MILITARY MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1934, 17 December 1913, Page 7

MILITARY MATTERS.

. « : NEWS AND NOTES General Godloy, Commandant of tho Forces, will return to New Zealand about January 3. General Godley has been on an extended visit to England. He is l returning by tho Orient liner Orvieto via Sydney, and arrives in Auckland. Ho will attend tho military tournament in Auckland before coming on to Wellington. The general lias 1 still two years of office to complete in New Zealand. It is rumoured that he may bo succeeded by Brigadier-General Davis, now commanding tho 6th Infantry Brigade at Ahlershot. Colonel Itobin is also expected back from England on December 23. Staff Ririo. An important staff ride will tako place on January 20, at which all senior officers in New Zealand will participate. It will be held near Hamilton. Garrison Artillery Camps. Garrison artillery practice camps aro to be held early next year, tho probablo dates being:—Auckland, Fcbruarv 13 to 21; Wellington, February 20 to 28; Christchurch, Marcli 6 to 14; Duncdin, March 13 to 21. Tho Garrison Artillery will provide ono of the features of the military tournament, to bo held in Auckland from January 3 to 5, in the nature of a musical drive. Members in Wellington arc taking great interest in tho matter. Railway Transport. Railway transport is ono of the most important questions in time of military operations, and it is satisfactory to know that New ,Zealand is in no way behind in this important branch of tho service. The railway transport battalions aro progressing very satisfactorily, and the eight companies in tho North Island are practically fully equipped. Tho South Island battalion, also comprising eight companies, will also be completely equipped at an early date. Most of tho companies have now got officers, and the work is getting more settled. Colonel Hiley, Manager of tho New Zealand Railways, who has been appointed Director of Railway Transports in succession to Colonel Ronayno, takes a keen interest in tho branch, and takes every occasion of inspecting tho work done when away on his railway inspection tours. Transfer. Captain Frank Hume, at present stationed in Wane;anui, has been transferred from tho Staff Corps to tho Artillery, dating from December 11. He was formerly one of tho moat clficicnt subs, in D Battery, AVellington. Assault-at-Arms. On Friday morning, at tho Drill Hall, Wellington, an interesting assault-al-arms takes place between two companies of Railway Engineers, representing Auckland and Wellington. Tho result of tho tournament is being keenly watched for, as it is to decide which company is to represent tho Engineers at the Auckland tournament. The trial takes placo at 10 o'clock, and tho judge will bo Major J. Hume, R.N.Z.A. Bis Gamps, • Tho probable dates for the big camps next year have been settled as follow: — Otago.—Mounted Rifles Brigade, Field Artillery Brigade, Engineers, In- ; fantry Brigade, Field Ambulance, Coast Defence Infantry—April 20-to May 2; casuals, May 4 to 16. Canterbury.—Mounted Rifles Brigado, Field Artillery Brigade, Engineers, Infantry Brigrfdo;: iField.-Ambulauco, .Coast' Defence Infantry (including West-port)— April 20 to May 2; casuals, May 4 to 16. ' '' Wellington.—Mounted Rifles Brigado, Field Artillery Brigade, Engineers, Infantry Brigade, Field Ambulance, Coast Defence Infantry, Mountain Battery— April 27 to May 9; casuals, May 11 to 23. Auckland.—Mounted Rifles Brigade, Field Artillery Brigado, Engineers, Field Ambulance, Coast Defence Infantry—April 27 to May 9; casuals, May 11 to 23. Sir lan Hamilton, Inspector-General of Oversea' Forces, who is expected to arrive in New Zealand about April, on an inspection tour, will attend tho different camps.