjutant) Swindlcy, Otago Division N.Z.G.A.V., has been accepted, and his name has been placed on the active list (unattached), with rank of captain, Lieutenant-colonel Allen is expected to visit Dunedin next month, when the question of the appointment of a successor will doubtlass be gone into. The disbanduicnt of -the Mercantile Eifles, Invercargill,. is gazetted. The dissolution of this company should liavo tho effect of strengthening the remaining infantry companies. It is announced in the Gazette that the warrant relative to the dismissal of Ser-geaiit-nujov W. Talbut, Heretannga Mounted Rifles, has been revoked. Meetings of the Ladies' Challenge Shield Committee and tlie executive of the Otago Itifle Association are to lie held this (Friday) evening to consider a request froni the Range Committee for a donation towards the cost of the proposed alterations and improvements to Pelichet Bay rifle range. Tlie non-coms' olajs under the diroclion of Staff Sergeant-major Bishop was got going on Wednesday evening. Seventeen non-coms attended, which means that there is still room. Captain M'Ara was present and gave a short lecture on "Conventional Kigns," making use of tho blackboard to illustrate. Staff Sergeant-major Bishop then dealt with the making of scales and tlie setting of maps, The work was new to most of the men, and was entered into with considerable interest. Next, Wednesday the subject will be "Contouring," the ■work being a little more advanced. Members of tlie class are required to make uso of notebook and pencil during tho progress of the instruction. It is proposed to carry out some practical work later on and to test the progress by means of examinaiions. I Green Island. Rifles probably hold the record in the respect of having the largest number of members of one family—the Crimps—in the company. The Dunedin Rifles, however, had the" unique experience recently of receiving as rcoruits on the ono evening four brothers, their ages being 22, 23, 24, and 25. Tho Dunedin Citv Guards do not share in the rather common lament that it is increasingly difficult to keep the strength of the company up to the establishment. At the present time there are 66 on the roll, and Captain Douglas states that recruits ore coming forward nearly every parade. Mr H. E. Moller, Mayor of West Harbour, who spared no pains in the effort to raise a section in Ravensbourne, has been elected lion, captain of the company. _ Recently Captain Douglas has held, special classes for officers and non-ooms f«r the purpose of securing uniform methods' in respcct of words of command and orders. For some time the company has been having large musters at parades. The annual presentation of prizes took place last evening, when lady friends of the members shared in the junction -at the Carlton Dining Rooms. The Otago District Non-commissioned Officers' Club held its weekly meeting on Friday night in tho club room, Garrison Hall. To provide a change from tho ordinary routine, the committee, when drawing up the syllabus, decided that a display of boxing by some of the top-notchers among the Volunteere would prove an acceptable item, their oboico of this particular branch of sport being amply : justified by results, the membors present (over 50) thoroughly enjoying tho display. It must be extremely gratifving to the committeo to know that their efforts to. make tho syllabus attractive are having the desired effect of interesting the present members and inducing others to join the club. Captain Nelson, Instructor for the Mounted Forces of tho South Island, is expected here presently. It is probable that classes will be held at Dunedin, Balclutha, and Invercargill. Voluunteering is very quiet amongst mounted men at the present time. A large proportion of them have their homesand interests in the country, and tho floods and snows of the lato strenuous weather have given them a good deal to think of outside military matters. A class for non-coms, was recently announced, and produced an attendance of | one in addition to the instructor. If anyone suppoees tho class lapsed he will be mistaken. The one man who did attend was not sent away disappointed. The instructor became for tho moment a squadron, or something le6s, and the "class" spent a profitable hour practising upon his commlnd. Lieutenant Duigan, Staff Instructor for Engincors, will visit Dunedin from August 12 to 22 for the purpose of instructing tho Dunedin Engineers. The class for officers conducted in Oamaru by Captain Hickev, A.A.G., covered four nights, six lectures being given. "Field Fortifications," "Writing of Orders." "Scouting and Reconnaissance," "Writing of Short Reports," and "Night Operations" were amongst the subjects covered. In addition to the evening lectures field firing was engaged in on Thursday afternoon. The officers present represented a squadron, which was in turn the advance guard to a regiment. Tho advance party was fired upon by a small patrol of the enemy. Casualties were arranged eo that each officer in turn took command. Lieut.-colonel Smyth, O.C. District—who was expected back last evening—has boon in Oamaru this week conducting a class for tho senior officers. Similar classes for officers will be hold at Gore from August 3 to 9. and at Invercargill from August 17 to 23. A lapse in tho printer's department ltad sc. curious cffcct upon two items of news at , tho head of Defence Notes last week. Two paragraphs became ono, but discerning readers would not be disconcerted by the information that because of the R.M.L. guns having been discarded a regimental class of instruction for non-coms.' would bo held.

