VOLUNTEER NOTES

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 13, 31 March 1909, Page 54

VOLUNTEER NOTES

(By

RIFLEMAN.

No. 2 G.A.V. held a daylight parade at the forts on Saturday last. Captain Tapper, lately in command of the Engineers, and now on the active unattached list, has been notified that he has passed the examination for Major, and has received his certificate. In the Second Regiment Auckland Mounted Rifles (Waikato) 290 pien have earned capitation this year out of a possible 234. /This. it is expected, will constitute a record for this year. The Gazette of March 4th, notifies the acceptance of the services of the Auckland Highland Rifle Volunteers as from the Ist Inst. The company will not: commence work in earnest, and recruit diiil is to be Started after the Easter Encampment. The following promotions have been made in No. 2 G.A.V.: —Acting-Sergeants, Corporals Maxwell and Thompson; Acting-Corpor-als, Bond). Burrage, Gunners R. G. Black, 11. W. Dixon, T. Battersby, and Agnew; 'Acting-Bombardiers, Gunners Pers ton, Philpot, Lupton, Kernot, Isbister, Faucett, and ETuckey. Capt. Coutts, who is retiring from the command of No. 1 Natives, is to be elected fi life member, and if it can be so arranged, honorary captain of the corps. The men themselves feel deeply the loss of such an energetic and popular officer. During their stay in camp at the Bastion Fort this Easter, a private launch will be at the disposal of No. 1 G.A.V. The little craft will be in use for raids and general garrison work. It is also understood that this company will have its own rations, irrespective of the department of the IA.Q.M.G. Leave of absence has been granted by the Council of Defence to the following officers: —Lieut.-Colonel G. W. S. Patterson, N.Z.G.A.V., Auckland, until April 15tb, 1909; Acting-Lleut. Henry Jolly, Seddon Horse, until January 4th, 1910; Hon. Chaplain the Rev. Ronald Macdonald, Raglaii Mounted Rifles, until March 31, 1910. At the parade of the No. 2 Company G.A.V. on March 22. Mr. Finch was elected lieutenant of the company. Mr Finch is a new arrival from England, where he served for several years in the Engineers, and was ftfterwards in journalism. He has had practical experience with electric lighting, aud should be of great assistance to the electric light section of the company. He is an engineer by profession, and is at present on the staff of the Harbour Board. A letter from the Chief Health Officer Dlr. Mason) to Colonel Wolfe, 0.C.D., intimates that the water in the district for the Easter manoeuvres at Morrinsville has ft>cen analysed by Surgeon-Captain Makgill, und has proved to be very satisfactory for •ill requirements. It will be understood that the question of a good water supply is of pre-eminent importance under such circumstances, and its approval by the authorities is a matter for note. The officers of No. 1 G.A.V. expect to take 150 men into camp this Easter. The night firing, which is to be a feature, will, it is expected, prove a big incentive. I urn informed by Capt. Knyvett that a great many old members are desirous of rejoining, in view of the general wave of patriotic feeling which has followed hard on the heels of the German naval scare, and in recognition of the fact that more gunners should be in readiness for the defence of the Dominion. •Some of the work handed by the officers to Colonel Wolfe, 0.C.D., as a result of the recent staff ride over the Easter encampment site at Morrinsville, shows remarkably good judgment and skill, a num-

ber of the sketches in particular being exceptionally fine samples of draughtsmanship. Colonel Wolfe informs me that the staff ride was very successful, aud great interest was taken in the exercise. An analysis of the results of the field artillery shows the five batteries in the following order: A Battery (Auckland) 84 marks; B Battery (Dunedin) 82.5 marks, D (Battery (Wellington) 70 marks, II Battery (Nelson) 66.5 marks, E Battery (Christchurch) 65.5 marks. To qualify as a firstclass lottery a minimum of 70 marks must be obtained, so that all but Christchurch and Nelson qualify as first-class. A Battery (Auckland), as already announced, wins the (Rhodes Gup, but the award of the shield is not yet announced. B Battery lost to Auckland in the average percentage of effective time shell, Auckland gaining 70 as opposed to B Battery’s 48. B Battery’s time from “action” to “first gun” was Ini 38s, against A Battery’s 2m 295, and to “last gun” 9m 475, as against A Battery’s 10m ss.

