EASTER MANOEUVRES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 467, 27 March 1909, Page 14

EASTER MANOEUVRES.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR RIFLE CLUBS. An order from District Headquarters announces the following arrangements for the Easter encampments of the rifle club men :— fn connection with the training of Rifle Clubs at the Easter manoeuvres, it has been decided to mobilise at Wanganui, Palmerston North, and To Aute centres for two days. Mombers will be expected to arrive on Friday by the earliest suitable train. Railway orders, to enable members to travel to any of the above-mentioned centres, have been forwarded; any club not making use of the railway orders for training purposes must return same not later than April 13. Instructors will bo provided as follow:— Wanganui—Staff-Sergeant-Major Rose; Palmerston Nrrth —Staff-Sergeant-Major Dovwy; Te Auto—Staff-Sergeant-Major Burr. They will arrange for field firing exercises with ball and blank ammunition, and give other suitable instructions. Tent accommodation will be provided. At Palmorston North a caterer has agreed to cater on the range at a cost within the amount allowed. At Wanganui and Te Aute, whore j only a few men have signified their intentions _of attending, members will be required either to board or make other arrangements, out of the 4s. per head per day allowance. It will be necessary for members who Intend to live in tents to bring their own blankets, and all other necessary utensils (except cooking utensils, which will be provided by the Defenoo Department). Should any club find it inconvenient to attend on Friday and Saturday, they may attend on any other two days, provided they notify District Headquarters not later than April 5. Any club may remain in camp for the four days, but it ; must be distinctly understood that a billeting allowance of 4s. for one night only will be given. Each member attending will require to bring his rifle with him.

KARORI RIFLE CLUB. A special general meeting of members of tho i.arori Rifle' Club was neld in Godber's Rooms last night, to discuss the question of the Easter arrangements. Mr. EL Marshall was in the chair, and'there was a fair attendance of members. A letter was read from the president, Mr. Jackson, who was out of town, regretting his inability to be present at the meeting. He thought the club would be wise if they accepted tno invitation of the Government to go into camp, so that the public oould not say they were unable to take their place in the field along with the volunteers. If the meeting decided on tho camp, he strongly urged all members to do their best to attend. Tho chairman said he thoroughly endorsed the president's remarks. The Defence Department's proposal was that the club should go into camp for two days at Palmerston North, or at some point more convenient. Certain expenses would be allowed, and train arrangements would be made to convey riflemen to and from the camp. He outlined the course of training that would be gone through, and expressed the opinion that for the _ concessions the Rifle Clubs were now receiving, the two days' training they were asked to put in would be no great hardship. He moved that the club go into camp at Palmorston North for two days—Good Friday and Easter Saturday. In tho discussion that followed, thore was no opposition to the camp, but many of the mombers expressed tho'opinion that if it was to be an annual affair the Government should supply uniforms for use at these camps, and at the New Zealand Rifle Defence Association meeting at Trentham, and should also increase tho ammunition allowance. An opinion was also expressed that the rapid-firing competition at Easter would mean ruination to many a good rifle. The motion was carried unanimously, and the secretary was instructed to circularise absent members, giving particulars of the arrangements. Several riflemen will be unable to absent themselves from work on the Saturday, but it is anticipated that some 25 members will go under canvas.