Volunteer Notes.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 7, 18 August 1909, Page 12

Volunteer Notes.

By

RIFLEMAN.

ATTAIN SHERSON, of the A Bat- / 7 tery has received his certificate for the rank of Major in the Field Artilleiy. Colonel Wolfe, 0.C.D., left on Saturday to inspect the I’iako Mounted Rifles at Waihou the same afternoon. An Auckland resident is understood to be (says the “Dominion”) in negotiation with the defenc authorities with regard to the supply of a portable wireless telegraph equipment to the forces. A recent “Gazette” contains an intimation of the acceptance of the services of the Dargaville Rifle Club (as from July 23), Raukokore Rifle Club (July 26), and Te Kaha Rifle Club (July 26). . Lieutenant Greenhough, of No. 1 Co. G.A.V., has received his captain’s certificate. Both Lieutenants Pullen and Greeuhough of No. 1 Co. have thus now qualified for a higher rank than they occupy. Mr Bullen, of Dominion-road, Auckland, has promised the Eden Cadets a trophy for a shooting competition at the Penrose range. Mr Bullen takes a keen interest in volunteering, having received his long service medal. Captain Richardson, chief instructor of artillery, arrived in Auckland by the Main Trunk express last week. Ho delivered a lecture to Garrison Artillery officers on the “Causes and Effects of Inaccuracy in Shooting.” The resignations have been accepted in a recent “Gazette” of Captain (Adjutant) S. A. Grant, first Battalion Auckland Infantry, and of Captain L. Frazer-Hurst, Te Puke Mounted Rifles. Captain Frazer-Hurst has been posted to the active list unattached. On Thursday last week the Eden Cadets, under Captain Shepherd, joined forces with the No. 3 Natives, in defending the latter’s territory at Richmond against the Nos. 1 and 2 Natives and Victoria Rifles. The cadets, I hear, acquitted themselves very credit ably. The approved official contract and special regulations of service between the New Zealand Council of Defence and the Victoria College Military Committee, as regards the newly established Officers’ Training Corps, has been signed, and a tender accepted for uniforms. Lieut.-Adjutant Cummings paid a visit the other day to the Kingsland Drill Hall, and lectured to the members of the No. 2 Natives on “Discipline,” his remarks being followed with keen interest by the company. Captain Richardson, at the conclusion of the lecture, thanked Lieutenant Cummings on behalf of the company. Negotiations are at present in hand between the New Zealand Council of Defence and the Lands Department with a view to the reservation of a suitable area of land in the Nbrth Island, situated in a central district, for use as a fixed training ground for the forces, the idea being based on the British Army training ground on Salisbury Plains, England. The members of No. 2 Native Rifles Intend holding a series of socials fortnightly in their new hall, Kingsland. A committee, consisting of Captain Richardson, Lieutenant Gibb. Sergeant McMurtrie, Corporal Periz, and Private Allen, have the arrangements well in hand. A conference was held last week between Colonel Wolfe, 0.C.D., and Sir G. M. O’Rorke (chairman), and Messrs. F. E. Baume and G. L. Peacocke (members of the Auckland University Council), to discuss the regulations in regard to the proposed establishment of an officers’ training corps in connection with the institution. The members of the Council will as a result, report to that body at the next meeting. The “A” Squadron First Regiment Auckland Mounted Rifles held their annual smoke concert in the No. 2 Native Rifles’ Hall, at Kingsland, last week. Capt Potter, Lieuts. Atkinson, Holden, and a number of other visitors were present, including Major Bloomfield, Capt. and Adj. Nuttsford, Capt. Pay, and Quartermaster Harris, Capts. Browne, Crocker, Richardson, M. Atkinson, and Lieut. Gibb. After the toast of “The King” had been honoured. Major Bloomfield proposed that of the ’‘Army and Navy,” this being responded to by Capt. Browne. The toast of the “Regimental Staff” was pro-posed by Lieut. Holden, and responded to by Capt. Nuttstford. Capt. Potter proposed the toast of “The Visitors,” and Sergt. Morgan that of “The Ladies.” Vocal and musical items were rendered during the evening by Messrs J. Browning, W. Skerrett, J. Skerrett, A. Morgan, and Morrison, Sergt.-Major Bickerton, Q.M.S. McElroy, Sergts. Smith, Morgan, and Hitchens, Cpls. Ferguson and Purchas, Tr. Morgan, and Gun. Peebles. Quarterly examinations are to be held at various centres In the Auckland district on the Ist prox. for officers who are standing with respect io appointments and promotions. The following are the candidates: Ka w aka wa—-Capt. Matthews, for major;

