NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21979, 14 June 1933, Page 4

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE By Boll's-eye. OTAGO DIVISION, R.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.). Parades On their respective parade nights last week, Nos. 1 and 2 Divisions reverted to their training syllabus after having spent the last few weeks in preparation for the King’s Birthday review. The attendance of both divisions was good and the class instruction covered 4in gun drill, seamanship (practical and lectures), signals, and wireless telegraphy. Arrangements are in hand for having the new seamen ratings kitted up from his Majesty s dockyard, Devonport, at the earliest possible opportunity. Parades will be held Ibis week as usual. Communication Branch Under the supervision of Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist J. E. Smith, late HALS. Philomel, the communication branch will proceed with wireless instruction. The instructional buzzer and wireless room (transmitting and receiving) are now fitted up, and some interesting work is being looked forward to by members of the branch. ARTILLERY NOTES. 12th Field Battery The battery held its week-night parade on Wednesday lust, when a .fair attendance was recorded. ... On the battery going to divisions a new departure was tried, recruit gunners beiiv drafted together and trained in the initial stages of gun drill, and the more experienced gunners being given a lecture on what lies at the back of the orders given to the guns, and the procedure on which a “shoot” is carried out. This should tend to make gunners understand the reason for an order being given, and be more alert for possible errors in the transmission of orders. The weekly parade will be held at Central Battery this evening. 14th Medium Battery, N.Z.A.

The weekly parade of the 14th Battery was held at Central Battery, St. Kilda, on Monday evening last, when there was a good attendance of all ranks. This was the first parade of (lie new training year, and a new syllabus of training has been drawn np. and was put into operation from the date of this parade. AM the battery n.c.o.’s spent the evening in the study of horseinastership and stable routine, together with the assembling and fitting of harness. The drivers and .senior gunners’ work consisted of knotting and lashing, which is a necessary feature of an artilleryman's training, particularly in a heavy battery. The gunlayers devoted the evening to a revision of gunlaying, while the battery staff carried out the qualification tests as laid down in the Manual of Signal Training, All Arms. 1928. A recruit squad has been formed into which all recruits have been drafted, and for the next few parades work will consist .principally of gnu drill and a study of the weapon with which the battery is armed. It is hoped next week to carry out the commencement of the gas-mask training, as laid down in the training syllabus for this year, and this should prove of considerable interest to all ranks. On Monday evening last three more new recruits were attested and signed on to the strength of the battery. There will be a parade next Monday evening.

THE OTAGO REGIMENT. Cessation of Training The King’s Birthday parade brought training to a close for a brief period, during which plans for the coming year’s work will be finalised. Training will commence again next month on dates yet to be decided. Regimental Conference The annual conference of officers of the Otago Regiment will be held -in the Otago Officers’ Club Rooms on Monday, June 26, when matters concerning the coming year’s training will be discussed. Church Parade Members of the Dunedin portion of the battalion have been notified of the church parade to be held at the Central Mission on Sunday evening next. Troops are to parade at the Queen’s Gardens at 6 p.m. Regimental Band The band of the Otago Regiment was broadcast from 4YA on Tuesday evening. A note of appreciation is due to the Broadcasting Board at Wellington for thus affording radio listeners an opportunity of hearing this talented band over the air. Lieutenant L. 0. Asten (conductor) and his band are to be complimented on the excellent programme provided, and it is hoped that another concert will bo broadcast at a not too distant date. ■ RIFLE SHOOTING. Southland Rifle Association A one-day rifle meeting under the auspices of the Southland Rifle Association was held at Invercargill on the King's Birthday. There were 32 riflemen present, which was considered very satisfactory in view of the inclement weather. Dr A. F. Ritchie Crawford (president) welcomed the competitors to the first venture of the Southland Rifle Association, including visitors from Dunedin and Clinton. Conditions for the initial match were excellent, but rain fell later. Visibility was, however, good, although intermittent rain showers made shooting uncomfortable for many competitors. The programme consisted of three matches of 10 shots at 300, 300, and 000 yards (handicap) and an aggregate. The 300 yards match was won by Deputy President J. T. Wilson with 49 (including a handicap of two points), second place being tilled by Rifleman A. Ford, with a scratch score of 48. At 300 yards Rifleman E. R. Service. with a handicap of two, was first with 49, while Rifleman J. Buttolph (4; was second with the same total. Riflemen G. Nicol .and C. Blakle (both with two of a handicap) were first and second respectively at 600. yards with 48 each. The winner of the aggregate was Rifleman A. Ford with the splendid total of ,141 (ex 130), made up of 48, 47, and 46. [lt will be remembered that the winner tied for the Otago Championship in 1932 with W. E. Jones (Timavu), but lost in a shoot-off.] An extra match of seven shots at 300 yards (handicap) was also fired, and was won by Rifleman J. West (4) with the possible. On Saturday afternoon (Juno 3) a teams’ match (10 men aside) was fired at Gore, and resulted in a win for the Mataura riflemen with an aggregate of 'B4l. Gore being second with 829 and Waikaia third with 796. Top score off the rifle was made by Rifleman F. S. Parker (Mataura) with 92 (30, 30, 32). Congratulation*

