15

H.—l9

Section 1/.. Gunnery. Every non-commissioned officer and man in the corps (excepting drivers and trumpeters) will be examined as laid down in section 2, chapter vii. The average percentage gained by all those examined is to be calculated and multiplied by the number of non-commissioned officers and men examined and divided by the number of non-com-missioned officers and gunners in the corps. Example. —A battery is eighty strong all ranks (four officers, two staff sergeants, four sergeants, eighteen drivers, two trumpeters, and fifty gunners), therefore there are fifty-six available for gunnery examinations. Only forty-eight present themselves for examination, and the average percentage gained by that number was 80 per cent., and the marks gained by the battery _0 v 4- . for the Challenge Shield in this subject was —=-; — = 0-68, or 68 marks. 0 o In this examination staff sergeants are to be examined in their special duties, and the remaining non-commissioned officers are to be put through a more thorough examination than the men, both in theoretical and practical, but the same number of marks will be awarded as in the case of gunners. This examination is to be conducted during the annual training-camp. Section 5. Signalling. The examination for signalling will be carried out by a qualified officer, deputed by the A.5.0., during the second week of the training-camp and some time previous to the service practice. It will be conducted in accordance with instructions contained in section 5, chapter vii. The total marks to count for the Challenge Shield in this subject is 50. If there are more than four men in the squad of signallers, the average of the four best signallers will be divided by 2 to obtain the marks to count for the shield. Example. —The average percentage of a squad of four signallers is o'7B. Points for Challenge Shield = — = 0-39, or 39 marks. _ Section 6. Range-finding. All the range-takers in the battery will be examined previous to the annual service practice in accordance with instructions contained in section 4, chapter vii. The points to count for the Challenge Shield will be obtained by dividing the average results of the three best range-takers by 2. Full marks to count for this examination towards the shield = 50. Example. —Average percentage of the three best range-takers = 96. Points to count for 9fi Challenge Shield - — = 48. _ Section 7. Gun-laying. All the gun-layers of the battery will be examined just previous to the annual service practice by an officer deputed by the A.S.O. The examination will be conducted in accordance with the instructions contained in chapter viii. Full marks to count for Challenge Shield in this subject are 72, which will be computed by taking the average results of the twelve best layers in the battery. Example. —lf the average results of the best layers in a battery are 69, the points for the shield will also be 69. Section 8. Trumpeters. The two trumpeters on the strength of the corps will be examined in— (_.) Riding. (..) Semaphore signalling. (c.) Sounding camp calls on the trumpet. (<_.) Sounding bugle calls mounted at the trot. (c.) Turn out. Two points will be awarded for each of the above sub-headings. Full marks to count for the shield in this subject = 20— i.e., 10 for each trumpeter. Section 9. Driving. All drivers will be examined in accordance with instructions contained in section 3, chapter vii. Full marks, 50. The points to count for the shield will be obtained by taking half the percentage of the twelve best drivers. Example. —The average percentage of the twelve best drivers examined =0 - 92; therefore 092 = 46 marks to count for shield. 2 If less than twelve are examined, the average number examined will be multiplied by the number of men examined and divided by 24. Section 10. Battery Turn-out and Route March. Each battery will be tested in rapidity in turning out in inarching order and taking up a position for action. Conditions. —Horses will be picketed, guns parked, as in camp. The " Alarm " will be sounded, and the battery will turn out fully horsed and take up a position for action at a point indicated by the inspecting officer. The time will be taken from the sounding of the " Alarm " until the first round in fired. All mistakes will be noted, and the battery inspected, and errors in harnessing, &c, noted.