THE VOLUNTEERS.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11751, 6 October 1906, Page 2

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Motupiko division of the Wakatu Mounted Rifles finished a most successful camp at Tapawera on Saturday. In addition to the^ usual camp routine and drills, a sys~ tern of practical field entrenchments was carried out, and in this part of the training the men took a keen interest. The men for-H parties and went to the bush cluri 1~, cut stakes, brushwood, vines, etc.. nnd oonsrtucted gabions and facines to the correct size and shape. They also dug entrenchments and went^through the course of revetting slope of the trenches. In addition a model wire entanglement, 12-feet square was constructed. Colonel Wolfe inspected the division on Wednesday afternoon in squadon work; Wednesday night in outpost and patrol work ; and on Friday morning he took the division skirmishing with ball ammunition at targets placed on the plain, when some excellent shooting was done. Thursday afternoon was spent in reconnaisance work, the non-commissioned officers and men showing a fine knowledge. Com munications were well maintained from front to rear, and flank to centre, reports being received from scouts and non-commissioned officers every 15 minutes. Thuisday evening was "devoted to practical examinations of non-coms, by the officer commanding the District, who, at the conclusion of the parade, expressed pleasure at what he had seen aud especially at the entrenchments, and hoped the division would always keep up to its present standard. The corps is greatly indebted to Mr McMahon for plaoing his fine tract of country at the disposal of the division each year

Sergeant Major Redmond was the instructor, and the class" of workengaged in and the instruction given was most interesting and beneficial to the division.