THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 5

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL CADETS,. INSPECTED BY GENERAL | GODLEY. s I Yesterday afternoon General Godley, Commandant of the Defenco I orces, inspected the Boys' Higli' School Cadets. The General was accompanied by Major Pinwill, Captain AV. 0. Finnis and "Lieutenant T. Rhodes. The parade was under the command of Lieutenant W. Hoar, and the contingent consisted of two companies of full strength and the Bugle Band. The Cadets made a very fine appearance, and their bearing throughout was decidedly good. After going through company, squad, physical and arm drill, the Cadets were addressed by the Commandant, who expressed pleasure at the opportunity of seeing the Cadets and satisfaction with their work. The turn out of the contingent was quite good. Mo was glad to see that nearly all or them had rides, and hoped that within a few days every Cadet -would be armed. He understood that many of them were recruits, but that they were learning rapidly how to handle arms. The company drill, although good, was not perfect, and the physical drill cotikl be better, but the arms drill was distinctly good. Ho did not say this to discourage them, but rather to urge them on to make themselves perfect in these important matters. It had pleased him to see the squad and section commanders drilling the Cadets. Continuing. General Godley said he hoped that they would see to it that the companies were perfect in all respects by tlio time Sir lan Hamilton, iho Inspector-General, eamo to inspect thero. Everybody interested in the Boys' High School would expect to see the school colours well to the fore on that occasion. It was intended to select certain companies to perform certain work, and the High School Cadets would be among those selected. Everybody would expect them, therefore, to | be efficient and would certainly judge I them hy the work clono on that day. lie could see that much trouble had been taken by the commander and officers during the past year, and ho urged the boys to go on taking as keen an interest in their work as they had done formerly. By so doing they would be found in time among the best men in the Canterbury regiments. The band wn,=t a.n excellent one and doubtless would be of great assistance to the Cadets in their work and an honour to the school. It had pleased him very much to find the headmaster present at the parade to show his > interest in the Cadets, and life desired to congratulate liim and the officers on the excellent progress mado since the inception of the new scheme of defence. The companies, headed by 4 he band, marched from the barracks the school and were 'thcro dismissed.