THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2803, 4 December 1907, Page 36

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Bt Sbntht. Colonel Robin, C.8., Chief of the General Staff, returned north on Nov. 26. During his visit the forthcoming Easter manoeuvres were discussed with the O.C. District. These manoeuvres will be held north of Dunedin. Staff-sergeant-major Bishop has received notification of his permanent appointment as sergeant-major-instructor. Each competitor in the Empire Match at Randwick received as a memento a certificate. The copy I have been shown is a large card, sparsely ornamental, but valuable ' for its inscription: — "Presented by the National Rifle Association of New South. Wales, in honour of- the visit .of the first British rifle team to Australia, to Mr J. Mills, who represented New Zealand in the Empire Match fired at Randwick rifle range, Sydney, New South Wales October,. 1907." The Dunedin NavaTs concluded their annual training camp on November 23. On the following morning Colonel Robin, C.8., inspected the company, and addressed the men, complimenting them on the excellent work. done. He advised there to ara on and do even better during the coming year. Lieutenant-colonel Allen also spoke a few words; and Captain Richardson* in addressing- the men, eaid that they were probably the beat company m Nsw Zealand at the present time. He gave the results of the examinations ts follow .—Passed in gunnery, 93; in signalling, 9; gun-laying, 26; depression range-finding, 17; electricity,. 8 ; engine-driving, 3. All passes -were of a very high standard. \ The shooting of the oonw this yeai ■has never been surpassed, and shows that the training: which each gun detachment has gone through was 7ery thorough. %c results were: — Central Battery. — Captain Fredric: Twelve shots, 10 hits; figure of merit, 1.01. Central Battery. — Lieutenant Doull : twelve shots, 10 hits; figure of merit, 0.92. Signal Station. — Lieutenant "White: Tix rounds, five hits; figure of merit, 0.944. Howlet Point. — Lieutenant Cooke: Fifteen rounds. 12 bits ; figure of merit, 0.80. Nordenfeldt Detachments. — Thirty-eight rounds, 20 hits; figure of merit, 0.737. The prizes rfEered were- won by th« following: — Port Henry gun detachment; P.O. Valentine, first series. Best depression, range-finding detachment, Howlet Point,, Gunner Frew, Best gun-!ayer, P.O. Farr. Beat signaller. P.O. Farr. Section with best attendance: First, P.O. Davis, 92.6 per cent; second. P.O. Morrison, 92.* par cent. ; third, P.O. Farr, 90 per cent.; fourth. P.O. Biggs, 80 per cent. Trumpeter with bes + Tecord, Tr. Smith. Good weather, good cooking, and hard work were the outstanding features of the Dunedin Engineer Cadets* camp at Culling Park. The lads spent seven days under canvas, breaking up on November 27 with the senior corps. During the week some useful work wa* carried out by the various sections. No. 1, under Sergeant Bennett, constructed a line of hasty entrenchmexits for men lying, the work being expeditiously carried out, giving the onlookers a capital illustration of cover constructed in the firing line. No. 2. (Sergeant Ferens) worked hard at a circular trench designed as coyer for an outpost; the trench, beinsr circular, provided a good field of fire, and in the centre provision was made for protection' from reverse fire.. No. 3 (fhe telegraph, section) went in for some practical work, connecting the camp with Onslow House. On Tuesday night, under the supervision of Sergeant Nishet, the section blew up a considerable amount of soil in the Drainage. Board paddock. The signallers were not idle ; sergeant Begbie worked them morning and evening, and Staff-sergeant-major Burgess gave the embryo signallers capital instruction in semaphore and Morse, the lads picking up all tips available. The church parade was a great success, the parade state showing 52. Forty-eight of all ranks spent the whole time in camp. -Two items will never be forgotten by the campers — the open-air concert and the delightful odour of the drain dare ditch. On Sunday, 24th, the Engineers had a most successful explosion near the beach. The work was done by the electrical section, und«r Lieutenant Vcitch, and the charge was exploded by Mrs E. E. Blomfi^.d. Tho explosives consisted of guncotfcon and gunpowder, and although the sand did not fly as high as tree expected, a good show was made. It ia probable that the explosions at the Port Chalmers regatta on Boxjng Day, and. also at the Ravensbourne regatta in February, will be carried < ut by the electrical section of the Dunedin Engineers. Good shooting was witnessed at the City Guards range on November 23 in the match between the City Guards and the Green Wand Rifles. The veteran, Private Sonntafr put? on 98, and Sergeant Orimp was close behind with 96. Private Peattie made 93 The City Guards have entered a team for the Sargood Cup. The following acting- appointments- have been made in connection with the corps : — Corporal Babd. to be sergeant ; Lance-corporal Wentworth, to ba corporal. The dyeing of haversacks with diluted Condy r a fluid to convert, them to khaki colour i« perfectly satisfactory as far as th» colour is concerned, but i« likely toprove disastrous to the fibre, judging 1 by specimens shown to me a few days ajjo. After a first immersion in the fluid what had been good tough material could be easily torn, whilst after the third dipping it could 1 be torn as easily ac paper. The disbanding 1 of the Wellington Submarine Miners Corps suggests the- question as to what becomes of the 6hield which they were awarded in connection with the competition amongst the Engineer corp^ of the Dominion. Does it pass on to the next in order of marks — the Dunodin Engineers? It ia understood that an officer belonging to one of the Canterbury mounted corps has been invited fco apply to be one of four New Zealand officers who are to he selected annually from the Defence Force of the Dominion by, the Government and .to b_e

sent to England to receive a military train* ing. The following table shows the scores, shot for shot, made by the members of the three teams competing in the Enxgiro match fired at Randwick last month. The details should prove of interest, ecpeoiajly to shooting -men : —

