LACROSSE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 6, 10 August 1910, Page 9

LACROSSE.

Wellington 12 heat Auckland 2.

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

(By

Rifleman.)

Captain P. B. Greenhough, of the No. 3 Company, A.G.A., who has been on a visit south, has returned to Auckland. Captain Duigan, Director of Engineering find Signalling, is at present in Auckland giving the Auckland Engineers a course of lectures on their work. A shooting match is being arranged between the No. 1 Waikato Mounted Rifles and A Squadron, A.M.R., for some Saturday in August at Penrose range. The range time-table and officers for duty for August is as follows: —August 6, 200 and 500 yards: Capt. Stevenson. August 13, 390 yards: Capt. Cox. August 20, 500 find 600 yards: Lieut. Derrom. August 27; 200 and 300 yards: Capt. Kay. The Auckland Engineers played a graceful compliment to the Rev. Gray Dixon, Chaplain of the Corps, by attending St. David’s Church on Sunday as a sort of farewell, prior to his departure for his new sphere in Dunedin. Mr Dixon is one of the most enthusiastic clerics we have in Auckland connected with the Territorials, and 'the Engineers were extremely sorry to lose him.

The important part the Highland uniform plays in the life and being of the Dunedin Highland Rifles is generally recognised, but probably not to its full extent. I am informed on sound authority that so firmly attached are the members of the Dunedin Highland Rifles to their full dress uniform and its associations, that, if the regulations confirm the present intention that fulldress uniform shall be altogether discarded, It is practically certain that the Dunedin Highland Rifles will decide to disband, writes “Sentry.” “C” Company Ist Battalion Auckland Infantry, No. 2 Company N.Z. Native Rifles, turned out in force on Thursday week last, at the inspection by Colonel G. C. B. Wolfe, Officer Commanding District, 66 out of a strength of 69, of all ranks, being on parade. At the conclusion of the inspection 12 years’ service medals were presented to No. 5 Colour-Sergeant W. J. Phillips, and No. 8 Private W. Boyd. This company of late years has made rapid progress both in efficiency and numbers, and promises to uphold its tradition under the mew Territorial scheme. Sergeant Herrick, of the “A ’ Battery, was entertained last week In the Gun Room of the Drill Hall by the mon of his section, and during the evening he was the recipient of a very handsome lot of cutlery, in view of his approaching marriage. I.lent. Morton, who presided, in a neat speech wished Sergt. Herrick all happiness. Ho dwelt on the Sergeant’s good services, and hoped he would continue to give the Battery the benefit of his enthusiasm and keenness in the future, as he had done in the past. There was some excellent music, and the evening passed off most pleasantly. Captain Richardson has been telling them in Christchurch something of how officers <and non-eommissioned officers are to be trained. “In one particular,” said the lecturer, “England has a long pull over us here, In that N.C.O.’s and men, to say nothing of officers, have the regular army, with its schools, close at hand, to which they can be attached for special training, which, of course, we have not. This will probably be met by holding camps of instruction for officers and N.C.O.’s yearly, before the ordinary training camps, so as to enable the officers and N.C.O.’s of each company to Instruct their own mon. For you are the men who w’ill have to lead In war. and how are you going to do that if you don’t instruct in peace?”

One of the most interesting features of the year so far as the senior cadets are concerned is Lord Roberts’ Trophy, which is competed for by representative teams of cadets all over the British Empire. The New Zealand team will this year fire at Pol hill Gully, on Friday, August 26th. The following have been selected to practise:— From Wellington College Cadets: Privates J. C. Williamson, J. V. Canty, 11. M. Freeth, D. Mackersey. King’s College Cadets, Auckland: Corporal Coombes, Private Wylie. Otago Boys’ High School Cadets: Privates R. S. Park, F. T. McDougall. Rangiora High School Cadets: Lieut. Richards and Private H. Thomson. From these the eight to form the representative team will be selected. Practice will bo put in at Wellington from August 23rd to 25th. Majors Cresswell and Matheson will act ns selectors, and generally supervise the practice work. A possible revolution In gunnery— naval and military—ls foreshadowed by the experiments which Messrs Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. have been carrying out on their experimental range at Silloth, Cumberland, with a gun which Is shortly to be delivered to the War Office. The greatest secrecy has boon observed, but it is understood the leading feature of the new weapon is the replacement of recoil springs by chambers containing a patent liquid and air. These new recoil cylinders are understood to have been such a success that it has been demonstrated possible for the gun, once laid, to remain iu the same position for ten consecutive shots. The gun experimented with Is a 14.3 lb breech-loader, but there appears to bo no reason to prevent the mechanism being fixed to other types of gun, notably the weapon employed on our Dreadnoughts. The Increase In steadiness and ne uracy of shooting is remarkable, as is shown by the statement that of ten allots fired, as stated above, five passed practically through one point, a feat hitherto unknown in the annals of gunnery.