Drill Hall & Rifle Range

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 30, 10 November 1900, Page 12

Drill Hall & Rifle Range

Volunteers and Bide Club members are invited to contribute to this column Items of news, diagrams o£ targets reports of matches* meetings, and all events of interest to volunteers and shooting men will be received. Address “ Magpie,” Southern Cross Office. Parade nights of local corps : Garrison Band, Mondays and Thursdays ; City Guards, Mondays, regularly ; Oreti Bides, Tuesdays, regularly; Awarua Bides, Fridays, regularly; the Gore Bides parade regularly, Government Inspection being held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays in each month ; Southland Mounted Bides, town contingent, foot parades every second Thursday at Garrison Hall; mounted parades every fourth Wednesday afternoon at Waikiwi; Winton, Tbornbury and Otautau contingens parade as per dates on cards issued to each member. AT THE CAMP. The first consideration, . good weather, has so far been enjoyed in full measure, which is in great contrast to the week’s experience of the Mounted Rifles, who evidently carry a very big Jonah. The parades of the different corps marching in were very satisfactory indeed, it being the largest Battalion muster yet held in Invercargill; but while the appearance of the khaki brigade is nice and uniform and very serviceable, one misses the old familiar blue and red of Havals, Guards and Artillery, to say nothing of the Band. Talking of Artillery, that important branch is represented in camp in two ways —Quarter Master Sergt. Stewart (B Battery, Dunedin) putting in his parades attached to the City Guards, while the ‘pom-poms,’ under Col.Sergt. O’Toole’s charge, make Reveille (sunrise) and Tattoo (sunset) very manifest to all within range, and also afford just the finish required to complete camp routine. Tuesday evening in the Garrison Hall provided a scene, on a small scale, very similar to those the British public have lately unfortunately been acquainted with—bustle, activity, and uniformed men being in evidence. The Battalion fell in sharp at 8 p.m., and baggage having been despatched, the Garrison Band headed the march to the Queen’s Park, on the implement reserve of which the tents, to the number of over 40, were pitched, and after the necessary formalities the men were dismissed to their quarters, the Guards and Oretis furnishing respectively the main and quarter guards for the night. The camp possesses every convenience required for even such a large number of men as are under canvas, and the usual camp duties are faithfully carried out, the routine being as follows : —Reveille, 5 a.m, ; Rations, 5.15 ; Parade, 5.35 ; Breakfast, 7 a.m.; Tattoo, 6 p.m. ; Tea, 6.20; Parade, 6.50 ; P&st Post, 9.30 ; Lights Out, 10.30 p.m. As might be expected the first night did not find everything and everyone up to time, but under the able working of the staff matters soon began to progress very smoothly, and, as I remarked last week, there is every prospect of the camp being quite the best yet held in the district. The staff is as follows : Adjutant Henderson (in command), Capt. McKay, Sergt.Majors Knee and Flans, Serg. Bugler Edwards. The commissariat is in the capable hands of Quarter Master Lieut. Siddall and Q.M. Sergt. W. B, O’Toole, and their endeavours for the comfort and victualling of the men deserve special commendation. The strength of the corps under canvas is as follows :—Garrison Band, Lieut. Siddall and 23 men ; City Guards, Oapt. Murphy, 3 Sergts and 47 men, total 51; Oreti Rifles, acting Capt. Spaul, Lients Hall and Lennie, 5 Sergts. and 45 men, total 53; Awarua Rifles, Capt. Dunlop, Lieuts. Hawkins and Goldsmith, 4 Sergts and 38 men, total 45 ; Mercantile Rifles, Capt. Watson, Lieut. Wilson and Royds, 5 Sergts. and 39 men, total 47.