AUSTRALIAN TEAM 1 . 200 yds. Tl. 500 yd«. T!. eooyd«. Tl. jd. Cutler 6554446466— 46 4545666555—48 6555545645—48 .. 142 Laic 5544465664—46 4655555544—47 5555446555—48 .. 141 Williams ' .. 4545555444—45 6655664456—48 5558566655—48 .. 141 W. CirtkC *. 5545046555— 48 4556645666—48 8445556564—45 .. 141 Edwards .. ■, vti46666555— 47 6665555366— 48 4555586646—46 .. 141 Addiion .. . 4555446445—45 6665645556—49 3445648594—40 .. 134 Garter . „ 6563456555—47 4555666448—45 4445536546—41 .. 196 D»W»on .„, «., 4344455445—42 6545454556—47 4545463445—49 .. 182 866 880 863 1108 SOQycta. Tl. SWKyas. Tl. lOOuyd*. Tl. A. Catl«l « 6555645464—47 3556543443—41 4635585885—41 . i 2* Lake „ .. 6,046556554—43 3655264445-42 6632435445— 40 .. 125 Williftim .. 6443464354—41 6635555548—46 5423354685—39 .. ViA W. Cutl« „ 8645666656—47 6366434443—40 6440888554—38 .. 125 Ed«rud« .. - 6566554534-46 5426664443—41 3666582333— 87 .. 124 .Addiaon .. • (354554665-7-46 0552665546-41 5555423424—39 .. 126 Gurter ,« , 0665543565—42 5546666454—47 2643606448—36 .. 124 Diwioa _j 4355554543—48 5465.658534—48 4444404506—32 .. 118 I6f Ml fPI 986

Pornell' ... Mills Bal linger ' Willie Pur noil .. B*ll|nger Ayaori M Willpe .. Ort.w Pmanon NEW ZEALAND TEAM. 200 yds. Tl. 600 yds. Tl. \6ooyds. 0.1. . 5446454554-4* «55445545— 46 8685456456—48 .. x9l .. 6564515544—46 5455456665—48 «65|65845-45 .. }38 „ 4445645655—46 4544553645—4* b45484656t>— 4IJ .. 13b 6554446554—46 5554546554—47 4666(566838— 48 .. 186 4464446546—44 4655664516—46 5445644345— 48 . 186 „ 4545451454—44 5342655445—41 5468446465— 44 .. 188 .. 5545456666—48 4434865565—48 3456645558—44 .. 186 . . 4464544564-44 5446644455—45 65J53568356— M .. 180 863 863 ' 851 IC7? 800yus Tl. Soojdi. It HjGDld*. Tl. „ 5665454554— 47 55556843i5^-t6 84(8843656^39 .. Jtol .. 5544645353—43 5635665636— 44 5453342444—37 .. 134 . 458i654534— 43 4655644465—46 434*412363—37 .. 125 .. 465554434S— 44 6654643065—41 4454816085—87 .. 123 „ 55&56M656— 48 6644445864^-43 46*83884*0—33 „ 133 „ 3566M5645— 47 8646684655— 46 0454240444^11 .. 124 .. 845U5565S— 43 4485666885—43 8464004444— «3 .. 117 . 6616544845—45 0462545253—36 5566038460r-83 „ US I Isa sia p hi

BRITISH TEAM. M'HalSe ..■ !V»rley .. Omundson M*rtin W*llingfora Tatlow .. •i 900 yds. TI. 50Oyda. Tl. 600 yds. Tl. 5456644545— 46 4555665465— 48 4546X64445—43 . 187 4466446454—44 5565555655— 60 3496453514—40 .. M 4545445446-44 4454555455—46 3648565555-45 .. 135 4564546465-46 4654565466—47 3334545664—40 . 133 5656454544—4$ 554465«55— 48 0561646465—41 .'. 185 4C56555665— 49 5444Q6555S— 42 5345553368— 41 „ 133. 4554456455—46 5545544366—45 3454444655—49 .. 184 » 5155555445-47 4550565554—48 6555446546—47 v 187 T»tlow . Riven .. 368 3s» 840 1077 800yda. TJ. 900 yds. TJ. 1000 yd». Tl. 8555663665—46 5856464444—44 4661416484—40 .. 180 5666656404—43 864£.afi4«34-40 4555656)136—45 .. 19^ 4534863654— 41 8554644456—44 5656363065- 40 .. 196 5454456444—44 5043644455—40 4843654584^39 .. 198 5546654456— -17 3458435446—40 4303534653—84 „ 191 5465tf554S— 4g 5565544465— 45 5096643888-33 .. 124 £563266640—43 34468*3406—36 44255*8843-^ „ 114 2555885555-43 5555564588— W 25 .. 11l i iea ssa sea we