VOLUNTEER NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 25, 22 June 1910, Page 8

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

(By Rifleman.) Colonel C. B. Wolfe, O.C. Auckland District, is on the Etfs't Coast* on an inspection visit. An inquiry into the circumstances of an. accident which one of the gunners of No. 2 Company A.G.A. met with in January lust, was held last week by Capt. Potter and Lieut a. Finch and Moody. The Hudson Cup, which was won last year by the Port Chalmers Naval Artillery, has been received from Auckland in a damaged condition, probably owing to Insecure packing (says a Dunedin newspaper). In conaequence of the death of His Majesty King Edward, the committee of the Palmerston Naval and Military Tournament has decided to postpone this year's tournament from Noxumlur S and 9 till I>eceinber 31 ami January 2 next. After the parade of the No. 2 Company LA.G.A. inat week, Mr Blackett, who has been appointed lieutenant of the corps, was welcomed by the officers and men. Cnp'taln Richardson, while In Auckland, inspected the corps, and expressed himself Well pleased with the parade.

In general orders, tile resignation is announced of Lieut. G. T. Kretsehmar, No. 3 New Zealand Natives, and he has been placed on the active list, unattached. Among appointments approved are those of I.ieut. E. A. Reardon (Auckland Engineers), Lieut. J. F. Atkinson (Auckland Mouuteds), Lieut. Wm. Thomas (No. 2 Co. A.G.A.), and Lieut. H. W. King, to be acting captain, B Company, Auckland Grammar School Cadets. It Is notified in District Orders that the following have passed the qualifying examination for the rank set opposite their respective names:—O. F. Johnson, Bay of Islands M.R., for sergeant; A. Anderson, Bay of Islands M.R., for sergeant; Jas. Penny, Bay of Islands M.R., for corporal; W. E. Pentieost, Bay of Islands M.R., foicorporal; R. F. Neilson, Bay of Islands M.R., for corporal; R. Donovan, Highland Rifles, for sergeant; -Sam. Oldfield. Mangonul M.R., for sergeant; A. A. Gardner, Mangouui M.R., for sergeant.

The Gordon Rifles held their annual meeting in the Lecture Room, Drill Hall, on Friday week last, June 10th, when 64 members were present. The balance-sheet showed the Corps to be in a highly satisfactory position financially. Capt. W. Kay, in reviewing the yeai-’s work, congratulated all ranks on the success of their efforts, as evinced by the Corps’ success in the competition for the Batt. Shield. Capt. Kay also announced that he was daily expecting to receive notice of the appointment of Sergt. S. M. Seel as a lieutenant of the Coips. The promotion will be a very popular one. During the evening a vote of thanks was passed to the officers, bon. treasurer (Capt. Cumming), hou. secretary (Sergt. L. G. Ashtoul, ami the Shooting Committee for their work during the year. The A Battery has started on the new syllabus for the year. In addition to the usual Thursday parade for guu drill and fire discipline, classes for non-commissioned officers, specialists, and for instruction of recruits take place on Tuesdays, under the supervision of the Battery officers. Now that the Battery is practically at full strength, the work will be taken right through, from the elementary stages to the end of the course, so that by the time the annual examinations come off—this year they will be held prior to the camp—all the men should be well qualified to pass ami earn the grants awarded to specialists. The fact that the Battery will be working with its full strength does away with the inconveniences caused by the continual incoming of new recruits, and we may expect the corps to make a good show for the year. Fourteen cancidates for A and B certificates in connection with the junior division of the officers’ training corps (King’s College Cadets) weie examined last week by Captain Carpenter, A.AG. One paper was taken each evening, and the practical part will follow later. The following advantages are conferred on cadets of the Officers' Training Corps who, after obtaining one or both certificates, accept commissions in the reserve or defence forces: —(1) Should he take a commission in the reserve of officers' active list —exemption from examination as lieutenant; (2) should he take a commission in 'the defence force —exemption from the whole or part of the examination for promotion to the rank of lieutenant; (3) should he become a teacher under the education system of the Dominion—entitled to receive certificate of qualification in military drill. The following extract from a circularreceived from the Chief of the General Staff concerning recruiting for the Territorials is published in a District Orderissued by Col. Wolfe for the information of all concerned, and must in future be strictly complied with: —“In view of probable amendments to the Defence Act, necessary to give effect to proposals made by Lord Kitchener, and considering that the current year must be one of transition in the Territorial force, corps and units should as far as possible for the present confine their recruiting to physically fit men below the age of 23 years (twenty-three years), to maintain the corps or units at their present strength: neither should they Increase their present strength until the permanent staff for corps-, is available to carry out the necessary renumbering, recruiting, and reorganising the corps up to the new establishments.” In connection with the above extract, a pamphlet showing the peace establishments of the Territorial force is now being Issued from the Defence Office to all commanding officers. In a circular memo, on the subjects of signalling and engineer training, and training camps for the year 1910-1911, Captain Dulgan, Chief Instructor for Engineer and Signalling services, states that in future the year will be divided into two periods for training purposes, viz.—(a) individual training period, and (b) collective training period. During the individual training period each O.C. company will classify bls men into the following grades: A grade, instruction in third year subjects; B grade, Instruction In second year subjects; C grade, instruction in first year subjects. Men who have been trained in all subjects will be formed into a class for redrilling and instructional duties, individual training period will be the months of March, April, May, June, July, and August, and the collective training period the months of September, October, November, December, January, and February. Collective training will be devoted to drills and combined engineering work. Morning and evening parades may be carried out at the training camps, but every endeavour should be made by O.C. companies to hnre at least four daya’ continuous training. The days for continuous training should be at the latter part of the enmp. Recruits nro not to be posted to the ranks In signalling and engineer companies until they have passed their

