JUNIOR CADETS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 785, 7 April 1910, Page 5

JUNIOR CADETS.

EIFLE SHOOTING COMPETITIONS. Cadet orders by Major T. W. MDonald, Commandant of the Junior Cadets, include the following announcements:— The results of the competition for 1909 for the Champion Belt' presented by the Wanganui branch of the National Defence League of New- Zealand are as follows:— 1. Bugler Morgan, Oneliunga Pub- : ; , lie School Cadets 50 2. Corporal Spurdell, Wapganni District High School Cadets... 18 8. Cadet John Campbell, Geraldine Public School Cadets ... 48 Competition for the Champion Team Shield and accompanying medals, presented by the same body:— 1. Woodville District High School Cadets 351 2. Geraldine Public' School Cadets 346 3. Onehunga Public School Cadets 340 The Roberts Trophy competition for British (Imperial) schoolboys is ■ now open for competition by teams of eight schoolboys, not over sixteen years of from the junior cadets. 1 Two teams will bo chosen—one from each of the two Islainds—to represent the Dominion. The rifles to be used in this competition will be the service rifles (.303), and members of the competing teams will be supplied with arms and ammunition in time to enable them to obtain practice. Any date may be chosen up to August 81, notice being previously given.. The distances, are 200 yard? and 500 yards, seven shots at each range. The team representing each Island shall be composed of the four cadets who made the' highest reores in the competitions for the Government Challenge Shield and the "Weekly Press" Shield respectively for the year prior to that in which the competition for the Roberts Trophy is held. In the event of any of these boys not being available or not desiring to compete, then those making the. next highest soores shall be chosen, and so on. ■ ' '• * •

In connection with the . competitions conducted wider tho auspices of the War •ugaiiui, Defence League, the hop. secretary states that liis executive is disappointed at the small interest taken .in tiieso competitions, and suggests that the dato may'havo been inconvenient for-varj-ous reasons.. 'He considers that, given a more convenient date, there is no reason why 75 per cent, of the schools having cadet corps and rifle ranges should not compete and help to foster so very , important an art as rifle shooting; Officers commanding who consider that a more suitable date should be found for these competitions will please send their suggestions, with reasons for the proposed change, to the hon. secretary, Wanganui. As very few of the battalions in the Dominion have yet been gazetted, Os.C. battalions are asked to report as early as possible,to the Commandant of Cadets on the reorganisation of their battalions, principally with a view to rearranging their commands in such a way as to enable I hem to have better control, easier mobilisation, and bettor facilities for battalion parades. Battalion commanders should in their report give their opinion as to tha suitability of the present uniform, and suggest any alterations they consider necessary; tho report should also deal with any other matters affecting the interior economy of battalions, in tho direotion of recommendations particularly for the completion of battalion staff establishment. - • In an autograph letter, reproduced in facsimile in orders, Field-Marshall Vis-' count Kitchener thus refers to the cadets of New Zealand:—

"It has given me great pleasure tu see tho large number of cadets that have paraded at different centres for my inspection! I'hope they will grow up to bo worthy citizens of this Dominion and patriotic defenders of their country. This object can best lie dono by being thorough in all tbe ! .r work. "KITCHENER, F.M."