"KEEN AS MUSTARD."

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 5

"KEEN AS MUSTARD."

—— ! RECRUITS ON PARADE. ' "These fellows arc as keen as mustard," was a remark overheard by a reporter of The Dominion as he entered the Garrison Hall last evening. It was the night of the first "compulsory" parade of Territorials and Senior Cadets under tho new defence .scheme, and the big hall resounded with the tramp of disciplined feet, and sharp words of command. The scene was a Busy one. Some ol the squads were being initiated into the mysteries of company movements, others were being introduced to the principal exercises in the new system of free gymnas-, tics, which disdains apparatus, preferring to achieve a scientific co-operation of» will and muscle in the production of ."condition," while others again were > being sworn in, or being measured for their new uniforms. ' Two companies in the Fifth Regiment ("A" and "C") were in the big hall, and some of the Senior Cadets were in the ' Artillery Hull, and in the parade ground outside. Down at the Wellington Technical School the Senior Cadet company recruited from the school were being drilled in their own ground, and along near the Manawatu Station the Thorndon Company was hard at work. The essence ot home training is to drill near the home centre; that is why the Technical School boys drill in their own nlavground, and, the Thorudon boys drill at rhomdon. At Petone the utmost enthusiasm was displayed by i tho recruits of "I," Company, of the suburban'units of the Fifth Regiment, which are shortly to bo transferred to the Ninth. At this parade there was an excellent muster, and, on counting heads, the commanding officer discovered that quite a number of thoso present did not belong to the company at all, but had voluntarily come forward, anxious to join. Nowhere, so far as could bo ascertained, was there any trouble or difficulty. "Everybody seems to be anxious to do his little bit," was the comment passed by one of the officers. Between now and May 31, the date of the closing of the training season, tho Territorial units will be expected to get in twelve evening drills, two whole days, or four half-day parades, tho prescribed course of musketry for those-who were in the force last year, and seven days in camp. Recruits.will ho required to undergo a course in elementary musketry. The senior cadets will not go into c.-imp, but will be required to put in seventeen drills, and two half-day parades before May 31, with as much of the prescribed course in musketry as will be found possible to carry out. Every effort is being put forward to get the full supply of uniforms and equipment delivered by tho end of tho current month, and the first general parade of the new forces should bo distinctly interesting. The weekly timc-tnblo of parades for the city and suburban Territorial companies is as follows:— Monday.—A and C Companies. Garrison Hall; M. Company, Victoria College; L Company, Petone, 11. Company (Silverstream and Upner Hutt sections), Tuesday. —F Company and machine £ttn section, 'Garrison Hull; G Company (Porirua and Paeko.kariki sections). "A" squadron parades at Porirua and Paekakaiiki. II Company, Lower llutt. Wednesday.—E Company, Garrison TTall; G. Company (P.iraparammi and Kliandallah sections), and "A" squadron (Paraparaumu section). Thursday.—"A" squadron, Garrison Hall, Wellington; H Coinnanv. Garrison Hall; G Company. Johns-onville; II Company (Wainui and Kaitoke sections). Friday.—D Company and Ilrigudo Sjfrri.il Company. Garrison Hall; G Company (Kaiwavra section); G Company (Pah au tan ui section); "A" squadron (Pahautanui section); II Company] 'KtokfiS VVU a v jjij Mnnf-irna sections). ]