VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 6

VOLUNTEER & DEFENCE NOTES.

(By KEFL.KMAN.) Reernits are very numerous in tlie variou6 volunteer companies just now, especially in the Battery, Coastguards, and College Rifles.

Captain Shepherd, of the Eden. Cadets, spent a fortnight in camp witih the No. S Company of Garrison Artillery at the North Shore.

The general order requiring staff instructors to check the roll at conipariy para-Acs, which , seriously offeuiled comiiany comhas been cancelled.

It is believed that the Wellinsto-n BattaJion, inatead of gotni; into camp at Baater, will be granted permission to engage in a route march through Waicarapa.

Some references to shell practice ir the Ranpritoto Channel last Saturday week should have been applied to the No. S Co. of Garrison Artillery, and not to the "A" Battery, as incorrectly stated.

"A"' Class members of the Akarana Rifle Club fire for Mr il.McCallom'sCup onSaturflay uext, ana "B" Class members for Mr F. V. Kelly's trophy. Keen shooting is anticipated, as the trophies to be competed tor are very valuable.

There is some irritation among Wellington volunteers at the fact that the sites for the Easter encampments throughout the colony have not yet Been nxetl. It was decided some time ago the whole of the corns in the Wellington volunteer district should camp In some central part of the district, but it now almost certain that there will be two camps, one at Wanganul and the other at Ksipier or Hastings.

There are disadvantages abopt being a crack shooting company. Owing to the grea± prowess of the Victoria Eifles in this respect, it ds suggested that as an act of grace to other companies of the battalion they should refrain from competing ; for the Buchanan Cup, which it is said they would be almost certain to win. It is believed the Victories con-template standing aside as suggested.

The "C" Squadron (Seddon Horse), Ist Mounted Regiment, met at the Takapuna Hall on Friday evening, and put in some very useful work at extended movements. The officer commanding, Captain Bloomfield, with Lients. Grant and Mair, and SurgeonMajor Carola.li, were present. Staff Ser-geant-Major Rodgers was the instructor, and inaue the drill most interesting. The squadron remained for the night at Takapuna. being billeted Ju the Lake Hotel and elsewhere, and turned out on Saturday morning at 5 o'clock for another dismounted parade. Several recruits were examined and sworn in. A social in connection with the corps will be held : ' shortly.

The Auckland Engineers came out of camp on Saturday last, after sixteen days' useful instruction. The signalling, field engineering, electrical, and bridge-building sections did their" own work throughout the camp, and were complimented by Colonel Davles, C.8., on the manner in which the men had worked. During the last week in camp the Government badges, which carry £1 personal payment, were competed for by the various sections, the successful candidates being:—SergesDt-Major Faweus, Sergeant, Robertson, Sereeant Sergeant Keane, Sergeant Butler, Corporals Burgess and Sinclair, Lance-Corporal Addison, Sappers Gould, Graham, Mears, Heinus, Sutherland, Hardy and Read. On the last night in camp (Friday) a smoke concert was given to the men by the non-eoros. As a fair number of friends and visitors were present, the evening proved most enjoyable, thus bringing to a close a camp which will long be remembered as one of the most instructive and enjoyable that the company has ever held.

The Victoria Rifles trill send a team of about eight men to the Trentham shoottog meeting cm March 2nd. I am not aware of any crtb'er of the city companies sending more than a single nran, not even the Akarana Rifle Club; bttt several of the country corps are likely to do so. IVirate Cajlsen, one of the Victoria team. h«s already .vrone South, and intends to compete at the Wanpanni and Wairarapn meetings on the way. Mcst other competitors will leave by next Snmlay's stwmer. Mr J. D. Webster will fro down ,os a member of his old company, the "A" Battery. Capt. Shepherd as an Eden Catfe-t, ami Sergt. Phillips as n member of the No. 2 Natives. The Victoria team will consist of the follow'ng with a possibility of oth<rs hpinc added: Oapt. Skhtncr. Lieut. R. G. Cox, ""Privates? W. Cox, T. Kerr, Carlson. .Tobin, Lee, W. Rowe, and McCarthy. Their last year's team, which was second for the teams trophy, consisted of Capt. Skinner. Lieut. R. G. Cox, Privates W. Cox, Carlsen, and McCarthy.