MILITARY AND NAVAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18522, 24 July 1928, Page 6

MILITARY AND NAVAL NOTES.

NEWS FROM BARRACKS AND PARADE GROUND. By GUNNER. Personal. Captain A. N. Oakey, M.C., has been taken on the strength of the Ist Battalion. Canterbury Regiment. He will command C Company in place of Major S. D. Mason, who has been appointed Second in Command of the battalion. Major D. B. Blair, D. 5.0.. N.Z.S.C., has been transferred to the Retired List with the rank of lieutenant-col-onel. N.C.O.’s Social. The n.c,p.’s .of the Ist Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, have arranged to hold* tjieir first social function on August 4. This, in connection with the scheme that has been under consideration for some time to increase the regimental spirit and show that regimental life is something more than a mere attendance at parades. In other centres similar functions have been arranged. C Company in Timaru will hold their social on Thursday, and in Ashburton an n.c.o. social will take plate before the end of the month. Marching Competition. A .marching and shooting competition somewhat similar to the Snow Shield competition between Christ’s College and the .-Boys’ High School has been suggested from the 4th Cadet Bat- ■ talion. The proposal concerns the senior platoon in each company, which will be expected to provide a team. With their rifles, the teams will march from the Barracks to the Redcliffs rifle range, and on reaching the 500 yards mound they will advance in a field formation to the 300 yards mound, where an extension will take place. The advance to the 200 yards mound will be made at the double and firing will- ensue at iron falling plates. Inspections will be made before leaving town and at the 500 yards mounds, and points will be awarded for appearance, march discipline, shooting, and time. The proposal appears, at first sight, to be eminently practical and well adapted to add variety to the Cadet training. It is confidently felt that the Cadets will be able to stand up to the competition, particularly as it is not proposed to carry out the scheme until much later in the year, giving time for practice in marching. A longish march—longish for Cadets —is not so simple as it sounds. To walk to Redcliffs in one’s own time is an easy matter, but under the conditions imposed by the marching of a military unit it is a vastly different thing, and definite training for the purpose is necessary. It’ is understood that a handsome gold cup is available for the competition. Boxing. The following is the conclusion arrived at. as a result of a meeting of all unit .c.omm an .d er s , with the Garrison Sports Association held at King Edward Barracks, at which the Colonel Commandant presided:— In order to foster the sport of. boxing among Territorials and Cadets and to assist the Garrison Sports Association in this respect it has been suggested that a boxing club should lie formed within each unit for instruction, training, etc. A small committee should be formed within the unit to organise its activities. Boxing gloves, if not already held by the units, can be obtained from Ordnance Department or on loan from Area Headquarters. Practice and instruction can be carried out after parades each evening from 9-10 p.m. in the Barracks. There should be no expense to the individual Cadet or Territorial, as it is anticipated that units will have no difficulty in arranging for. the services of honorary instructors. Wherg any such difficulty is experienced, the Garrison Sports Association will endeavour to arrange' for the necessary instructor. Competitions will be held periodically between teams from the various units in the following classes:— Novice: For all 111056 who have never been in a ring before. Tvro: For those who have never won a bout. Open: For all others. A championship meeting will be held at the end of each: season for which the periodical unit competitions may be looked on as the training ground. It is considered that with proper facilities, live organisation and encouragement numbers who do not now box will be induced to take up the sport and become enthusiastic, and your help is asked to foster this very desirable spirit of keenness and competition, without which little can be accomplished. A meeting of the Garrison Sports Association and representatives of units will be held at King Edward Barracks on Friday, August 3, at 7.30 p.m., when the matter will be further discussed.