An attempt is to be made to raise a Volunteer corps in Wellington, all the members of which shall bo men with war scrviee (says tho New Zealand Times). Mr Gardner, who was a sergeant of the Fourth New Zealand Mounted Rifles in Africa and a captain in the Ninth, has the matter in hand. It is not stated whether the intention is to ask ex-mounted rifles with war service to comprise an infantry or a mounted corps. Men of all New Zealand contingents and of other irregular corps who' liavo tho necessary war service will be eligible.

The dispute as to the ownership of, or authority over, the Civersham Volunteer'

Hall is but recent history. Tho Cavcrsham Rifles, at considorablo cost, readied the judicial solution of tho problem, the Dutiedin City Corporation being adjudged tho authority. It was understood that tho desire of tho Band to have the uso of tho hall upon nights when it was required by the Volunteers led up to the action which determined tlwt the hall was the property of tho Uunedin City Corporation. Since the settlement of the case nothing further has been heard concerning the band's desire to use the hall. Now, when tho building is sadly in need of repair, it appears tho council is not so Iceen upon the point of ownership, but is willing that the Cavcrsham Rifles .should have a i.harc'of the responsibility. In other words, the council requires that the Cavcrsham Rifles should pay half the oost of the necessary re]>airs, appoint, a caretaker, and guarantee the good order and maintenance of the building. This building was left in trust for. Volunteers, who were to have, the free and unfettered use of it. Tho council, without having paid a sovereign towards the erection, stepped in and established a legal claim to ownership. It is surely fair that the council should acknowledge its responsibility as well as its privilege and keep the building in decent, re pair. It is certainly hard upon the; company, and a very poor inducement to train for defence. The company was willing to arrange about 'having the building looked after, but its financial jiosition has necessitated tho reply that the Cavcrsham Rifles cannot undertake to pay £30 towards the expense of repairing the City Corporation's building.

Among the many items on the agenda, paper for the conference of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union is universal military training, and two clauses deal with military affairs. These are:— I "That this conference supports universal military training," ami " That this conference is in favour of military training." There is another clause, to the effect that greater encouragement should be offered to rifle clubs._ and also—"That, seeing that our maritime commerce is 60 entirely ■ dependent upon Britain's naval supremacy, the Government should bo requested to provide on' the Estimates for the current year for the payment of at least £100,000 to the British Government as the Dominion's contribution towards the upkeep of tho British navy."

His Highness the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, or, as we best know him, Prince Ranjitsinhji, who is again showing his prowess on the cricket field, Is something more than a cricketer, for he is one of the finest shots in England, and his brilliancy in this direction is due to r.he same lightning-like rapidity of thought, sight, and action which, to a. great extent, accounts for his excellence at cricket. He seems to get a sight of ball or of bird just that second sooner than any other mail which enabled him to act while the other is majking up his mind what to do. Yet more wonderful still is the fact that ho is possessed of tho most dogged perseverance, a quality that is carely ftmr.d in conjunction with quick thinking and ra;) : d action.