recruit course of training. Semaphore signalling and knotting and lashing should be taught during the recruit course. On infantry drill nights the recruits will not receive instruction in technical subjects, but will be put under a smart N.C.O. for drill. Bisley Cadets Two junior cadets, Bugler-Sergeant Morgan and Sergeant Clarkson, of the Onehunga District High School, left by the Main Trunk line last -week, en route to England, to fire in the cadet competitions at Bisley on August 6. The boys were accompanied by their fathers, Mr. Morgan going as far as Wellington, while Mr. Clarkson will make the whole journey. Prior to leaving, the teachers and scholars presented each of the boys with handsome rugs. They also sent one by the boys for Dr. Hanson, who is secretary of Lord Roberts’ boys. Over 1000 well-wishers, including the No. 3 Company A.M.R., of which the Morgans (father and son) are popular members, were at the railway station to wish the boys bon voyage. Amongst ■those present were Majors McDonald and Robb, Captain Plugge, and Chief Scoutmaster St'ebbing, the last of whom had with him a number of scouts, eager to wish their fellow-scout Clarkson good luck. A deputation waited on the members of the Cabinet when they were here last week, with a view to securing a monetary grant, for the boys. This is

evidently not forthcoming, and as a desire has been expressed from several quarters t'o render assistance to Mr. Morgan, who is the caretaker of the Penrose range, any donations towards this object will be gratefully acknowledged by Major Robb, who has so interested himself in getting these boys to accept} lord Roberts’ invitation. Field Artillery, The official results of the 1909-10 field artillery competitions for the Rhodes challenge cup for shooting under service conditions, and for the challenge shield presented by the New Zealand" Government for award in the field battery securing the highest marks for general efficiency, were made available last week. The marks awarded in the Rhodes cup gunnery competition were as follows:— (|1) “D” Battery Wellington), 165; (2) “B” Battery (Dunedin), 150; (3) “E” Battery (Christchurch), 132; (4) “A” Battery (Auckland), 124; (5) “H” Battery (Nelson), 91. In order to qualify; for first-class, 140 marks, or 70 per cent, must be obtained; and to simply qualify, 50 per cent must be obtained. This "is the third year of the Rhodes Cup competition, and it is the “D” Battery’s first win. Auckland' won the competition last year. In general efficiency, K D'* Battery gained 93.5 per cent of marks; “B” Battery, 90 per cent; “A” Battery, 77.5 per cent; “H” Battery, 76.6 per eent; “E” Battery, 76 per cent. The honours list for the efficiency challenge shield is, therefore, in that order of merit. The shield ie now in the fifth year of competition, and has been won four times by the Wellington gunners. Last year Wellington tied with Dunedin for first place.