Local riflemen will be pleased to learn that Rifleman S. Priece won the championship of the Gore Defence Rifle Club with a total of .1297 points. Rifleman G.; Bain and W. Milne were second and third with 1280 and 1207 respectively. The winner was top score off the rifle in the final 15 shots at 000 yards with 00 points. In addition, he made the highest total in a handicap competition shot in conjunction with the championship with the same total.

Otago Rifle Association When the Otago Rifle Association was formed in the early sixties there appears to have been a certain amount of hostility shown to it by the volunteers of that period. Also an endeavour was made to institute a distinguishing ticket or token for members. The following interesting report of the Otago Rifle Association ot April 10, 1863. makes reference to the above: — “ The Otago Rifle Association appears to be progressing favourably. It already numbers some 70 members, and its muster roll is daily increasing. Founded on principles similar to those by which the National Rifle Association of England is guided, we can only express a hope that in its sphere it may be equally as productive of benefit as its parent society. A large amount of error exists as to the objects of this association. Some imagine it to be intimately connected with the Volunteer Corps, others look upon it as a kind of nondescript, whose field of operation is not very clearly defined. To those who have any knowledge of the subject, it need scarcely be said that, both these suppositions are erroneous. The Rifle Association of this province is formed to promote rifle shooting throughout the colony of New Zealand, and thereby give permanence to the volunteer movement; but it is at tlvfe same time totally distinct from it. Its “modus operand! ” is clearly defined, and, if carried out in its integrity.' cannot fail to be of great advantage to the colony. It has been decided by the council to offer a prize ot five guineas for members’ passes, and to throw the competition entirely open. No stipulations are made _as to the design, but we certainly consider it should embrace some object to identify it specially with the province in which the association was originated. It must be borne in mind that the ticket to be selected will serve not only for the present year, but probably for many years to come, and therefore the greatest discrimination should he exercised in the selection ot the designs. Let it be inexpensive, but at the same time worthy of the objects of the association, and of the stand it is likely to’ take amongst the social institutions of New Zealand.” A report of dune 12, 1863, discloses that a handsome silver cup was presented to the Otago Rifle Association by Mr William Mason. This is presumably the first trophy that was presented to the association. We take the following extract from old records: — “We have been afforded an opportunity of inspecting a handsome silver cup which has lately been presented by Mr William Mason as a prize to be shot for by the members of this association. Ihe cup, which reflects great credit upon Mr Beverly, jeweller and silversmith, of Princes street, bv whom it was manufactured. and at whose establishment it is now lying, is of very chaste and original design, being fashioned in the shape of an emu’s egg. supported by three rifles, which are united below the lower bauds by a wreath of laurel. The effect is good, and the cup altogether forms a very elegant and appropriate prize for our volunteer marksmen.” (To be continued.)