THE TERRITORIALS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 6

THE TERRITORIALS.

HONOURED BY ROYALTY. CONGRATULATION S FROM THE GOVERNOR. AUCKLAND, April 29. The announcement that the King had been graciously pleased to confer high honour upon the Terntona I ok* ,<* the Dominion was made at the Govern m ent House this morning by the Governor in the presence of a number of the officer* of one of the regiments singled out for distinction. In addition to his Ex ceUency and Lady Islington those pre. SS included the Defence Minister the Hon \. M. Myers and General Godley. gathering his Excellency said :-" I have invited you to assemble this morning at the Government House to afford me the agreeable opporE3£ of making a public announcement which I know will be regarded by the regiments interested and indeed, bj the whole of the Territorial army of New galaLd* as an honour and a of high and lasting significance, lnrough the iial-offlcial med.um I have been instructed by the Secretary of State for Ihe Colonies to make public the deeunon that his Majesty has graciously consented to identify himeelf with the Territorial army of New Zealand by assuming the position of Colonel-in-Chief of the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles and the 1* (Canterbury) Regiment of I"f.antlT"l would have liked to have been able to convey this important information to each regiment respectively on paraoe, but as that, for various reasons, was impracticable, I have been obliged to confine myself to the present occasion aa being the best available for the purpose of enabling all ranks of the two regiments to become in due course informed of tne distinction conferred upon them, it WUI be observed that in this selection by his Majesty a high honour has been conferred on both branches of the service mounted and infantry, as also on each island of the Dominion, both North anaSouth. , , . , " I would also like to take this favourable occasion of making the further gratifying announcement that his Majesty lias signified his approval of the Second (Wellington and West Coast) Mounted Rifles enjoying the designation of the " Queen Alexandra," the Second Mounted Rifles, Senior squadron, of that regiment having originally been called after the Queen Dowager when she was Princess of Wales. " I feel assured that the foregoing announcement, which I have the privilege of making to-day as the representative of the Crown, will be received throughout New Zealand with acclamation by all ranks of the army, and with a luuform loyal sentiment of appreciation by the citizens of the Dominion. As it lijas fallen to my lot to be the first to make this communication I should now like to be the first to offer my congratulations to the regiments referred to, of which Colonel Bloomfield is the only one represented here to-day, on the signal mark of honour conferred by his Majesty the King. Such an honour will, I know, be prized by all ranks in these regiments, and will encourage and stimulate them now and hereafter to live up to the high military standard such a distinction entails, whilst this personal connection of the Crown with the New Zealand forces will still further strengthen those ties which already hold so closely the hearts and interests* of the people of this country within the circle of the British Empire." After the officers had been presented to his Excellency and their wives had been presented to Lady Islington, the guests were entertained at morning tea. General God ley, when seen by a reporter this morning, said he was sure he voiced the feelings of the whole army of New Zealand in saying how much they all appreciated the signal honour conferred upon the military forces of the Dominion by his Majesty's act. '" It will be a great incentive to us all," said the General, * to make New Zealand's citizen army worthy of such a

mark of distinction as his Majesty haa so graciously conferred." HONORARY MEMBERS AT NAPIER. NAPIER, April 27. A strong branch of the Association of Honorary Members of the Territorial Forces was formed here last evening, with the object of giving those not compelled to serve to assist in the new defence scheme by their moral support. One' employer present declared the Defence Act to be one of the most beneficial ever placed on the Statute Book. STAFF APPOINTMENTS. WELLINGTON, April 30. The defence authorities notify that ad- l ditional instructors have been appointed to the permanent staff as area non-com- | missioned officers. They commence duty to-morrow, and will attend a course of instruction at Trentham in June. Following is a list of the appointments : Canterbury District —J. W. John- I ston, S. If. Hoskins, W. Milroy, W. Fields, R. Sloan, A. Butcher, L. R, Shuttleworth, G. Little. G. G. Johnston, R. Sotheran, R. A. Forsyth, R. Meechan, J. B. Lemottee, W. W. C. Cossgrove, Signalling-instructor J. W. Crompton, Ambulance-instructor W. H. Thomson. Otago District—T. K. Farr, A. Jones, F. F. Eastgate, H. Fretwell, T A. Davidson, T. P. Laffev, F. IT. Booth, A. M'Cormack, W. Husband, W. R. C. Whyte, W. A. Gustafson, G. M. Don, E. J. M'Tigue, Signalling-inctmctor Staff Sergeant-major G. T. Catto, Ambu-lance-instructor F. S. Rudd. DAYLIGHT PARADES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 2. An application to-day by a Pest reporter to the defence authorities for information as to the lessen why so many daylight parades were called for this month elicited • the explanation that the step was quite unavoidable. The act requires that there shall be four daylight parades before the close of the Volunteer year (31st May). The Fifth Regiment onlv received its uniforms last month, and in order to comply with the act Lieut.-colonel Turner had no option but to ceil the four parades for Wednesdays and Saturdays during the present month. The first parade was called for yesterday afternoon, but was attended by only two Territorials, one of them being an officer. CAMP AT MILTON. The 14th Regiment (South Otago Rifle?) went into camp at Milton on the Ist. The various detachments arrived by different trains throughout the day, the last detachment reaching camp about 8 p.m. There are fully 600 men and 30 officers under ci.'.ivas for their week's training, this number including several units from other regiments. The weather on Wednesday was bitterly cold, with intermittent rain showers. which made matters somevvhatdisagreeable, but the Territorials bore fpfeir discomforts philosophically, and looked as oheerful aa possible under the circumstances. The first day was spent in erecting tents and arranging preliminaries. Training commenced yesterday (Thursday), and will bo continued until next Wednesday evening, camp breaking up on Thursday morning. Uniforms were served out yesterday to those who had not previously been provided with them. Lieutenant-colonel J. B. M'C%mont is in charge, with Captain J. R. Henderson as adjutant and Major George Mitchell as quarterma-sfcer. Attached to tho camp are regimental institutes organised bv the C.E.M.S. (under the control of the Rev. Bush-KJng) and the Y.M.C.A (under Mr Ilusfhcs. general secretary of the Dunedin Y.M.C-A.