DEFENCE MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 790, 13 April 1910, Page 6

DEFENCE MATTERS.

ITEMS FROM GENERAL ORDERS. According to. General Orders just issued by. the Council of, Defence,'. Thomas fl. Overton (formerly lieutenant Sixth New Zealand Contingent), has.been appointed to be lieutenant in New Zealand Militia, with effect from January 19, 1910. A '' ..'■ ; ■ ■ ..' The commission granted to Captain J. H.. A. Pedder, with effect, from January 31,. 1910, in No.. i Company New.Zealand Engineer Volunteers) Wellington Engineer Volunteers) has ■ been cancelled: Among"thei promotions are those . of, Captain.(Acting-Major)'A'.'B. .Charters,'to' be.major in. the sth Battalion' Wellington (Centre of Ruahine) Rifle Volunteers, with effect from December ■1, 1909, and Lieutenant "A. P.. Roberts,, to be captain in B Battery. New Zealand .'Field Artillery Volunteers,' with effect from/ January 18, 1910. /.-■■■ " ", Appointments include' that of Stephen Glanville •' Cowles to- acting-lieutenant' of the Johnsom-ille Rifle Volunteers.■■•■

Colonel W. B. Collins, Reserve of Medical Officers New Zealand Medical Corps, has been reappointed- a-Jmehibe'r of the New Zealand Military Pensions Board.

Target practice for the Defence Forces will, for the year 1910-11, be the same as for the year. 190940; A supply of instruction books is'being printed, and will contain instructions for grouping practices.

■• A return showing the. efficiency of the New Zealand Field Engineer Volunteers for.the year ended February. 28,1910, gives the following results:—No.- 3 Company F.E.V. (Auckland),; 79.3 points (wins the Field• Engineer Efficiency Shield); No. 1 Company (Canterbury); 76.5 points (15 points' deducted for only one parade per diem);'Nb.:2'Company F.E.V. (Otago), 72.4 points; and No. A Company F.E.V. (Wellington),. 64 points. 1 .;...;■ ; Tho ' conditions .with ' reference to. the Sargood Cup, "Daily; Mail- Empire Day Rifle Congest; Roberts "Trophy for British (Imperial) schoolboys, '■ and- the Empire • Day Challenge Cup are: inserted. Attention is directed 1 to;-the Defence Act;. 1909, requiring "all boys attending the various high schools, colleges (secondary schools) to be trained as senior cadets." Officers commanding districts will take the necessary, steps';to, insure that boys hot at. present.-undergoing training be - either', enrolled in existing companies or formed into new : companies according 'to local 'requirements.'■ ;' ',-

i '. ''','..-CADET COMPETITIONS. . ' The Geraldine Company won. the competition for the Government Challenge Shield among the-junior: cadet companies of the Dominion last year in the South Island, with, a score 0f.765. It has been decided not-to award the shield for the North Island* owing to the fact that some'of the companies making the highest scores did not comply with the conditions. In th*. North island the."Weekly Press" Shield, given' for competition among, district high schools, was won by No 1 Company, Woodville,' with a score of 798, arid in the South Island, by -Waimate, with'a score 0f' 749.; ' ■:'■

JORDON HIGHXANDEKS' TROPHY. The Gordon • trophy is to boshdwniu.Messrs. Littleiohn and Sons window. It was presented ■ (for competition) to tho forces of. the Commonwealth of Australia- and New. Zealand by ' the Gordon - Highlanders, in -. commemoration of their services together in. South Africa, 1899-1902. The competition for this splendid -trophy ,will be-held in Melbourne in the-spring. '. ; ' ':',-■