VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2705, 17 January 1906, Page 15

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Br. Sentrt.

Dowling street presented a busy scene on Thursday evening. No. 1 Battalion, in somewhat atte -mated form, formed up above the Garrison Hall, whilst the Dunedin Navals, headed by the band, swept by on parade through tho city. The special purpose for which the battalion parade had been called was considered in the hall, and the project for the establishment of both Rugby and Association Football Clubs was favourably received. The Football Asso- - elation has, of course, already agreed to admit the e'rab. and the meeting was conclusive enough to leave no doubt as to the propriety of admitting/ the club to senior Rugby when that proposition is considered by delegates and the O.R.F.U. Committee presently. ' The province of the ruling bodies in football should be to encourage as many men as possible to play the game. Defence Cadet officers are reminded that they are now eligible to go up for examination for commissions. The quarterly examinations take place on the first Wednesday in March, June, September, and December, and any officers wishing to sit must inform the D.A.A.S. of his intention at least one month before date of any quarterly examination. N It is announced in General Orders that in all cases where the debt of a corps exceeds £50, a reporfe of the came, and the causes occasioning it, is to be made through the O.C. district to headquarters. I learn that Captain Churchill is severing his connection with the Dunedin Engineer Cadets on account of his not being able to* devote sufficient time to the work of the company. It is proposed to offer the captaincy to Mr Gordon Denniston (at one time a member of the B. Battery), and if his services can be secured for the position the continued efficiency of the Cadets is assured. Detailed results of the quarterly examination for sergeants' certificates, conducted by Lieut. -Col. Myers, are now available. The examination included theoretical and practical tests, the paper set containing 10 questions. The following are the successful candidates with the percentages contained : — I - I si $$ 1 ■y -eg i Sergeant Mills Dunedin City Guards 84 82.5 83.25 Private Blackwood, Dunedin Highland Rifles .. 68 82.5 75.25 Lance-corporal Macdonald, Dunedin Highland Rifles 65.5 82.5 73.75 Corporal S. Robinson, Dunedin City Guards.. 79 67.5 73.23 Sorgeant Leggett, Dunedin Rifles 69 75 72 Corporal Kitchener, Dunedin City Rifles .. .. 62.5 67 5 65 Corporal Jones, Dunedin City Guards .. .. 69 62.5 64.3 Ccrporal Peattie, Dunedm City Guards 52 75 63.5 Sergeant G. Doran, Caversham Rifles 54 66 GO It is gratifying to note that the financial results of the Otago Rifle Association's meeting ©nable the council to increase the amount of prize money, as noted in our local columns. The Dunedin Rifle Club takes premier place in the mater of prize-money, with a total of £12 ss. The City Guards come second, with £11 11s 6d, and next in order are the North Dunedin Rifles £10 14s 9d, Dunedin Navals £9 6s 6d, Dunedin Highland Rifles £8 7s 9d, and Green Island Rifles £6 7s 6d. It is a noteworthy fact that the Green Island team was drawn entirely from one family, the five members bearing the name of Crimp. Of the country clubs represented, the Awaka Rifles drew the highest sum, their prize money amounting to £4 19s 9d. The Studholme Mounted Rifles follow with £4 5s 3d, but this corps had only two representatives, as against five from the Owaka Rifles. Coming to individuals. Corp. Dry, of the Dunodin Navals. leads with £4 3s, Private Lewis, of the Dunedin Highland Rifles carrying off £5 12s, a_nd Sergeant Mills, of the City Guards, £3 4s fcL The secretary desires me to note tUp-t Corporal Dry secured the second position in tho aggregate. His total of 236 points was the same as that of Private Lewis, of the Highland Rifles, but the application of the rule by which in case of a tie the prize is awarded to the competitor whose score at the 700 yards' range, is best, placed Corporal Dry second by one point. For eighth position three competitors were Gven, and an examination 6f tho scores at 700 yards left two of them still tying, recourse hiving to be made to a comparison of the 600 yards before the two could be separated. In the teams match, which created sucb

