NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22057, 13 September 1933, Page 13

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE Br Bull’s-eye. ■ OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES. Bivouac at Gore The Gore Troop, Otago Mounted Rifles, held a very successful week-end course on September 1 and 2, when mounted and dismounted drill were included in the syllabus. Several members of the troop rode in from the outlying districts to attend the bivouac, and a general hope was expressed that another would be held before next annual camp. ARTILLERY NOTES. 12th Field Battery At the battery parade held on Wednesday last the unit completed its training with the new pattern gas mask. On the previous Sunday a good muster of the unit carried out a parade to First Church in conjunction with the R.N.V.R., the 14th Battery, the 3rd Artillery Band, and the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band. Today’s parade will see a continuation of the new syllabus, and any intending recruits should get into touch immediately with Central Battery before the work gets to its more advanced stages. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. Battalion Parade A battalion parade was held at the Drill Hall, on Monday evening, when the commanding officer (Lieutenant-colonel A. S. Falconer, D. 5.0., M.C.) delivered an interesting address on the future of infantry. After tracing the history of the infantry from the days of the bow and arrow to the present day, the speaker touched on the work of the infantry of the future. Matters affecting the regiment were referred to, among them being the possible change of uniform. D (M.G.) Company The officers and n.c.o.’s were instructed at last parade by Staff-sergeant-major Fitzgerald in advanced work, direct fire being the subject dealt with, while Staff-Sergeant-Major Cummings took the rank and file in fire orders, elementary gun drill, and signals. A good evening’s work was covered. In addition, members of D Company attended the battalion parade on Monday night. Pioneer Section Since resuming parades the Pioneer section has been parading with A Company. In addition to its usual work, this section has formed the anti-aircraft Lewis Gun section of headquarters’ wing, and all members are taking a keen interest in the instruction. The section has also been busy for some time overhauling and i-epairing camp equipment in readiness for the forthcoming annual camp. There are still some vacancies for carpenters, painters, and plumbers in the pioneer section, applications for which should be handed in at Battalion Headquarters at the Drill Hall. OTAGO OFFICERS’ CLUB. Entertaining Naval Visitors To-morrow evening members of the Otago Officers’ Club will entertain the officers of H.M.A.S. Australia. The early part of the evening will consist of a lecture by Mr J. J. Kennedy, on New Zealand scenery, fully illustrated by motion pictures. The latter part of the evening will take the form of a smoke concert, for which Mr S. Angel and party will provide items. RIFLE SHOOTING. Otago Rifle Association In continuation of the second prizefiring of the O'.R.A.. an account is given below of the competition for the Daily Times Cup. The shooting took place on January 11, 1866: — “ The shooting was resumed yesterday at the Kaikorai butts. The appointed day’s work was got through despite the soaking rain, which fell almost continuously from early morning until afternoon. The scoring was very good indeed, although the bull’s-eye looked to the shooters nothing but a misty spot. The competition was for the Otago Daily Times Cup, valued 15 guineas, with a second prize of £5, third £4, fourth £3, fifth £2, sixth £l. Ranges—3oo, 400, and 500 yards; Wimbledon targets and scoring (1863); five shots at each range; 300 yards (standing), 400 yards (kneeling), 500 yards (any position). Government long Enfield and Lancaster rifles. “Sergeant Devore (9, 17, 18) 44, Gunner Pell (12, 16, 13) 41, Private W. F. Stevens (13, 15, 12) 40, Gunner Muir (12, 12, 14) 38, Corporal Stevens (10, 15, 13) 38, Gunner Orbell (11, 14, 13) 38, Corporal Moore (8, 14, 15) 37, Private White (12, 16, 7) 35, Gunner W. D. Smith (15, 4, 15) 34, Gunner Dalglcish (10, 15, 0) 34, Private Taylor (6, 18, 10) 34, Lieutenant Shand (11, 6, 16) 33, Ensign Jamieson (10, 11, 12) 33, Private M'Gregor (11, 10, 12) 33, Captain Ross (8, 11, 13) 32, Lieutenent Stavely (8, 12, 12) 32, Private J. R. Thompson (7, 15, 9) 31, Private W. Lindsay (6. 11, 14) 31, Sergeant Robertson (9, 10,, 12) 31, Lieutenant Robertson (7, 10, 14) 31, Gunner Fisher (6, 14, 10) 30, Sergeant Hannah (8, 14, 7) 29, Private Hardy (7, 11, 7) 25, Lieutenant Robertson (6, 12, 5) 23, Gunner Hume (9, 10, 4) 23, Private M'Laren (11, 9,2) 22, Corporal Fish (4, 13, 3) 20, Gunner Glendining (9, 11, retired). Private Smith (6, 11, retired), Corporal Broad (11, 11, retired), Gunner Carter (8, 11, retired), Private Tresider (10, 14, retired). “All the winners in this match used the long Enfield rifle with the exception of Gunner Orbell, who used a Lancaster. Sergeant Devore and Private W. F.. Stevens used the lying down position at 500 yards; the remaining winners used the Hythe position. “We append the result of each shot of the six winners:—Devore —3oo (3, 2, 0,2, 3), 400 (4. 2,4, 3,4), 500 (4, 4,4, 3,3), 44; Pell—3oo (2.4, 0, S, 3), 400 (3, 4, 3. 3,3), 500 (2,3, 3,2, 3), 41; SW. F. Stevens—3oo (2,3, 4,4, 0), 400 ! (4, 3,2, 4,2), 500 (3, 4,2. 3,0), 40; i Muir— 3oo (3, 2, 3, 2,2), 400 (4, 3,2, 0,3), 500 (3, 2,2, 4,3), 38; G. G. I Stevens—3oo (2,2, 2,2, 2), 400 (3, 3. 4, 1 3,2), 500 (0,- 3,3, 4,3), 38; Orbell—- ; 300 (2,4, 0,2, 3), 400 (3, o, 0,4, 4), 500 (4, 3,0, 3,3), 38. i “ There is a tic between Muir and Stevens (City Guards) for the fourth and fifth prizes; Orbell not tying, although he scored the same number (38), because of his misses. It will be seen that Devore stands at the head of the list through his very excellent score of 18 out of a possible 20 at the 500 yards range. “To-day the principal prize will he a silver cup valued at £lO 10s (or in money) presented by the proprietors of the Even- ; ing Star. The other prizes will be of | £5, £4, £3, £2. £l, all being for the best total scores. The ranges will he 200, 300, and 400 yards, and the competition will , he confined to members of the association.” — (To he continued.) Season Opened

