VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13010, 25 June 1906, Page 5

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

(By " Vedette.") A treat is in store; for military officers on Thursday afternoon next, "when Major Andrew, commandant of the School of Musketry at Mysore, India, will lecture at the monthly'meeting of the Officers' Club. The : lecturer's subject, one which he is fitted to deal well with, is:—Part lj the folly of imitating foreign tactics in our tactical manoeuvres; part 2, tihe characteristics of the British, Indian and ; colbniul soldier, and the necessity' for a higher standard of duty. The information will, be both .interesting and instructive, and I understand that a number of Ghristchurchy officers' aie ■ coining down' to attend. At the. suggestion- of Colonel Mackenzie, invitations Tlasve also been extended to cadet officers. Lieutenant Hintz, formerly of the Temuka Rifles, has been appointed by Colonel Mackenzie to the position of quartermaster on the staff of the Scoith Canterbury Infantry .Battalion. ■ - . Sergeant Stevenson/ •of the: Waimate / 1

Rifles, lia\ been . appointed I actingrquarterc-' - naster-serge&nt,' vice -Q.M.-S. -'Eurdota;' -wh»r ! - - las. been elected." subaltern of/the Timani-' clifles. • My. congratulations- to Mr Enrdoiß• ■ ■ >n his promotion. • H-e lias proved himself an energetic and efficient non-com., . md ,1 feel sure the Timaru Rifles will a him secure an acquisition 1 as an officer. r.At\present, I believe, all" the corps of :he battalion, -with the exception of the Waimate Kafl.es, are/ fuUy: officered, and; well up to strength. This is a .healthy sign, and augurs, well for future enthusiasm and improvement. The Exihibition, with its military. ■ tournament, -champion-; . ship- shooting meeting, opening-volunteer parade, and - -probable ■ encampment at Easter next,, should pmve a strong/'re- , cruiting-agent during the next few mtonths, ajnd I hope to gee South Canterbury corps . go to Christchurch with musters that will give, the northern volunteers a proper idea. , of the strength of our .battalion. "I cannot said a prominent ChristcSrarcVofficer to me last week, " why your companies do not go in for a. fulldress uniform. The terms which the Kaiappi offer are very reasonable, and yon are allowed three years to pay off the cost. Our full-dress has given a ; decided fillip to volunteering here." I was-present at thei memorial parade.! in Cranjher Square, Christchurch, on Thursday last-, , and was much- struck with the fine show made by the various corps in their scarlet uniforms and blue or. Vaite helmets. Certainly, we shall make but an indifferent appearance .beside them if in khaki, but it is not yet- too late, to remedy thir?. . ■ Friday night's gathering was a fitting evidence of the esteem in which our staff' sergeant-major is held by the rank and file of our volunteer corps. Mounted and foot, they .came from all parts of the district, from'Ashburton to Waimate, to bid farewell, for Sergeant-Major Jones has,won. the 'hearts of all with' wliopi -he came . ■ into -contact over military- affairs, and thepossession-- of the battalion . badge presented to him .that night will bring' back many a recollection to the Zulu- war vete- _

'an. In some manner, in the report of -those present at Sergeant-Major Jones's farewell,Lhe ranks and titles became somewhat mixed, and privates were for the nonce promoted to colonels, and officers of lesser iiit'tinotion, while captains were reduced to non-com. My congratulations to :hose worthies on their brief elevation, andi sincere sympathy with those suffering from i temporary loss qf rank. The programme >of j the military affairs 3ommittee in connection, with the forth- .« raming Exhibition has been issued, and lia*>been a subject of much criticism! and fairly general condemnation in Christchurcb, during the past week. The apportionment! of the money has been anything - but in proportion to the strength of the various arms of the service, the principal, sections catered for being field artillery and engineers, who receive £BS and is7s respectively of the prize money, wthile the infantry section., exclusive of events for cycle corps, has only about £3O, although about tern times the strength', of the other two branches combined.. . Mounted men) as a body are not catered for at all, though v Lloyd-Lindsay, rescue ,-tace, cutting Turk's bead,, Balaclava melee, other interesting competitions are included irithe "open events," for which £155 isset apart. There should most certainly have been a section for mounted men as for other branches, snd I expect thait some trenchant criticism 'jpf the programme ■will, come from them. I hear also that there is a probability of the programme, being recalled, and of a freslh one being sent out from Wellington. * Lieut.-Colonel Snow, who will bft remembered by local volunteers as commander of the Red force at the Sheffield manoeuvres has resigned. His loss to the mounted men of North Canterbury •wrll, Be a severe one, for he-was a thorough ' enthusiast,- and.- spared'- neitiber time -nor. m/oney in the encouragement- of volunteer- ■ Injr. '- \ ./ 0 -' ■ - I* hear that a CJhristehnrch, Company I '"are *' "enquiring the wher&abouts of their" <soni- ,: manding officer, "and also -of -their ; credit balance of about pounds.

Wife: "That- torrid man in the'.box has been storing-',at roe for -the laijl fealfIkhu?." 'Ei|sban<£ i' "Hey 4o you TasrvV*