VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2728, 27 June 1906, Page 13

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

.-a. Br '• SxxTKr."

The military pageant incidental to the ■special memorial services held in Dunedin .on Thursday -was worthy of a memorable occasion. The musters of Volunteers and •cadets w-ere creditable, the disposition of the forces and the general arrangements iarefully planned, : nci the ir.o cm:ntwas car. j-icd out up to time. The solemn grandeur of the "Dead Maich " in "Saul" is impressive at all timss, but the interwoven mournfulr.ets and m«j«st^ of death is never more fervidly ■>. suggested than when this weird and fascinating creation of a genius has for its setting the a'ow and measured tread of rank and file. The demeanour of •the Volunteers and cadets was decorous on -tbo whole, although there were individuals ■w'ro thought it not unscomiv to recognise friends amongst the cro.vd. The marching was oenerally good, but it was apparent •that the flow step presented difficulties to , tho cadrts, as well as to some Volunteers rof longer experience. To some extent this •was attrihutab'c to th" nlayiiig simultaneously of two bands. Volunteers towards -tie centre of the column hearing two diffcr_ing steps equally marked, and being in .uoubt which io follow. Tho six ieac'in:* scores :,n: ,n the competition 'for the Clago di c trict mec'al a'-e as follow : 200 530 700 yd", yds. yds. Tl. '.tJoicur-senreast Searle. - Caver-ham Rifl^ ..14 U 25 —53 V'ja-te-corpcral 21'Kenzie, Qu&en's Rifles .... 12 14 26 —52 -Serjeant Mil's, City Guards ".14 13 22 — 49 "Pr'.v. Munro, Munhiku Rifles 12 14 22—48 'Private Sonntag. City r; us-rds 12 14 22 — 48 iPKvale Marshall, Wakari Rifles .. 14 13 21 — 48 . Polotir-ergoant Searle. cf rho Caveisham "Rifles, wol" known a» a marksman, thus -wins tho district m:tla!. Tho result of the .competition in rot?'. id to tl-c South Ttland •rr.edil is not yet 'o ha;id iiora Wellington, "bi:r a " pc-SiibV ;-t Blrrh"im i-> -poken of, rind that tails its o-.vn pi-oiy. No. 7 Company, N.ZG.A.V. (N Battery), trommemora.es the at ainmcTt of its majo•rity on June 27 at Lyttc"nn. Tho Dunedin Highland Riflee have been .deprived of tbo presence nnrl services of ■tho:r -0.C., Captain Denipiiej. who his "been obliged, owing to a trouble akin to -rheumatism jn . the knee, to rest for a • season. In the meantime the rompanv has .been in the rharze ct Lieutenant Caireron. Tho time of the military ball is at hand. T have to acknowledge an invitation from 'the Wakari Rifles to attend their annual /function on Jnlv 6. The Highland Rifles 'hold theirs on August 17 and are already - enthusing over it. 4 The Acting-Minister of Defpnca has refrom tho Secretary of State 'or the 1 Do'oniee a., revised syllabus, showing dis-tribution-of marks for the examination in i military subject* of candidates f«- «»".

| mission in the Imperial array. Particulars are published in the Gazette of June 14. The Thmedin , 'District Officers' Club held its second meeting of this session in tiro colonel's room, Garrison Hall, on Friday, 15th inst.. when there -was a fair attendanos of officers. The lecturer was Captain M'Ara, who took for his subject '* Information and Reconnaissance," and read a most interesting naper thereon, also giving- examples of various methods of estimating breadths of rivers, heights of buildings, etc. An interesting discussiou followed, Colonel Robin using the opportunity to catechise officers as to proper procedure when engaged on the important duty of reconnoitring. The practice in regard to military funerals locally has generally bp-pn that the hand should j/iay ths funeral march along tl'e whole 'ength of the route. There were those who wondered why that eour?e was net adopted on Thursday. The correct military practice is that the funora 1 . march and the slow step should commence 300 yards from the cemetery. I recall a militaryfuneral at which the " Bead MaTch " in "Saul" was played from Rattray street to the Dundas street bridge without cessation. The strain of marching such a distance at the slow pace is considerable. When it is remembered that the music requires the '•ide-drummer to maintain a continuous "roll," his condition at the conclusion may be imagined. By the death of Serjeant Christie the City Guards lose an efficient and popular non-com . and the Volunteer cause an ardent disciple. The late Sergeant Christie joined the forces about four years ago, and was not long content to remain a private. Towards all ihings military ho displayed enthusiasm, and in his corps, in which he was for some timo storekeeper, he was generally liked. He assisted in the organisation of the Battalion Association Football Club, acting as secretary, besides being- a playing member, and the first two f^oiils scored for the club were credited to him. For some little while he had been in indifferent health, and, whilst in that condition, contracted typhoid fever, of which ho died. Ho was the son of the Rev. J. Christie, formerly of Waikouaiti. A number of the City Guards attended the funeral at Waikouaiti. As the \.-\\t~~ m e of Colonel Stcneham's conference Yrllh his officers, one or two company commanders have prepared syllabi of work for varying periods. Captain M'Ara, of the Dunedin City Rifles, has drawn out a sjllabus covering nearly four monrhs, and this has evidently crystallised the ideas of the officer commanding Battalion, who has distributed skeleton copies as a possible guide to other corps. In the syllabus referred to. the leading idea has been to draw practical work from officers and non-coms. Musketry, na-urallT, has prominence at this season. The services of tho staff sergeant-major are fully availed of for instruction in knotting and lashing, etc., and the work is so mapped out that the sereeants will have the opportunity of taking the company through th* new work umW the direction of the instructor. Plantr of work is nrovidec.', and the

! thorough accomplishment of it requires of all concerned a -whole-hearted devotion to the cause in which they have embarked. It is conceivable that unforeseen interruptions to the progress of a syllabus that covers a period of four months will occur, but that is a matter easy of adjustment. It now devolves upon the company to rise to the occasion, and live up to the ideal the officer commanding has placed before it. In consequence of removal from Oamaru, "Battery," who has from time to time contributed interestingly to th s column, has been obliged to discontinue. I have been fortunate in securing a valued successor, who, under the norn de plume " Connecting Link," writes as follows on June 20: — " The biggest shooting event in North Of ago ;s; s the Bucklev Cup competition. This is an inter-company affair, to be held annually. The trophy is a splendid silver roso bowl, presented by Mr St. John Buckley, of Redcastle, and was won 4ast year by a team from the Waitaki Mounted Rifles. On Tuesday evening the officers of Oamaru met to consider th<> conditions and fit the date for firing. It was decided that the teams should consist of 12 members of all ranks per comoany. and that the competition should be fired by half teams on the 4th and 11th of October, ranges to be 200, 500. and 600 yards, seven shots and one optional sighter at each; Staff Sergeantmajor Kibblewhitc to act as range officer. The headquarters range was selected. " Staff Sergeant-major Kibblewhitc has laid dowu a schedule of work for each of the Infantry Corps during the next three months, when ho has the companies for instruction. The first month will be devoted to musketry, after which knot-tying, mat and gabion making, and the construction of shelters will follow in rotation. This will be a change from the regular routine, and will be appreciated by those concorned. The improvements at the headquarters range, entered upon nearly 12 months ago, are now approaching completion. The new shutter targets and butt have been placed perilously near the sea, and considerable excavating has been found necessary in order to catch a glimpse of the targets at the 500 yd point. The new secretary. Lieut. Swan, of the Waitakis, will probably have things running smoothly in the course of the next few weeks, and our snooting troubles, it is to be hoped, will be over."