Last Saturday the members of the Dunedin and Kiwi Defence Kifie Clubs opened the shooting season by firing the annual Government course. Both clubs had a large attendance of members, and some very good scores were registered. With the presence of the boys of the Naval Reserve, the range presented an animated scene, and the gully reverberated once again with the familiar crack of the rifle. A pleasant feature of the afternoon’s practice was the congenial surroundings and the picturesque appearance of the mounds, etc. Sergeaut-major Donaldson (range warden) has worked wonders with his gang of workmen, and even the most critical observer is soon convinced that, in this special instance, the work of the unemployed has not been performed in vain. The intervening space between the 100 and 300 yards mounds for some time past resembled a huge morass; this area has now been cleared and drained, and has taken on a more cared-for appearance. The top of the butt has also been top-dressed and strengthened, the grass on the mounds mowed, and the targets are in first-class condition. It is a decided pleasure to shoot at the butts now, and a big improvement on a few years ago. Under such conditions, therefore, it is not to be wondered at that a large number of excellent scores were registered. The course consisted of five shots grouping at 100 yards; five shots, deliberate. 200 yards; five shots, snap, 200 yards; 10 shots, rapid, 200 yards; and five shots, deliberate, 300 yards. The scoring was that used at Bisley, with the exception

of the snap (spinning jenny), which counted three points for a hit. The total possible score was 140. Without any record at hand, the writer is unable to give full details of the scores registered. In the Kiwi Club, Rifleman R. J. Gillick made the excellent total of 128, being closely followed by Riflemen F. Marks and W. Morton with 123 a-piece. It is understood that Rifleman C. M. Moss (Dunedin Club), who has won the Service Championship of New Zealand on two occasions, was highest scorer in that club with 124. . „ .

The second competition of the Service Match will be continued next week, and the absentees of both clubs last Saturday are reminded of this fact. In the Kiwi Club the match is a handicap event, the highest scorer over the two days being declared the winner, hor the Service Championship the highest scratch scores will determine the winner. Easter, 1934 The Otago Rifle Association will celebrate its sixtieth annual prize firing next Easter, and the executive is endeavouring to make this an outstanding_ event. At a recent meeting that body discussed many matters relative to the forthcoming jubilee. Not the least important was the question of holding a social evening on Easter Saturday night. It was realised that most competitors, especially those from a distance, were at a loss to fill in the time over the week-end, and the suggested social function to mark the jubilee would supply a loug-felt want. As the Otago champion wiil be known after the Saturday’s shooting, as well as other trophy ■winners, the Ladies’ Challenge Shield excepted, opportunity could be taken to present the various prizes at such a gathering. The executive decided to recommend such a course to the annual meeting of the 0.R.A.. which body will, no doubt, sanction such a suggestion. The time and place of the social will, if approved, be determined some time after the New Year.