Considerable dissatisfaction was recently expressed amongst local volunteers at the Government’s intention to place the troops on mobilisation rations for the Easter encampment. Colonel Wolfe, 0.C.D., has received an intimation from the Council of ■Defence advising him that the ration laid down in the mobilisation regulations need not be strictly adhered to, but the total cost of rations, including straw, is not to exceed 1/10 per man per day. At the last encampment this cost was 1/SJ, and both milk and butter figured on the menu on that occasion. It will thus be seen that conditions are very satisfactory, and that the fears of the men of having to endure dry bread and “btish” tea are now groundless.

In a circular issued by the O.C.D. it is proposed to concentrate Rifle Clubs at convenient centres at Easter for two days. Presidents of rifle clubs are requested to forward to the O.C.D. a collect wire stating: (a) Whether attending or not; (b) What days would be suitable for their particular club; (c) most convenient place for concentration. The following places for the different clubs are suggested:—Te Arolia for the Waikino, Te Aroha, and Waingaro Clubs; Matapuna for the Kio Kio, Ohoura,

Kneaea, aud Upper King Country Rifle Club. As regards the remaining rifle clubs, the O.C.D. would be pleased to receive suggestions from presidents of clubs. The concentration will be for two days’ work, and the billettiug allowance for the whole time will be 4/ per man per day. When concentration takes place an officer or non-com-missioned officer will attend to instruct and carry on the scheme, which will consist of drills, field-firing, etc. Where the railway serves free passes will be issued to members attending. Writing from London, before the sensational play, “An Englishman’s Home," was produced to give a fillip to the territorial movement, the secretary of the National (Service League submits the belief of this organisation that any voluntary scheme of defence is doomed to failure for three reasons: (1) It does not provide sufficient men. (2) The peace training of those it does provide is hopelessly inadequate. (3) The burden is unfair in its Incidence. It is contended that even under the exiguous training tha-t now obtains, both the men who enlist, and their employers, are placed at a disadvantage in the industrial struggle. The league advocates compulsory service for all able-bodied youths between the ages of 18 and 21 for four months annually in camp for the infantry, and longer periods for the others arms, this training (three years) to be followed annually for three years by a musketry course and a fortnight

in camp. These soldiers would be developed solely for home defence in “a time of grave emergency.” It is estimated that this scheme would involve an additional cost not exceeding £4,000,000 a year, and the results, it is stated, would be an army of 400,000 men on the active* list in the fourth year after the introduction of the scheme, with 150,000 recruits undergoing their training of four months, Moreover, the reserve of men trained to arms would amount to 600,000 before the expiration of their liability for service.

Several additional matters in connection with the Easter encampment at Morrinsville should be noted by the officers and men participating. The majority of the troops will entrain at Auckland at 7.25 p.m. on the Thursday evening (April 8), whilst a horse train will leave at 10.35 p.m. To the latter, two carriages will be attached for men who are unable to leave town until late, and for those who are attending to the horses. The number of men in these two carriages should be limited. It should be mentioned that no payments will be made at the camp for acting ap-

point ments, i.e., with respect to officer! appointed to act In a certain rank during the manoeuvres. The disposal of the three Garrison Artillery companies has been arranged as follows: No. 1 Co., Bastion Fort; No. 2 00., Fort Cautley; No. 3 Co., Fort Takapflna. The Garrison Artillery goes under canvas ou the Thursday evening, and strikes camp on the Monday night. There wlli be night firing regularly at midnight through the camp, the targets being towed out in the channel. The volunteers of Piako were indebted to Mr and Mrs J. B. Starky. of Morrinsville (says a correspondent) for the very pleasant function which took place at thei? homestead on Saturday, March 20. on the occasion of the competition for the cup presented by Mr Starky to the Piako Mounted Rifles for mounted scouts work. The folowingwere ’the results. Tl. Corp. Cooper’s team, time 23, judging . distance 18, points for hits 69, dress 25, cover 9 144 Sergeant Taylor’s team, 25, 21, 38, 25, 14 123 Sergeant Given’s team, 19, 19, 44, 25, 9 116 Corp. Ewan’s team, 23, 9, 25, 25, 9 .... 91 The shooting was at unknown ranges, the distances being subsequently found to be 450, 350, and 200yds.