Lieut. Kingston, for captain; Whangarel—Lieuts. Mackay (Scottish Horse), Donaldson and Devlin (Whangarel Hides), for lieutenants; Paeroa —Lieuts. Littlejohn (No. 1 Ohlnemuri Rifles) and Redwood (Hauraki Rifles), for lieutenants; Hamilton—Lieuts. Bruce Danniell, and Patterson (No. 1 Waikato M.R.), Bruce (No. 3 Waikato M.R.), Burgess, Nicholson (Raglan M.R.), Quartermaster Cowley (staff No. 2 Regiment M.R.), for lieutenants; CapL Rowe (Hamilton Cadets), for captain; Auckland —Capt. Atkinson (No. 1 Natives), for captain; Lieuts. Reardon (Engineers), Jackson (G.A.V.), Webster (Waiuku M.R.X, Schofield (Pukekohe M.R.), Danna (St. John’s College), Walker (King’s College), for lieutenants; Lieuts. Morton and McGilp (“A’’ Battery), for captains. Appended is a list of the passes at the recent non-commissioned officers’ examination in Auckland, together with the marks attained. It should be explained that all the candidates with 240 or more marks have gained their certificates for sergeants. The others have qualified as corporals. The following are the passes: Victoria Rifles—• Sergt. J. C. Yeo 285, Sergt. W. J. Taft 242, Cpl. F. O’Gorman 302, Cpl. A. Patrick 306, Cpi. G. Monk 311; No. 1 Natives—LanceCpl. B. Gibson 310, Lance-Cpl. J. Rankin 323, Lance-Cpl F. J. Smith 235; No. 2 ■Natives —Cpl. C. W. Speary 316, Sergt. A. Jillings 295; No. 3 Natives—Sergt. R. T. H. Daniel 305; Cycling and Signalling Corps— Cpl. J. H. Gosset 315, Cpl A. W. Thomas 310, Cpl. W. H. Woodward 327, Cpl. M. Steele 336, Cpl. J. H. Wyatt 295, Cpl. H. C. Duthie 311, Cpl C. G. C. Marshall 326; “F” Company—<Sergt. S. M. Seel 351, Cpl, C. J. Thompson 308, Cpl. W. H. Mcßeath 303, Lance-Cpl. V. W. Martin 239, Lance-Cpl. A. G. Thorburn 321, Lance-Cpl. G. S. Reid 308, Lance-Cpl. W. F. Keenan 309; High land Rifles—Sergt. R. Carnahan 371, Sergt. R. G. Hutton 341, Sergt. Craig 373, Sergt. Oliphant 338; No. 3 Co. N.Z. Engineers—Cpl. C. H. Taylor 343, Cpl. S. M. Payne 362, Sergt. P. G. Pearce 365, LanceCpl. C. K. Hansen 266. It will be seen that the highest aggregate was made by Sergt. Craig, of No. 1 Highland Rifles, with Sergt. Carnahan (Highland Rifles) second and Sergt. Pearce (Engineers) third. Officers’ Training Corps. REGULATIONS GAZETTED. Regulations have been gazetted for the Officers’ Training Corps, to be established at universities and high schools in New Zealand, with a view to securing a reserve of properly trained officers. The regulations explain the primaryobject of the corps as to provide students at universities and high schools with a standardised measure of elementary military training, with a view to their eventually accepting commissions In the Reserve of Officers, or the Defence Forces. Young men who, on being recommended for commissions in the Reserve of Officers or the Defence Forces can produce certificates of proficiency obtained id the Officers’ Training Corps, will be exempted from a portion of the probationary training, or from certain examinations, required from other officers. By means of the facilities thus offered to men who wish to serve their country with the least possible interference with their civil career, it is hoped that the supply of officers may be increased, and that all arms and services may not only be complete in officers on mobilisation, but also have a surplus in the. junior commissioned ranks in order to make good the losses which will occur in war. The value of the certificates of proficiency lies in their being the guarantee of from two to four years’ consecutive training of a nature calculated to produce good officers. The scheme will therefore not be fully operative for a considerable time. The regulations have been compiled partly with a view to covering this transitional period, and should therefore be regarded as provisional The Officers’ Training Corps will consist of the volunteer or cadet corps of those universities and high schools whose application to furnish a contingent to the Officers’ Training Corps is accepted by the Council of Defence. Any existing self-contained university volunteer corps, and the university companies which have hitherto formed part of local volunteer units, may be transferred, in their present formations, to the Officers’ Training Corps. Similarly, the existing volunteer corps and companies, and the cadet corps of hlarh schools, may be transferred to the Officers’ Training Corps. At universities and high schools where there has hitherto been no military organisation, units may be formed at any time for inclusion fn the Officers’ Training Corps with the approval of the Council of Defence. Members of the senior division will b> enrolled to serve under a contract to be drawn ud by each university to suit Its own conditions. Memberships need not be confined to members of a university, but may be open, nt .the discretion of the university authorities and officers commanding units. No boy under thirteen years of age will be enrolled In the junior division. The promotion of cadets to non-commissioned, rank will rest with officers commanding contingents or units. In the junior division cadets may, with the approval of headmasters, be appointed “cadet officers” In the proportion of one cadet officer to every twenty cadets. Cadet officers will wear officers’ uniform, but will not hold commklr slon*. -