OUR DEFENDERS

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 34, 11 May 1907, Page 11

OUR DEFENDERS

By Lbe-Enpield.

A JUMP from Sergeant-Major to Captain, with the extra dignity of Chief of the Artillery Instruction Staff thrown in, is promotion rapid enough to almost make one gasp. Yet there is not a man in the colony who knows the butt-plate of a rifle from the piling swivel who will not admit that Master-Gunner Richardson's advancement is not only thoroughly deserved, but in the interests of the whole defence force. Richardson is a fine stamp of a man with the hall-mark of the British drill sergeant written on his upright figure. When he starts on artillery matters you feel as if you could_ '-aze through a range finder or twirl a trailing wheel for the rest of your life. He is probably the most expert artillery instructor we have had in the colony, and has been received with considerable satisfaction. In Auckland, volunteers have a local and solid reason for jubilation at the promotion of Lieutenant Carpenter to a well-earned captaincy. As an authority on military matters Carpenter is unique, and it is rare indeed that anyone can catch him tripping on a point of drill. He has been trained in a good school, and has served with the British army all over the world. Carpenter is the most capable and noDular adjutant we have had in Anckland, and is a potent factor in volunteer matters. Stated that Captain H. Whyte. of mounted fame, will fill the role of assistant quarter-master general which comes into voeue under the new scheme. Harold Whyte is an old College Rifles bo~ who saw service in South Africa. He is a twentyfour carat stamp of a fellow and on his return from the land of the wily Paul joined the Auckland Mounteds and speedily mounted to the captaincy. At the same time, he cannot be said to have any great experience as auarter-master, but perhaps the duties, like the pay, are merely nominal.

Volunteers may in future obtain from the Defence Department one hundred rounds of ammunition above the capitation allowance at a cost of ss. This will enable the enthusiasts to indulge in extra shooting at a cheap rate.

A Kalgoorlie paper remarks that that it is not generally known that Mr Moore, Premier of West Australia, is also an officer in the volunteers, and in his military capacity attended the last Easter encampment. In combining the positions of Premier and volunteer soldier, Mr Moore resembles Mr ~. O. Kingston, who, when Premier of South Australia, held the rank of sergeant in the volunteers. Once, when in camp, urgent business necessitated that he should obtain leave of absence to attend to his duties as Premier. His commanding officer was a junior clerk in the department of which the Premier was the Ministerial head, but when he approached him, he found this officer busy, and the Premier-Sergeant had to wait his turn outside the tent.

At length, having been admitted, he saluted and said, " I come, sir, to ask for leave of absence for three days, for, as a civilian, I am Premier of South Australia, and have received news that it is necessary that I should go to Adelaide to attend to business of urgent importance." " Sergeant Kingston," replied the officer, "your reauest is granted." "Thank you, sir," said the sergeant, who saluted and withdrew.

Mr Kingston had barely divestea himself ofliis regimentals and donned the raiment of a civilian, when he received word that one of the officials of his department wished to see him. " Admit him,?' said the Premier, and the officer who had just given him leave was ushered in. "I come, sir," said the officer, "to ask for an additional week's leave of absence from the Department in order to attend to my duties as a volunteer officer." "Mr J -," replied the Premier, " your request is granted." " Oh, thank you, sir," said the officer, as he smilingly withdrew;

$ A boy named Hartley,' tresh from school, now appearing* with the Rickards company in Melbourne, is declared by his admirers to be cleverer than Cinquevalli.

William (Anderson's hands are so full of dramatic enterprises this year that he has had to postpone his proposed trip to England.

Ernest Fitts is one of the attractions of Sydney Wonderland City at the gay and festive Bondi. • • •

Philip Newbury and his wife (Madame Emily Spada) have been singing at the Queen's Hall ballad concerts, London. Mr Newbury says he is fast regaining the position lost, to some extent, through his ten years' absence in the colonies.

The Brough - Flemming Company brought out in Sydney the other day a new play, "Peter's Mother," which is well spoken of.

For the season which he has booked at His Majesty's in September, Allan Hamilton intends to send the English company of which Miss Maud Hildyard is to be the star. Messrs Meynell and Gunn are 1 interested in the venture. The Hamilton vaudeville company is due in New Zealand in October.