TERRITORIAL FORCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1001, 16 December 1910, Page 8

TERRITORIAL FORCE.

CAMP SITE FOR AREA OFFICERS. To-day several members of the General Staff at Headquarters will visit the Masterton district for the purpose of selecting a suitable site for tho instructional camp which is being arranged for the area officers, warrant, officers, and staff-sergeanls-mnjor next month. The course will extend over two months. Inquiry at Headquarters yesterday concerning the appointments of the area officers and sergeantsmajor required under the new defence scheme elicited the reply thut nothing was available for publication. The- appointments may, however, be made public any day now, as the training camp commences early in the month. Lieutenant-Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor took up his duties as Officer Commanding tho Wellington. Military District yesterday. It is several months now since his appointment was decided upon—the announcement appeared in The Dominion of May 27 last— but as Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop, ■ his predecessor in tho command, was unable io get away so soon as was expected—he left Xew Zealand only a few weeks ago—Lieutenant-Colonel Chaytor remained at Headquarters, as Acting-Director of Military Training and Education, a position which is now filled by- the permanent appointment of Lieu-tenant-Colonel 13. S. Heard, of the- Imperial General Staff. A reference to the principles laid down for the procedure to-be followed by officers desiring to qualify for employment on .tho General Slatt at Home, and their subsequent employment at the termination of their engagement as Start officers, suggests the probability of certain changes in. tho personnel ot -tiie General Staff at Headquarters in Wellington. It is laid down that after a period of employment on the General Staff, officers—this applies ' more particularly to. officers of: junior rank—should return to the troops for a : term; in other words, to appointments-m the district commands. It is rumoured that ono or two transfers from the General Stall at headquarters to posts in tho district commands ara not unlikely.

The Wellington Highland Rifles have been granted permission to travel in uniform to Christchureh on the occasion of their rifle competition with the Canterbury Highlanders on Boxing Day. The following officers have passed their examination for certificates of rank:— For Lieutenant. — Acting-Lieutenants Turner (Patca Kifles), Cox (Wanganui Guards), Stoivart (Wangan.ii-Rifles), Willis (Taranaki Rifles). Tor Captain.— Lieutenants Fletcher (Taranaki Rifles), J. Robert . (Wanganui Guards), Craig (Wnngariui Highlanders). Lieut. AY. H. Jones has been appointed acting-adjutant of the Third Wellington Infantry Battalion (Napier). This week's Gazette includes the following announcements:—. The Rt. Rev. A. W. Averill, chaplainmajor, East Coast Infantry. Battalion, is transferred to the' East Coast Mounted Regiment {the Fourth, Wellington), with pilfEent. rank; Captain- N. M'Pherson Duncan, E Battery N.Z.F.A. (resigned), is posted to the active' list; Mr. Archibald Stevens, formerly lieutenant, Sydenham Rifles, is placed on'the extra list,, with the rank of lieutenaut; Lieut. J. D. Barnett, Takaka Mounted Rifles, to be captain. The Defence authorities have granted permission for a submarine' explosion to be carried out in connection with tho Heretaunga Boating Club's sports at Pctone on' New Tear's Day (January 1, 'lOli). . - ■