THE TERRITORIALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11025, 13 March 1914, Page 1

THE TERRITORIALS.

FORT JERVOIS CAMP During the past few days the men*' ben* of the No. 4 and No. 8 Companies of the New Zealand Garrison Artillery Lave been busy undergoing instructional and service practice on the big gnus »t Fort Jervois, Hi pa preparatory to taking pare in-the Wttl© practice set down for to-day. The men of tho No. 8 Company, comprising the West Coast Regiment, were entirely new to fixed • armaments, but they soon became efficient gunners.. This morning everyone in the camp was ..alert at an early hour, getting ready for to-day's-battle. After breakfast General Godley, Commandant of tho New Zealand Forces, accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston, Dv rector of Ordnance, Colonel-Smythe,/ Colonel Cooper and Lieutenant. Thring, arrived to watch ■ proceedings. Tho conditions, bo far aa the weather was concerned., were all that could be de» sired, but at times tho shooting was dolaycd by a vessel getting, within the line of raiige of the guns. The targets • is ere sot about two hundred feet apart., and were towed off Godley Head i by the Puran, a towline of 400 yards j lone separating the'crafts, Tho range i .set for" the big guns was about 5000 I yards, and a fine vioir could be gained from the fort as the shells flew over the water and -richochetted in all di- • lections at the rear of the targets. The proceedings .were full of interest, and the firing of the Lyttelton men in the third scries was very and upheld tho reputation of the fort gained some years ago by t-he old Lyttolion Narals. In-one series ten shots Merc fired in the- fast time of 6min (isoc, and although not a record per- . forma me it is well insido the time allowed by the regulations. On one occasion the line connecting thp two targets was severed' by a shell. The per form onro nl (lie LyUelton men was somewhat marred-by. one of the gunners having an injury inflicted to an ear a* the ol concussion in the gun pit. The man was medically attended to •by Captain-Surgeon J. Guthrie. Thp first series was fired at 9.30 a.m. by the No. 8 Company, under Major Cottroll. from the Sin B.L. guns; second series, No. -1 Company, 6in B.L. guns, Lieutenant-A. 11. Evenden; third, series. 6in 8.L.. N0..4 Company, Captain Veale; fourth series, 61b Q.F., No. H Company, Lieutenant Green; fifth series, tilb Q.F., No. 8 Company, Sergeant M'Donald; sixth series, bib Q.F. No. 4, Company, Lieutenant -tii-ris; seventh series, 61b Q.F., Sergeant Peagram. Viewed from the fort,' the shooting appeared to be very good, and one round in series three cut the towl<rie; between tho targets. The shots- in + he majority of cases fell between the tarf gets, and when tho results are calculated it is expected they will prove very satisfactory to all parties. , GENERAL GODLEY'S ADDRESS. Afc-the conclusion of the shooting the . men were paraded, and General Godley. . inspected- the"two companies. Addressing the 'men' General Godley said he was pleased to be present that day to see tne- companies carrying oi'fc . their drill. He recognised that the U\ o , companies were responsible for tJie . coastal defence of the, Canterbury district. Such a ca-inp as the present ■ would surely be a benefit and advaj?- . tago to the meT\, and fill them with worthy emulation. Through the two ■ companies being brought in contact with each other it was possible c or yhe men .to learn much, and the meefc;ng must be advantageous. The shooting as a whole was excellent, and he wis pleased to see the No. 8 Company at ' work' on the- Bin guns. The aim of the No. 4 Company (Lyttelton) on the 8m , guns that morning was very gratifying, and he was'pleased to say that in firing one series they established a time record; Lieutenant-Colonel -Johnston, Director ► of-Ordnance, was also well pleased with ; what he had seen, the shooting and • drill being excellent. He hoped that * the No. 8" Company had enjoyed-their stay at the fort, and would go Imclc * to the West Coast with happy recol- • lections of Lyttelton. -In conclusion, ' General Godley 6aid he would like to L congratulate Colonel C. J. Cooper and ' the' members of the No. 4 Company on 1 their excellent work. ' General Godley then presented twelve years' - sennce medals to Sergeant [ M'Donngh and Bombardier Marshall, i of the No. 8 Company. ' I ELECTRIC LIGHT STATION.

Yesterday Major Cottrill, Captain P: J,. E. Veale and. Lieutenant ,D. M'Donald paid a visit to'the electric light station..at GdllanV Bay, and ©verything was fqund in fine order. Twelve men are stationed at the barracks. Corporal Lewin being electrician and Corporal Carrell engineer. ANNUAL SPORTS. The. annual sports gathering was held yesterday afternoon, and . the- results were as follow: _'■ Territorial Championship, 100 yd—s F. Moir, No. 4 Company, 1 ; (runner W. Furueaux, No. 4 Company, 2.-:' Relay Race,: 400yds—Corporal Moir, Gunner W. Furneaux, Gunner Clark and Gunner Scrra, No. 4 Company, 1. Potato Race—Bombardier Hall, No. 8, Company, 1. Four-legged Race—Gunner Wbeatley and Gunner 'Williams, No. 8 Company, !.■■.•'' Tent Pitching—No. 8 Company, under Sergeant M'Donagh, 1. Egg and Spoon Race —Gunner Reid. No. 8 Company, 1. Officers' Race —Lieutenant A. H. Evenden, No. 4 Company, I; SergeantMajor Connelly, R,N.Z;A., 2. Boxing Bouts—Gunner CNeil, No. 8 Company, 1. SMOKE CONCERT. ' In the evening a smoke concert was held in the barrack room, all the officers being present, and Major Cottrill took the opportunity to present the prizes for the, miniature shooting competition during IPI3. The following are the results:—No. 1 CompetitionsBombardier Vidulich 1, Bombardier Ryder 2. No. 1 2 Competition—Bombardier'Lloyd 1, Gunner Duffy ,2. No. .'? Competition Sergeant Peagram 1. Gunner Duffy 2. Bombardier Bumelf Tvif.h an aggregate of 65.5 won the medal presented by Quartermaster Reid for the most improved shot during the vear> Gunner Duffy being second Ttitb A visitor to the camp yesterday wa« v Mr A. Leaver, Mayor of Westport. To-morrow morning the men -will strike camp and leave for their bo-mea