OUR DEFENDERS

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 41, 29 June 1907, Page 11

OUR DEFENDERS

By Lee-Enfield.

THE identity of our future Ad- . . jutant General has at last been correctly revealed to us, the. appointee being Major Tuson, 6f the . Manchester Regiment. . The worthy ' Major has been" particularly . active, in South Africa, where: he served with the Ist Battalion JBbrder Regiment. He participated in the Relief of Ladysniith and many- ; of the most important actions in the great Boer struggle. Altogether, he has had a strenuous military service of twenty odd years. That contingent of experienced hit-it-every-time devotees of the ■ rifle which the British Association is launching against ohe marksmen " down-under " is a particularly powerful organisation, even if the names of two or three veterans, familiar to New Zealanders are missing from the list. It is perhaps a coincidence -hj,t every member of the team- holds some degree of military rank, Private Thomas Atkins being conspicuous only by his absence. The junior in rank an.l probably ■ the baby of the team is Lance Corporal Fulton, who in ail likelihood comes of the family of Sergt. Fulton, one of the most famous riflemen in England. The team benefits considerably by the ripe experience of Major Richardson, of the 2nd Northumberland Fusiliers, who undertakes the responsibilities of shooting captain. Onij two King's Prize winners, Cornier and Law^ rence, are included. Comber being one of the top-notch ers of the team, but such men as Wallin./ford, Cowan, M'Haffie and Co. are known all ov?.r . England. Scotland contributes four members, Martin, Fraser, Peddie and the prize-winner Lawrence, all of whom are worth a place .in any team. . It is rumoured that a complete mobilisation of the forces in each district will take place next Easter. Captain Kynvett, the hustling commander of the First GarrisonArtillery Corps, has brought his energetic personality ihto contact with some splendid specimens of muscular Aucklanders, with the result that the old Auckland Navals now boasts a considerable number of members standing six feet or more * without even the aid of the homely; sock. Though the company has, . from various causes, lost a consider-,-able number of men lately, a splendid average attendance is maintained, and the inclusion of a number of experienced gun layers should earn the company a creditable position in the next shooting praot ; ce. A sample of the new undress uniform, which resembles that of the No. 8 Company, is to- hand, md the whole equipment has now leen shipped from England. It is not surprising to find that : Sergeant-Ma j or E. Willoughby,' of ': Dunedin, who figured so prominently in military matters in Auckland a few months ago, has followed the example set by so many non-commis--sioned officers of late — and abandoned his sergeant's stripes foe the higher dignity of , an officer/ Willoughby'4 ', promotion will render the sergeant- * majoTship of the infantry Battalion vacant, and it is presumed that act-, Sgt-Major Jackson will now be appointed permanently to the position. The Defence authorities are inter-? eating themselves in a sub-target rifle machine, an instrument which is supplanting the miniature rifle 1 ranges in many parts, of the world as a means of teaching and giving practice -in rifle shooting. The machine is the 'invention of an American, and when it is attached to a rifle, any movement, however slight, made by the marksman is faithfully revealed. Aim is takejiv; at a small targei. about 20 . yfirds? 7 away, and on^ the trigger being*-: pressed a needle darts forward "lancb/: pierces a sub-target in the spot; ex4 ' actly relative to;; where!. the . bullet! would have struct : the real target.

■/■■Mr' Atodrevr Mack's 'season, in ChristcKurch "ppas a :very " successful - ' brie, and the genial Irish y actorsinger became: a warm favourite with his audiences. ' ' - ■■-'■■■• - •.'•,• , •

The theatrical venture upon which George Homan Barnes• is, shortly to embark is stated to be a partnership with Miss Di Cooper, who was here lately with "V The Midnight Wedding " company in her new dramatic organsiation.

Madame Melba's trip to Australia towards the end of the year has been stated to be'on family business only. Hints are, however, being thrown but that she may be induced to appear in Melbourne with the Musgrove Grand Opera Company in " La Boheme," about Cup time. • • ■

Hugo Gorlitz, the well-known manager and husband of the worldrenowned singer, Madame Amy Sherhas arrived in Dunedin to make the preliminary arrangements for a tour of the colony of the Tasmanian Nightingale. Madame Amy Sherwin is at present in Hobart, but is expected to arrive at the. Bluff on June 24.