interest as to indicate the probability of its being one of the prominent features of next gathering, the five leading teams were within 10 points of the top score when the last range was reached. The Highland Rifles are justly proud of having provided the holders of first and third positions in the aggregate— a result only achieved by regular attendance at the range. Captain Alan Jackson, absent in England on leave, has now formally resigned command of the Dunedin Rifles. This action was not altogether unexpected, it being generally understood that Captain Jackson's arrangements might prevent his returrt to the colony. In desiring to be remembered to his fellow-officers and comrades, the popular captain writes : — '• Wherever I wander — and the future seems to promise some queer places — I ■shall always look back with a smile on the happy days among the best comrades one could wish to have, in good old Dunedin." j The future for Captain Jackson opens with a year's engagement (renewal optional) as assistant manager for the Guiana Gold Company at their concessions in British Guiana. Latitude S^deg N. is scarcely inspiring for active exercise, but Captain Jackson regrets it is unlikely there will not be a force to join, promising himself a free indulgence in the excellent shooting that will be available. The Dunedin Rifles will now be required to find a successor to their late captain. The electrical section of the Dunedin Engineers was given the opportunity of firing the submarine explosion in connection with the Port Chalmers regatta, and the experience gained there will be of the greatest value, as it gave the men a complete insight into submarine mining of which previously they had no knowledge whatever. Preparations for this work involved the reluctant withdrawal of the team which had been in training for the land mining competition at the military tournament, and their absence accounts for their alleged defeat by the Cadets in that competition. The work of preparing the mine was earned out at the Deborah Bay depot. It was made up of two separate charges, each consisting of 501b of wet £>uncotton, v ith a primer of four slabs of dry guncoiton and two electric submarine detonator^. The priming charge wa» placed in a tin canister, and the detonators inserted into the upper slab, their ends being brought outside to lie attached to the live -wires, and the canister closed with a tightly-fitted indiarubber stopper. It was t-hen put into the centre of the wet guncotton charge, and the whole placed in a watertight canvas bag, which was closed by tightly clamping the mouth between two blocks of wood and liberally smearing it with si soltuion to prevent the water from percolating through and over-wetting- the gun cot ton. Special car© was taken to have all wire splicing well insulated to prevent leakage of current through the water before it reached the detonators. The charges were then taken out to the spot where th© explosion was to take place, and the mine weighted sufficiently to sink it to the required depth. The wire was run out to a safe distancefor firing, and the circuit tested with a cell and galvanometer, to ascertain that th<» continuity of the circuit was complete and the insulation good. This being satisfactory the mine was fired by mean 1 ; of a seivice dynamo exploder. When everything was ready to fire, a motor launch fouled the wire with her propeller, and it was past firing time before it could be cleaied and re-spliced. The Port Chalmers Garrison Artillery last week put in an excellent time under canvas on the Reclaimed Ground at Port Chalmers. The following is passpd on by a Volunteer returning from holidaying in Canterbury: — "When the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles held their latest annual encampment the School Cadets went under canvas with them, and proved themselves particularly apt and soldierly, especially in guard duties. On the day of the sham fight, which formed part of tho training, a mounted man proceding lei'urelv along the road suddenly found himself confronted by two rifle muzzles backed by | two sturdy Cadets. The peremptory order to dismount, wa« oboyod. and the captive, with his hoi-" wpe loci triumphantly | through the town-hip In the \ouihful i belligerents. The übici'iiious camera fifiul did not fail to i/c 'ik-!i a 'nilhant o|>"oi tunity for copy. Captain Gillie 1 :, tincommander of the Mackenzie Rifles i-. l>v-the-bye, a brother of Captain Gillies, who had charge of the Dunodin Highland Rifles for some time. Assuming com- , mand of the corps at a time when life , •with it was at a low ebb. he has now the , satisfaction of contemplating a healthy and vigorous vitality." NOTES FROM AN INVERCARCILL CORRESPONDED" I. Since the O.C.s inspection there has been little of interest saving the Rifle Association's meeting at Gra^mere and the ( iourney a£ Pjanedi% These Jigms did not i

affect to any great extent the general rank and file, but in the training of the teams time and space had to be allotted, and of course company drill lapsed. This is a matter for regret, but it would seem that the splendid showing made by local corps in the northern metropolis altogether justified the sacrifice. However, work — and any amount of it— lies ahead before our year is completed. Government parades, and that most important institution the pearly camp, have^, still to be carried out before companies capitate. February 14 to 21 were the dates recommended by Colonel Robin, and these have been adopted by the right half of the battalion. A more acceptable spot than the Queen's Park could hardly be chosen, and, as in the past, this ground will be the quarters of the companies during that time. Infantry drill is infantry drill all the world over, but for this camp range finding and field firing will be specialised. On dit that the Southland Battalion Band will compete in the Exhibition contest to be held at Christchurch early in 1907. The band now has a playing strength of 35, and of late has shown a very great improvement in volume of sound and body. The many calls made upon its time by all descriptions and classes of the community, besides its enthusiastic acceptance of its duties as Volunteers, have created a more than general interest in the band's welfare, and I am sure its entry into the ranks of first class competing bands once again will give a more than general satisfaction. Ake ! ake ! ake .'lnvercargill Garrison Band. A promenade concert by the Garrison and Guards' Bands and exhibition by the competing teams at the recent Dunedin tourney will be held on the Western Reserve (Parade Ground) at an early date, under the auspices of the Defence Cadets, who incurred heavy expenses in connection with their trip north, and have yet to find a means of recompense. Time was when the Awarua Rifles was one of our crack corps and one to be reckoned with in all affairs " militaire."' Evil days,^however, have descended. One event and another conspired to force the j corps back to bedrock so far as numbers I are concerned, and at the present tho j parade Etato represents about a half-cor- j pany. Ho\ve\er, the evil has come and has gone. A stioivi argument in favour of a corps is the cliieiency of its officers, and in this respect where is to be found the compeer of the trio that commands the Awarua ? Another strong point is, I have heard the whole-souled non-coms and the the leading privates pointing out to men, and likely-looking men at that, the dufv a young fellow owes to his country m the matter of Volunteering, and their arguments have carried force. Success only can attend the efforts of the few enthusiasts who still constitute the Awarua Rifles. I hope eje the Volunteer new year has commenced to see the old company once more up to its original standard. The net proceeds (from the recent mili- . tary revel amounted 'to £440 5s lid, which, less a complimentary cheque to the hon. tieasurer, will be divided between the Oreti and Mercantile Rifle Volunteers. j