THE TERRITORIALS.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE TERRITORIALS.

NELSON DISTRICT NOTES

Colonel W. A. Day, Brigadier of the Canterbury-Nelson Infantry Brigade, leaves for the West Coast this morning. During his visit he met tho ofiict<rs of tho 12th Regiment Infantry, strd gave some particulars as to the future training of the regiment under the. new system.

it is unlikely that the head-quarters of the 12th Regiment will bo in N<\-.'-.Dii, although fixed in the New Zealand Army List as such. It is thought that if such is to be the case it will be a retragrado step. The status of .Nelson has bcx'ii gradually dwindling away of late in spite of the fact that it lias a battery of artillery, three mounted squadrons in close proximity to the city, throe infantry companies, and a section of the field ambulance. The head-quarters of the regiment will probably not have more than one infantry company in it. It seems a pity that Nelson could not have been able to get a battalion together, and have retained the Blenheim and Picton companies. The inclusion of the West Coast companies with those of Nelson makes the command probably the most dislocated one in the Dominion. The West Coast portion of the district should have boon able to supply sufficient men to form an independent battalion, even if the companies' strength had to be reduced in order to make the eight companies. The tactical effect would.•■unquestionably be more satisfactory than it can'possibly be under no disjointed a regiment as at present formed. However, tlio defence authorities are no doubt fully alive to the existing difficulties, and may in the near future provide means to cover them. The results of the first examination of Territorial officers under the prosent defence system have come to hand. The examination took placo in May last, and in all 97 candidates for promotion sat, 67 of whom passed the written test. For Major there were 19 competitors, 11 of whom succeeded in netting through. For captain the number was 33, 24 passing; whilst for Lieutenant 45 sat, 32 getting through. Auckland district provided 15 officers for various grades of promotion ; Can-terbury-Nelson 25; Otago 15; and Wellington 42. Captain R. W. Sti'os, who sat for the rank of Major, was one of the successful candidates. ■ Lieut.-Col. D'Arey Chaytor, who commands the 10th Nelson Mounted Rifles, has had Bis period of command extended to the Ist January, 1913. The E and H Batteries, New Zealand Field' Artillery, have been grouped to form the Canterbury Field' Artillery Brigade. Colonel A. W. Robin, C.8., has been granted.the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration. Captain F, Southern, of the 12t7i Nelson Regiment, has resigned his 'jomniission.