NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22257, 9 May 1934, Page 13

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

(By Bull's-exe.)

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE

OTAGO DIVISION, R.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.).. Evening Parades Both sub-divisious paraded on their respective nights last week. The senior sub-division was occupied on guard drill and advanced rifle exercises. The wireless telegraph and signal branches of this division were given new instruction at the table by Chief Petty-officer Smith, the wireless telegraph instructor. The junior sub-division was given class instruction in seamanship, gunnery ,_ mine sweeping, visual signalling, and wireless telegraphy. This syllabus will be adhered to during the remainder of the present month. Miniature Rifle Range The miniature rifle range at headquarters was used by a fair number on Monday night. '• , Further practices are to be arranged for the interdivisional cup shoot, and as many as possible are requested to be present. OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES. Musketry Parades The Duntroon, Lawrence, Kelso and Gore Troops of the Otago Mounted Rifles are holding parades for the purpose of completing their annual musketry course. These parades will be held before the end of this month. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. Short Break in Training Last week's evening parades of the companies of the Otago Regiment closed the work for the present training year. Presumably, the 1934-35 period will open under the recently proposed new regulations. RIFLE SHOOTING. Otago Rifle Association

Having chronicled the outstanding features of the jubilee prize-firing of. the Otago Rifle Association rather extensively the writer can now concentrate more closely, on the history of the Qtago Rifle Association. A report of the half-yearly meeting, dated August 23, 1867, which was held in the Otago Hotel and presided over by Captain M'Farland, gives the following information:- ? 'The committee feel themselves again warranted in congratulating the association on the success of their efforts during the past year. From increased interest taken in the objects of the association, not only by the volunteer body, but also by the public generally, the council have every reason to expect that the institution, if wisely and zealously conducted, will become every year of greater importance and efficiency. The' council, through the exertions of Messrs M'Farland and Stavely, to whom, in particular, they would tender their thanks, have succeeded in raising subscriptions for the year to the amount of £175, a much larger sum than has before been collected. lhey were thus enabled to issue a much more valuable and attractive programme than on any previous occasion. Ihe value ot the prizes shot for was nearly £2OO, ot which the sum of £l2O was given in money, the various cups, presented by the Mayor (Mr Mason) and the two daily newspapers, making up the balance. The report continues with an item or interest to the followers of the smallbore shooting. " A small-bore match was included in this year's arrangements, but only one small-bore rifle was entered, the other competitors preferring to shoot with the rifle they had been practising with. "There was also a long-range match, in which the shooting will, no doubt, compare favourably with any scores made in the colonies or even in Britain with Government rifles at the same ranges. The prizes in the various matches were all won by members of the association, the successful competitors, with one exception, being also Volunteers. The prizes were presented by his Excelleucy the Governor-General on Friday, February 15. After some correspondence with the secretary of the National Riite Association of Great Britain, the council received the silver medal granted •to the principal affiliated associations of the colonies. The medal will be shot for at the next rifle meeting. Thanks. are extended to the various donors of prizes, to the Volunteer Artillery Regiment for the use of targets, and also the irovincial Government for the use of the range. The treasurer's statement discloses the sum of £22 6s 6d in hand, and that subscriptions amounting to fl» as 6d are still to be received." The treasurer's balance sheet was also read and adopted. It showed that during the year £125 lis 6d had been received from public subscriptions, and £3l 10s from members' subscriptions. The entry money paid during the associations matches was £4l 15s. The cost of the association cup was £l7, and £ll9 had been given in money prizes. The balance in hand (£22 8 S 6d) did not include the sum of £lB 8s 6d (subscriptions unpaid, and which were considered good). Mr W. Mason was re-elected president; Lieutenant-colonel Cargill, vicepresident; Mr W. Hislop, secretary; and Captain M'Farland, treasurer. It was resolved to increase the number of members of the council to 20, and the following were elected: —Captains Stavely, Fulton, Burns, Jones, Atkinson, Cantrell, Borton, Thomson, and Tolmie; Lieuts. Shand and Goldie; Ensigns Jamieson and Wales; Sergeant Taylor; Gunners Muir, Hardy, Smith, and Turtott; Volunteer Christie, and Mr Julius Vogel. The principal business at a monthly meeting of the council held on September 9, 1867, was a resolution asking "that Major Bathgate should be requested to challenge on behalf of the Otago Volunteers the Volunteers of Victoria to fire a rifle match of 20 men a-side." It was also resolved that, in choosirw the men to represent Otago, there should be two competitions on days to be fixed, and that the highest average scores should be taken." A further reso- , lution was to the effect "that Colonel Cargill should be requested to use his best endeavours to obtain and have sent to Otago a. supply of 1864 or 186 a Enfield ammunition." . Another monthly meeting was held on being consideration of a letter trom Melbourne respecting the proposed rifle match between the Volunteers of Otago and Victoria. The letter stated that, as their best shots were now practising with small-bore rifles for the International Match between Victoria and New South Wales, which takes place in December next, they would not be able to • accept the challenge until the New Year. It was resolved "that the matter of the challenge match between Otago and Vic- : toria be left in the latter peoples hands to find a day convenient for themselves to fire, some time in the beginning of the new year." It was agreed that the next meeting of the association for rifle competition should take place on February 6, ".and 8 (1868). It was further agreed that members' subscriptions for the year 18bS (10s 6d) should be paid on or before December 31 next, otherwise members who had not paid before that date would not be entitled to compete in the matches proposed to be held in February. this meeting a resolution was adopted urging members of the council to attend the monthly meetings on the first Thursday of the month more regularly. It appears that, out of a council comprising 23 members, only five or six ever put in an appearance. Dunedin Club Championship Congratulations are extended to. Rifleman W. A. Graham on again winning the championship of the Dunedin Defence Rifle Club. His win was a very popular one with the members of his own club and riflemen generally, and was a fine climax to his excellent marksmanship last Easter. The writer is not going to wish him the same success next year, as he believes in championships changing hands frequently in order to encourage vounr.er members, and thereby add vitality to the sport. He is prepared to admit, however, that whoever wishes to wrest the title from W. A. Graham will have to shoot consistently and well. Bisley New* In reply to a request from the writer as to whether slings are allowed to be used in the King's Prize as Bisley Major G T Etches, secretary of the .N.K.A. of Great Britain, has definitely stated that slings are allowed to be used in nearlv all competitions at Bisley, including all stages of the King's Prize.