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Otago Witness, Issue 2738, 5 September 1906, Page 14

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

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* ' In Mspqnae to zap? inquiry as to wi*e» a detailed- programme in ooJHiectkm with the Exhibition military tournament might be expected, I have received the foßowiog wire :t-"~ Sentry,' Ota^o'Daily Times, Dunedin. Full detailed programme just handed Printing Committee. CEope to post copies to all O.C. Corjas within two weefce.—Captain MXJki, secretary military affairs." The-Duapdia JSnjriiteeis commenced their sbootias: on JBsturaay. 25tih ult., under favourable auaokes. iweacher waafine, and the aiiendaiwe good, t^re beaxug some 38 membecs on the jmnge. iShe class firing^ondiiions afe»' ob*er»ed ior the shooting, feut in order to ensure greater interest prices were donated and heoeSoape Young shots «rere especially pixwnioeflt, the firet prize being accused by one -of tbe ireoruits, who Iks only recently joined the «orps. Similar conditions will be observed ior "bhe continuance of the class fixing on Saturday Stext. The officers' ansmal -mess •dinner *ms held; '>n the 2Sth vAt. ia ifee Pateee Hoiet «oane 30 officers being present. -Captain Morris presided, and it «as ootioea&e that the«lergv weee weH represented, the Sevs, Hewitson, Dutton, and Br NkA«t -enjoying and centributtng to fhe jpnogtauDaiße. Xtie officers do not jnafce their mccc dinner heavy witii qpaechifying, the only toasts being <&et of "The King" aad "A**ertt Friends." True, the health of the genial and -valuable accompanist (lieutenant Cooke) was drunk at the close of the evening, but there could be nothing of heaviness about that toast. During the evening Lieutenant-colonel Smith, president of the Officers' Chib, on behalf of the members, presented Major Strong with several silver articles as a memento of his connection with the dub in the capacity of secretary for several years. "What are jack spurs?" is a question submitted to me. TJiere are, of course, two kinds <rf spur — the box spur and the jack spur. The latter is so named because it is worn on the jack boot. The jack spur is worn on the long boot, and has a chain which poea under the sole and a strap over the instep. The box spur is worn with the long overall. .It has a prong which fastens into what is called the box — a hollow made in the back of the heel of the boot. Colonel Robin, accompanied by the District Adjutant (Captain Trask), attended the meeting of the Non-Gom.'s Clubon Friday, 24th tut., and gave instruction in topography, field sketching, map-reading, etc. The instruction was along lines somewhat similar to that given to officers, with, of course, a necessary difference. The noncoms made sketches, and the finding of positions on the map was explained, as well as the usa of the plane-table and certain instruments. The value of a thorough grasp of this branch of work, particularly the conventional signs, was dwelt upon.

The Engineers paraded on Wednesday, 29th ult , for enginering drill, fSvere being a large attendance of members. The engineering section was instructed in measuring off and iconstructuag <gunp«s tend gun «p»nl- ' ments, the telegraph section lieing inetructed in the principles aatd application of the telephone, while £be -sigiwwjin* eeotion had practice in 'flag sigradKng— ifeooi Morse and semaphore. After the parade several' new members were put through. Tiie corps proposes holding <a social evening in its orderly room on Thursday evening nes^ A. j?ooa jirogramme has been arraiiged, »ncl with euchre, etc., a pleasant evening is anticipated by members. In further conversation -with Captain Dallas, he stated, in answer to my inquiry, that the military spirit v was still very strong in South Africa. As proof of this he need only mention that in and around Johannesburg^ within a radius of 12 miles, - there are four regiments of mounted Volunteers, six regiments -of infant^ Volunteers, two batteriee of horse artillery, medical porps, a -train for transport and «upply, and two armoured trains. The question — referred to in General Babington!s ieporfc*- i of p • -the election of officers by the .men was referred to. In tile Old Country the officer «r«e nominated by the O.C. Regiment; 2ftime^ age, and; all necessary details were snbmjtted i» <tbe' commissioners, who, if sjttie&ed, with toe oredentiak, etc., would grant the com mission. The men never had the least *ay in tiie matter. The idea of the men electing tiieir own officers was eug^astive o£ a scone from a Gilbert and SuUtvan qpexa. According to hie view, the men -would naturally elect an officer whom they could do anything they liked with. A correspondent want 6to know whether there is any understanding about the use of the word "trooper, as applied to our mounted men. "At the time of the South African war," he goes on to say, "the designation 'trooper' was generally used, [ but the use of the term * private ' is cow being insisted upon. I understand that in | the British army all soldiers of rank and i file are ' privates,' but the lifeguacdsmen ' are called 'troopers.' In the colonies the use of the word goes back to the old days of the mounted police, %vho were called ' troopers,' and probably the idea of the word is more akin to the * moss trooper ' than the lifeguardsman. If there is nothing ' against using the word, it is a pity that the mounted -men could not be called by it. They all prefer it, and it helps to distinguish a mounted -man from aa infantryman. .Little distinctions such as this help to keep up esprit de corps, which Is badly needed amongst many of our Volunteers. 5 ' The term " trooper " is singularly exclusive, and its use is confined to the 10 regiments of horse in the British service. These regiments are as f ollow : —First and Second Lifeguards, Royal Horse Guards,. | and the seven regiments of Dragoon Guards. Why the designation of " trooper " should be the prerogative of these regi- [ meats does not appear, but it i<s so, aid

