NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22099, 1 November 1933, Page 13

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE By Bdli/8-ete. OTAGO DIVISION, H.N.V.R. (N.Z.D,). Visit of Capt. J. R. Middleton, D.S.O. On the eve of handing over the directorship of naval reserves, Captain J. K. Middleton, D. 5.0., arrived in Dunedin last week and paid a farewell visit to the Otago Division at headquarters on Thursday evening. In the course of his address to the officers and ratings on parade Captain Middleton expressed his pride in the fnthusiasm displayed by members of the Naval Reserves and the pleasure he felt in handing over to his successor a “ real going concern.” He claimed to be both “mother and father of the Naval Reserve,” and expressed the confidence he felt “ that his work would express itself should the occasion ever arise.”' H.M.S. Wakakura It is anticipated that the first section of the Otago Division, R.N.V.R., will go aboard the minesweeper Wakakura on January 6, and will sail in the afternoon for Akaroa, where the ratings will undergo their annual obligatory sea training. Dates are being fixed for subsequent sections according to the dates arranged by the ratings with their employers. Launching of the Whalers Sub-lieutenant G. D. Gray, who is in charge of the two whalers, tried out the new fittings of the first to be launched last Saturday afternoon. The second boat is to be ready for the water next Saturday, and from then on crews will be exercised every Saturday afternoon and also in the evenings during the week. ARTILLERY NOTES. 12th Field Battery The annual presentation of trophies took place at the Central Battery last week. The battery will parade as usual to-night, but it has been arranged that any n.c.o.’s wishing to attend the lecture at the Officers’ Club on “ Post-war International Relations” by Major W. G. Stevens, R.N.Z.A., will parade in uniform at the Officers’ Club instead of at the Central Battery. •14th (Med.) Battery On Monday evening the battery held its weekly parade. For the benefit of new members, the work for the evening was commenced with a short period of instruction in the formation of battery column and column of subsections, etc. After inspection, the men went to their divisions, the gunners continuing their training in fire discipline. Gunners with animals received instruction in battery manoeuvres with signals. The battery staff concentrated on battery staff train-, ing, equipment and replacements in action. The Artillery Band under Drum-major Tavendale received instruction In marching and counter-marching for the forthcoming band contest to be held at Invercargill. . The battery will continue to parade on Monday evenings until further notice. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. Attendance at Brigade Course The Dunedin quota of officers and n.c.o.’s attending the brigade course at Waikouaiti proceeded to camp last Saturday. A very sound and comprehensive syllabus is being carried out, and given good weather conditions every man in camp should derive great benefit from the training. D (M.G.) Company The Social Committee of D (M.G.) Company is to be complimented on the very excellent danceTield in the N.C.O.’s Club rooms on Tuesday evening. There was a good attendance and everything went with vim from start to finish. NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL CORPS. Otago Branch Annual Reunion The Otago branch of the New Zealand Medical Corps held its annual reunion in the R.S.A. Club rooms on Tuesday evening. • RIFLE SHOOTING. Otago Rifle Association The main prize at the second annual rifle meeting of the O.R.A. was evidently a handsome gold medal, of which the following is a description:— “The gold medal of the association (value £lO 10s) is a thing well worth wearing. On the obverse, within a raised and embossed border, are engraved the words: ‘Otago Rifle Association. Second annual competition, 18G6.’ On' each side there is a figure of a volunteer well outlined, and one engaged in loading. The reverse of the medal bears, with a similar border; ‘First Prize. Awarded to W. F. Stevens, N. 8., for the highest score at COO, 700, and 800 yards.’ On the upper edge of the medal there is a crown on a scroll and cushion, behind being the means of suspension when the prize is worn. The medal has been manufactured by Mr J. Hyam, of Princes street. The last match on the programme was the Consolation Stakes, and the four prizes were competed for by 20 competitors. The winners, together with their scores, were: Gunner Glendining (Artillery) 40, Private A. Johnston (Scottish) 45, Private J. Shand (South District Rangers) 44, and Sergeant Douglas (No. 1 City Guards) 43. This match was fired on January 17, 1800.— (To be continued.) Local Notes Last Saturday afternoon riflemen in Dunedin were once again hindered by rain, which made conditions at 300 yards decidedly unpleasant. Those who were fortunate enough to escape the rain secured some good scores, despite the fact that visibility was bad. For the Kiwi Club Rifleman R. Gilliek notched 48 at the first range, and this score proved to be the highest. Following him were Rifleman J. Judson (45), P. Fennessey (45), and J. Harding (44). At 500 yards Riflemen F. Marks and H. Stinson each scored 47, the former taking first place on the count back. Totals of 46 were obtained by Riflemen A. Gillespie, L. Oliver, J. Judson and H. Whitehead, while Riflemen R. Gilliek and J. M'Kinlay each scored 45. Top score on the target w||it to Rifleman R. Gilliek with 93 (48, The second competition of No. 1 Match will be fired over the same ranges next Saturday afternoon on the hill range. For the Bull’s-eye Championship the principal totals were: —A Grade —Riflemen R. Gilliek 13, J. Judson 11, H. Stinson 10, and D. Parsons 10; B Grade —Riflemen J. Harding 10, A. Gillespie 9, L. Oliver 9, R. Bowie 8, J. M'Kinlay 8, and R. Allan 8. Shooting on the hill range with the Kiwi members, the Dunedin Club fired over the same distances. There were three 44’s at 800 yards scored by Riflemen J. L. Benfell, J. F. Moodie and O. G. Miller in the order given. Other scores were:—Riflemen J. M'Knight 43, S. W. Cooper 42, A. Dippie 42, W. Harty 41, R. G. Graham and Captain A. J. S. Cowie 40. At 500 yards Riflemen W. A. Graham and C. A. M'Nish scored 46, whicli totals proved to be the highest. Following were Captain Cowie 45, J. L. Benfell 44, W. Harty 44, M. W. Denton 44, J.

L. Moodie 43, J. M‘Knight 43, W. Facer 43, S. W. S. Cooper and R. P. Douglas 42. The second competition will be fired next Saturday afternoon over the same distances. Encouraging Rifle Clubs The following notification was issued from Divisional Headquarters (Australia) relative to the new shorter rifle and Mark VII ammunition : “ Following the change-over by rifle clubs from the long rifle and Mark VI ammunition to the modified rifle and Mark VII ammunition, reports which are reaching the Defence Department, Melbourne, from the various States indicate that the change is being received enthusiastically, and many members have recorded excellent scores. in one or two States some well-known riflemen have put up disappointing scores with the new combination. This has ted to investigations, the results of which indicate that failures are due to, the lower degree of accuracy possessed by certain lots of war-made ammunition, on issue in the States concerned, compared with the even shooting qualities of locally manufactured cartridges. “ It is felt at Army Headquarters that this lack of uniformity in shooting qualities of the war-made ammunition referred to constitutes a handicap on those using it, and the Minister for Defence has accordingly approved of the issue of cartridges of more uniform quality for target shooting by both militia and civilian rifle clubs throughout Australia.” Score Registers The encouraging of new recruits in each club to keep a record of each practice ho fires, and not to always rely on the club coach to do the thinking for him, should help to bring out more keenness for the sport. It must be realised that in any sport or game three-quarters of it is mental. It is realised by experienced shots that shooting, once _ the purely mechanical part has been acquired, is mainly thought, and the food for such thought is contained greatly in one's score book.