VOLUNTEER NOTES

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 26, 23 December 1908, Page 37

VOLUNTEER NOTES

(By

RIFLEMAN.)

A Military Court opened at Oamaru last week to inquire into certain volunteer irregularities, two well-known local officers and a staff sergeant-major being- implicated. Those comprising the court are Colonel Head (president), Major Richardson (Christchurch), Captain Barclay (Waimate). It is anticipated that the proceedings will last for some time, a large number of witnesses having been subpoenaed. At a muster of the Wellington Garrison Artillery and D Battery of Field Artillery last week, Captain Richardson, director of artillery services, was presented with an illuminated address setting forth the appreciation of every artillery volunteer company in the Dominion. The presentation was made by Colonel Campbell. Capt. W. H. Horton, newly appointed to the N.Z. Medical Corps, has been attached to the Otaniatea M.R. for duty. The No. 1 Natives have decided to hold a private camp at Devon port during February. A special parade of the company is called for January llth for the purpose of making the final arrangements. Col. Wolfe. O.C. District, has concluded his trip to the North. He went up to Te Awamutu last week to inspect the local squadron of M.R., and thus practically completes the annual inspection of the district. The College Rifles went out to the Veterans’ Home last week, and gave an excellent entertainment to the old warriors there. It consisted of an amusing farce, some drill exercises, and various . other individual Items. The whole performance was greatly appreciated by the old men. The friends of Capt. Rogers, N.Z.M., of the Instructional Staff in the South Island, formerly of the Auckland Staff, will be sorry to hear that he has been unwell for some time past, and has had to ask for extended leave of absence on medical certificate. He has been granted it till February 2Sth next.

During the parade of the No. 1 Natives last week. Sergeant C. Smith was presented with a valuable rug by Captain Coutts, on behalf of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company. Captain Coutts remarked on the Sergeant’s popular win, after a series of very close matches. The Franklin M.R. intend to hold a sports meeting at Clevedon in February next. Last year’s meeting was so successful that the squadron have been encouraged to offer £35 in prizes this year; not a bad sum for one squadron. There will be nine events for non squadron competitors. All the squadrons of the Ist Regiment. A.M.R.. have taken up, or are adopting, the system suggested in the new manual of training, by which the training of the men is carried on largely by troops, and the troop leaders, are made responsible for their efficiency. This takes a load of responsibility off the shoulders of the ‘O.C., and encourages a healthy spirit of rivalry between the troops. It should conduce to greater efficiency also. Under amended defence regulations gazetted recently the New Zealand long service medal is made available to all members of the permanent staff, and all members of the volunteer force who have served efficiently for twenty years, which service need not necessarily be continuous, or those who have served continuously as efficient for sixteen years. In cases where the bandmaster of a battalion or half-battalion band has been seven years in charge, and is efficient, he may be granted the honorary rank of lieutenant. The Eden Cadets have concluded the competition for a silver cup, the firing for which took place on their miniature range at the Drill Shed. The conditions were 10 shots with an optional sigh ter, and resulted as follows: —Sergeant I’ . McCullough (scratch!, Ist shoot 44, 2nd shoot 45 total 89; Corporal R. Vernon (scratch), 40, 42—82; Cadet Howarth (15). 27. 37 79: Sergeant Cornaga (5), 38, 35—78; Cadet

O’Brien (12), 29, 36—77; Cadet Gerrard (12), 30, 35—77; Sergeant Cosgrave (scratch). 44, 32—76; Corporal Carter (7), 28, 41—76; Corporal Hutson (2). 41, 32 75; Cadet Edwards (scratch), 43. 32 —75; Cadet Beagle (8), 33, 34-75; Cadet Flynn (6), 34, 33—73; Sergeant Barnes (15) 26, 30—71; Cadet Kula (20), 20, 27—67; Cadet Butterworth (8), 22, 27—57; Corporal Walmsley <18). 20, 46—54. Twenty-siv other also competed. At a meeting of the committee of the Wellington Garrison Signallers it was decided to purchase a cup for inter-company competition, to be known as the Wellington Garrison Signallers’ Challenge Cup. It was subsequently decided that the cup should be held for twelve months. The first competition is to be held about the end of Feb ruary next. The existence of this cup will’ supply a long-felt want, and should result in the interest in signalling being very much increased. It would be a good thing if such a cup were provided in Auckland. The signalling is increasing in efficiency in such companies as the College Rifles and the Engineers, but it is not general enough. Amendments to “combined training” in regard to field ambulances have been approved and will be embodied in the revised edition, when issued. Field ambulances will follow their own divisions, unless otherwise ordered, and will usually march in rear of the brigade ammunition columns. When an engagement is imminent, as many sections, or parts of sections, as may be necessary, will be allotted to brigades, and inarch with them. A section, or part of a section, is considered normally sufficient for small, temporary detachments, such as an advanced guard. On the same principle, a cavalry field ambulance may be allotted to a cavalry brigade, ami its light ambulance wagons to detached regiments or smaller parties of mounted troops. The Wireless Telegraph companies of the Royal Engineers have made good progress towards perfecting a field apparatus for service use. In place of a complicated mass of wires and a train of wagons, a neat field outfit is now in use for messages under a hundred miles. The whole kit is carried with troops in a light one-horse cart, whose poles and attached wires form the wireless outfit. A good dispatching speed has been obtained. The “station” can be fixed up In an hour, and taken down in half an hour. Eight men form the detachment. The permanent station at Aldershot has a range of 1000 miles', placing Aidershot in touch with the fleets at sea. There is still, however, a drawback in the fact that “waves” cross one another, and so go to the wrong destinations. German messages have been taken on the home wires, and Aidershot ‘•waves” have been received on Hu- • istrument at Berlin. French fleet meK3:;g- - from Casablanca have also been received at Home. It is believed that a means has been found to prevent this undesirable exchange of signals.

The development of Lieut.-General BadenPowell’s scheme of Boy Scouts has assumed very large proportions, and has gone beyond what had been expected on its initiation six months ago. It was begun with the idea that its chief points might form useful additions to the present attractions or training held out to boys by the different organisations, such as boys’ brigades, Y.M.C.A., and boys’ clubs, but it has been found in practice that a large number of lads have preferred to band themselves together as scouts, independent of existing organisation, and, though this is in itself a good sign, as showing that the movement is popular amongst the boys, it lays the scheme open to misunderstanding or misdirection. In consequence of this, the executive now propose to extend a system which has already obtained in several large centres, by forming a Boy Scouts’ Committee in each large town. This committee would take

cognisance of all patrols and troops within its district; it would appoint the scout mas ters and award the badges of classification to scouts; would make arrangements for camps and parados, and generally help In the matter of establishing clubs ami fitting out the boys with equipment. Two travel ling inspectors have been appointed by the central executives, whose business it is to visit, free of charge, any centre requiring

their services. to give advice and suggoxlions, to conduct tests, and generally to regulate administration on a recognised standard. This, it is hoped, will introduce method and system through the numerous branches.