the mounted rn,en x>f the colony must be content to be known as mounted men. A shooting match has been arranged between two teams from the Bond street merchants" offices and two teams irom +he Duaedin Engrineers. Ac there is a la^ge nnmber «rf iex-^oluntoers ms well as active Y-fAunteeta ia jthe vArJoas ofiioes some sbeotiag should result. ' As a oontrast to the ssdrit of the Volunteer in a tawnßbip in victoria who postponed his marriage in ordeT that he might attend a special parade of nis wps, 1 heard of a oountry corps in New Zealand ■which had a -wretched muster at fhe colonel' 8 quarterly .inspection because a great many of Okie membew preferred to attend a dance. I have been asked whether I can give the dimensions of the N.ZJR.A. targets this year. The targets fox the annual meeting are meant, I presume. No announcement has been made this year, but it is reasonable to suppose the dimensions <rf last meeting will again obtain. These are as follow: — At 200 *nd 300 'Eardfl. Bull's-eye .. .. Circuit: — 7 in m -diameter Inn-p* „ 14inic diameter Magpie „ 21in in diameter Outer (remainder of target) .... „ 4ft square At 500, 600, and; 700 l^urds. BuWe-eye .. .. Circukr— 9§in in diameter InneT ....... „ 32in in diamei-er HUgpie „ 48m ia diameter Outer ' (sexuainder of target) .... „ &t*qnaxe. At 600, 900, and .1000 Yaxdß. Bull'e-eye . . . . Circular — 36in in diameter Inner „ &4in in diameter Magpie „ 72in in diameter Quiet (remainder of target) .... „ 10ft by 6ft SOUTHLAND NOTES. My Southland correspondent wrftes ac follows on August 29 : — According to arranged syllabus A, B, C, and £ Companies will parade for instruction in battalion drill on Tuesday next at the GaTrison Hall. This will be the &v9p of the like under Major Murphy, for when the *O.C.s remarks during his last , fisit to this battalion arc called to mind there will come a desire for better things, which deeire to some extent, it is hoped, will find some response in the work that is forthcoming. Principally, a strong muster is necessary. Officers commanding companies, to acquire -out -of these parades much that is nseful, will help their aims by insisting upon full strength in the maiter of turn-out*. More jat present it ie not necessary to say. I Some weeks ago the resignation >of the conductor of the Garrison I Band was recorded in thc£-e note?, and it was mentioned also that arrangements j were pending regaiding the filling of the vacancy, a well-known musician being ' referred to in that connection. It is with pleasure that I now mention that Mr Trist Sear ell has bevy appointed cos-

J durtor. Mr Searell's renutation extends ! over the colonies, while bis connecj tion. with the Defence ITflcces of the colony, and more particularly with fhe | Christcburcb GarriEon\ Band as conductor, j stamps him as a musician of a very • high standard- He enters upon bis duties lat a peculiarly significant moment : the ! band is at present oxga^ising with tbe J^shibition contest in view, and the present turn of affairs gives indication of much that will be creditable to the band and the district. It will require a determined effort to place the band again in its position as ef old, when it wXg something to be reckoned with in all contests. The burden, however, is on broad shoylders, and we all are hopeful of great doings. In the month's orders of a local company — the month just completed — was a date on which the subject "Attack end Defence : 'Bight Half versus i.evft Half "Companies " was -to be dtscjtssed. Tbe idea was a briMiant one, and in its effect proved a profitable and in*ti^ucfcive -even* ing. The lieutenant of tbe left half — forces were supposed to ie eefuai— -set about his defence in a <bu«ness-ljbe way and showed a keen conception -of the position, its possibilities and 'its wetfknesfief— the # latter, by the way, being f«Hy reoognised. It was unfortunate thart, ait we last moment, the right half were hampered by a '" casualty," the <co9Mn*nder 4wmg placed hors de combat before the aifiack was even planned. The -senier sergeant at once assumed command, and mode a strong case — u«der -Ac ' cijwtunstanees. Defence followed attack right through to th*» men in the r«nks, and the knowledge exhibited was surprising. The scouts were last in tbe order .«f things, though it is a patent fact that they •should 'have been first. With them, as "with the commanders, companies experienced " casualties," three of the scouts being entirely new to "the work. However, the bout was a keen one, and the decision of tie O.C (who was umpire) is awaited with considerable interest. It is just possible that the whole debate, which, by the way, has been committed in its entirety to paper, will be submitted to a higher authority for an expression of opinion. 1