VOLUNTEER NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 4, 27 July 1910, Page 7

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

(By

Rifleman.)

The next lecture at the Auckland Officers’ Club is to be given by Lieut.-Colonel Chaytor, who is coining up from Wellington for the purpose. ■Sergt. Williams won Mr J. Shand’s trophy presented to the Hauraki Rifles, the ranges being 200 yards and 500 yards. Sergt. Gibson was second. The No. 2 Company, A.G.A., completed their class tiring last week. Mr Blackett’s medal, presented to the highest scorer, was won by Sergt. Thompson. The Commonwealth authorities are advertising in New Zealand for a director of military art and director of drill, in connection with the Military College about to be established, the salaries being £BOO and £7OO. Capt. Cullen, O.C. No. 3 Company, G.A., has approved of the following promotions:— Corp. E. H. Skea tea. to be sergeant; Bomb. I*. Drew, to be corporal; Gunner C. Skin Jier. to be bombardier; Gunner 1». Year, to be bombardier. In connection with the death of the late King, mourning need not be worn after the end of the present month. This instruction, however, is not intended to apply to officers in their military capacity, the period of mourning for whom will expire on the 6th November. 1910. Sergt. Brothers, of the No. 3 Company, A.G.A., having been transferred from Auckland, the O.C. has appointed Sergt. E. 11. ■Skea tea secretary in his stead. The new secretary is an enthusiastic non-commis-sioned officer, and has only recently received his three stripes. 'Six teams ha entered for the Auckland Volunteer Rugby Onion’s competition, viz.: No. 2 G.A.V., Auckland Engineers, College Rilles (A and B), Highland Rifles, and No. 2 Natives Rilles. The most notable withdrawal is last year’s champions, No. 3 G.A.V. The season will commence about the middle of August. Captain Murray, of the Medical Corps, lectured most interestingly at the Officers’ Club last week, on the “Care of Troops iu the Field.” The doctor dealt exhaustively with his subject, and touched on all the sicknesses likely to be suffered by men under canvas. He answered a number of questions at the close, and a hyarty vote of thanks was accorded him. Word of the appointment of the twenty eight additional officers, and a similar num her of non-commissioned officers, under the new scheme, may be expected at any time now. Naturally considerable interest is being taken in the selection, as the men who are after the positions are all well known, and the stamp of the fortunate applicants will have a marked effect on the possibilities of success of the new order of tilings. The Officer Commanding the District has been pleased to approve that the following be honorary acting-lieutenants in the companies lettered hereunder of the 2nd Battalion Auckland Defence Rifle Cadets: Arthur Frederick Airey. A Company; George Albert Devore, B Company; John Julian S. Cornea, C Company; Allan Douglas G. Dawson. D Company; Edward Roy Champtaloup, E Company; Kenneth Wrigley Commons. F Company; Charles Frederick Forsdick, G Company; Leslie Gordon Scott, H Compa n y. No. 3 Company, A.G.A., have no room for more recruits, except a few desirable men for the electric light and signal sections.

In District Orders this week, Col. Wolfe notifies iu connection with recruiting: “It has come to the yolice of the •officer Commanding the District that several units in •the district are iu excess of establishments. Officers commanding such are requested to at once rectify this matter by enrolling only up to the correct establishment, as laid down for each arm of the service shown iu •the pamphlet issued from this office, under rover of District Order 42/1910, of the 13th ult.” As a good deal of inconvenience has been caused to the Auckland Defence Office, and more especially to Defence Headquarters and the Treasury Department at Wellington, on account of wrong names of accounts in the several banks being given on the capitation vouchers, officers commanding are requested iu District Orders to forward at once the exact wording of their banking accounts, as many of the replies received to District Order. 43/1969, are not what were asked for. The following are samples of what is required: “Auckland Infantry, Ist Battalion. Countess of Ranfurly’s Own.” 6ind the “Gordon Rifle Volunteers.” Any alteration made nt any time, either in the wording of the name of account, or change of bank, must be immediately notified to the Defence Office. The specialist sections of the “A” Battery are now hard at work at the classes •held on Tuesday and Thursday nights acquiring a full theoretical knowledge of their duties, so that when the eoutern-plated week-end outings designed to give the men practical experience are held, the men will have an excellent grounding, which only requires the finishing touches, and can only be obtained in the field. It is the intention of Major Sherson that when the weather improves the classes shall spend weekends at such places as Panmure and other localities in the open country, acquiring accuracy in such duties as range taking, signalling, and gun laying. The last time the Battery went out on a trip of this nature, some very good work was done, and the men showed by their enthusiasm that they appreciated the innovation very much indeed. One of the points that came in for a good deal of discussion during the lecture given by Dr. Murray last week on the subject of the health of troops in camp was physical training. With the limited time at the disposal of the men for acquiring a satisfactory knowledge of their military duties, it is a most difficult matter to set aside any thing like adequate time for improviif; their physique. In view of the fact that under the new scheme the Territorials will in their training have to put. in work of a comparatively severe nature, and that the majority of the men from the towns will he more or less soft and out of form, this subject is going to be a most important one to every commander. Recruits will find the day terribly long when they get manoeuvmg over the Waimarino Fla ins. ami the wise man will do his utmost to strike form before he starts off for his annual training. A Board of Inquiry, consisting of (’apt. F. Bullen (President) ami Limits. Coles and Hill (members), will assemble al the Drill Hall this evening, to consider the circumstances under which Gunner .loynt, of the No. 3 Company, A.G.A., injured his hand while al drill. This is the fourth bound inquiry the No. 3’s have had within six weeks, all the injured men receiving compensation, in one case the amount being £32. In connection with this matter, the following paragraph from the current Dis trict Orders is of interest: “When boards of inquiry are held on members of the Territorial Force who become maimed or injured while on duty, officers commanding will in future see that the provisions of general regulation 405 are strictly carried out, and a board assembled as soon as possible after the occurrence to investigate the circumstances of the ease. A member of the Permanent Staff, or Royal New Zealand Artillery, should, when possible, be < monvber of the board."