E BATTERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6123, 9 March 1898, Page 1

E BATTERY.

The annual competition by teams of the E Battery, for the cup given by ex-Captain J. C. Martin, took place ' last There was a large muster, fifty-four men being on parade. : Though here and -there faults were discernible, the work done was creditable throughout,/ especially when it is considered that from thirty to f orty Ob the men engaged were last year's recruits A special point of interest was the fact that the teams were all drilled by corporals and bombardiers, the two sergeants standing out of the competition, and that No. 1 of every team was a gunner. The judges were Captain Donald, Lieutenant Cowlishaw, Sergeant-major Treleaven and Quartermaster-sergeant Taylor, and the result, as will be seen, was very close. The possible number of points to be attained was 295, made up as follows: — Inspection, 10 points; gun drill, 100 points ; time, 100 points ; examination by verbal questions, 100 points. The result of tho competition was as follows : —

Captain Donald has elected to remain in charge of the corps, but the pending removal of Quartermaster-sergeant Taylor to Wanganui will be regretted, as his place will be hard to fill. Corporal G. Simpson 61 points and Private F. Robilliard 58 points, of the Kaiapoi Rifles, have gained marksmen's badges. A meeting of the Honorary Reserve Corps was held afc the Orderly-room yesterday afternoon, for the purpose of electing new members. Captain Harman presided, and Mr C. Robinson was the only member nominated. The meeting was then adjourned till Thursday, at Cashmere. A Government parade of .the Engineers was held last night, when, fifty answered to the roll-call. Captain; Dbugall was in command. After the men had been put through th;e usual infantry drill, the various squads were exercised at bridging and signalling. The general turn-out was neat and workmanlike. It is estimated that 700 men will attend the Easter encampments at Sumner and Port Levy. The North Canterbury corps will camp at the former place, and the South Canterbury battalion and • the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry at Port Levy. The Lyttelton corps will occupy the batteries. One-third of the force from each camp will guard the strategic points, Evans Pass and the hills above Fort Jervois.

M fc* C* Corporal Symes 8 80 90 81 259 Bombardier Lezard 8 85 85 75 253 Bombardier Johnston ... 10 90 80 67 247 Corporal Watkms 6 70 40 63 179 Corporal M'Donald 6 60 50 60 176