DEFENCE NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11926, 8 February 1917, Page 2

DEFENCE NOTES.

(By SNTPE'R.J On Tuesday" the No. 1 Field . Cw \- pany T".ngineers wore put through rifle exorciso by Staff Sergeant-Major filativille. and aqiiitted themselves very woll. If ' ; s VfJ »'y that "the i.Kn- « gineers are exorcised in this elas-s 01 § work, as fheir time is devoted to other 1 duties. ' Tt trnnld not he out of |dace to explain ,son-.e of tlie dune's of the engineer companies. as iho eroinary I civilian knows little, if nr.Ytlmig. al'ontj them. Th<> field companies are emplnred ill {.irtifioations. obstacle-, mining, demolitions. n.ilitary hnrlges. watpr ftipply. etc. The ordinary iir--trenches are hy the ini'tmtvv ninler .supervision. Tiie I'.nein.-er:. eonstrtt-'t the mote important work. ! sneli a- ove-head cover, loopholes, etc I The Divisional Signal Company is re- • pponsililo for 'die communications from 1 diyisional and brigade headquarters to \ the reo-irncntal h.eadr(-.tarters. 1 his m- \ siicnalliHL' with flflgs. lamps am, £ helio-rnpl-. ami tV-hl telegraphy aim I Tolrphones. The l».e t and Te|e-ranh £ Engineers generally aCend the line, o; | communieatiou from the different, base. f ami supervise the postal arrangements. \ j Tin- Kaiiwav Kngineers' duties are I I similar to tle.se of the Field Engineers, \ \ except, thai thev would orohahly only L i be cnmlovod m eonneetJon with im.porf i tan! raiiwav innctiotis and bnd-e- ---[ | bonds, and «iih radway tran~p..n -nd ' repnif'. ! , ,\ wdmo! or ie-t nmt am Mn;ani:> I j N'.C.O.'s vapners from t'ue dmeri ' eni ru-iocei- communes will he held at- • ij.f. 7<im: Edward Banr-el-s. under «inil : sj f .vrreant.-Maior Olanville. every >atr,rI j flay eveniim from 7.M o'do<k. e,„„- | I mencing on Februaiy Hh B ;> hoped 1 I that a. eotrsiderable nnmbei- will avail j. | viiem-elves of thisopport nun y t-. I ! themselves effieien.;. | ! fin Wedm-day cy-n;.,- ! a- ''o; , ' i ■

' j? Oivisional -h:iia : perionned iield service operations m HaHey : ]*ark. A ease office was ~,- am! advance rlations yo-r.coe.iofl 'n inree ,JirPfiioii = . fommnnioaimns wme kcot: VVf hv teim>hone. teie,:raph and lamp Munalliim. Much valuable -ork was carried on and all rank, are to he eon- '■ -ratnla'od on their hi..di Mr.te o| <nV ' ,"<erv-v A defmhmen: wa.~ detailed tor ; visual vith a vieu to ,-v tondiutr the parades. -n ihat ,i! , h-am-iu , of the service wi'i ha ...•'■upie'l ! ii. \:-,U\rc s.-hen,.-.. the ne-a |,- r wf-ek~. suviilar work "ill ho "oje-

The 1-1 Momitrd \h?,r-< iCsniterlmry. ■ Yeomanr. Cavalry will hold tiimr au- . ii.ml ft.iiii at Moinkarara i-mn Mar.-a :-M till April «. It. i> anfie,pai<Hi that ; a 'ar-e number will attend Mm camp. I this yo:ir. Tim l~f .Canterbury. Regimen; has e.nroloved its parade "time, this t.-c"k i wii'h ';. rcrisioir of infantry wl mus- ' keirv -voric pr'or to going into eaiti]) ; in the ear'v part of Maieh. I CanMUt T. Charters 'eft (Vistehnrrh tor freutham on Monday ni^hi. wlmr.i ho will take uii duties with the New : Z. ..land liispclitionary Fore-. I Suh-Arca W. 1,. ! Stewart, til charge of M area, has been i ordered to Tremham for duty arvl proj eeccied there last night. I The Twenty--ix tli R'autorecmeiit I draf- h-Tt ClinsieVitjroh for Trentham ! and Feathcrston la:-t i.mhi. They »s- ---' .e n ,!.icd at King Edward UanwK mi<- ] hrmlrod atal l.t'.v si rone, and were , paraurd under the kwd Mafl. After ! an inspection and a tew moi-.k '> ; C,;iou'd Chatfex de .nio.a. h.-aded yv I the O.V.C. Band. mandied to tl.o. iciaiinn. Tke North C-iiiU'-rbury drait i h,ut for the north on Tuesday evening. i Captain Colelongh. officer in charge !of Group XNE. ha-s been in (.'linst- ! church during the past, few tlays. The- Tuesday night for cadet rrcmiis is showing remarkable progress in view of the i'aer. that only a Tew pat-ados hare ve; keen held. This { week the tod:-, headed "by the lme> j hand, had a route march through iJ'.e I ekv am! acqnit.ed themselves orodilab- ! Iv. On returning to the barracks they ! were instructed in elementary work. ■ Infantry iiistT-uetional work is carried j on', tinder difiiouftios on Tue-dny evenings owing to .lie fact that .10 Battery. Ist. Canterbury .Regiment and Engineers are all en parade at the same time. All cade;, companies this week havo been exercised in physical and eompa.itv drill, the weaiher having been unfavourable, for outdoor movements. The Post., and Telegraph C:v]o\ Corps. •which was recently tak<*t over b\ Minehan, and which lias heen .generally reorganised, paraded on Monday night. This unit will require-, to show improvement before the end of this year, but that promises to he accomplished under the new instructor. I hear that, owing possibly to the Christmas festivities, a slackness in the attendance of var'ous companies has been noticed, and it- is likely that the Alagistrate will have a busy day in the near future dealing v. ith the defaulters.. The secondary school cadet companies have commenced drills again, and there .is every prospect of then- making an even better showing than they did last year. The rolls in every ca.se are Stronger.

No. 7'2 Company Senior Cadets, which parade at Ricenrton on Tuesday evenings, under Lieutenant- Robinson and Sergeant-Major Pound, is showing a marked improvement under the new syllabus; of military training. The physical drill is welcomed as a change from the usual squad drill. This company is under a great disadvantage as compared with the town companies, having only a small hall to work in, when the weather is unfavourable for outdoor work. Outdoor movements ar« carried out on the public roads when the weather is fine. This company, for a small unit, is one of the best'for attendance., tho average parade showing 34 out. of 40. Considering that many of tho lad's work in the surrounding training stables, the attendance of the company must he considered good, more especially so on account of the stable duties -to he performed by the boys in the evenings.