EVENTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2237, 25 August 1914, Page 6

EVENTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

, THE PALMERSTON CAMP. MEN INSPECTED BY GENERAL GODLEY HIGH DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE. FISHING PARTY FIRED AT IN THE HARBOUR.

A body of 2500 picked men from the Wellington military district, from Taranaki, Wanganui, Eawke's Bay, and the Wairarapa are under canvas at' Awapuni Racecourse,-two miles from Palmerston North, eagerly awaiting word to sail! for Europe. The Awapuni Concentration Camp is the largest, but in other respects is a replica of three other oamps in Now Zealand whero to- ; day men are volunteering their services in answer to the call of the Mother Country in time of need. New Zealand's-, response has admittedly been more than generous, in money, eto.; she : has given generously in the past, and now ten thousand of her best ■young men aire willing to sacrifice their all in answer to the patriotic feeling for Old England,. ■~'.-. , ,' Yesterday Major-General Sir Alexander Godley, the man who saw the genesis of' New Zealand's military training, and the soldier who lias been chosen to command the Expeditionary, Force largely taken from the men 'he has trained, inspected the camp. It was a glorious day for a military inspection. From the town and country thousands had congregated to see the troops drawn up for inspection. Lined rank.on rank on the lawn of the grandstand, the khaki-clad soldiers of New Zealand •formed a body of men equal to anything, as the General afterwards admitted, to bo found anywhere in the! world. It > was not a, spectacular display. There was no band to march at the head of the; regiment; in fact,: there was no marching at all. The commanding of- ; fleer had come to see the class of men he was to lead in war, and'he minutely inspected every man in that camp. The Ceneral's Inspection. ■ The Infantry Regiment, one thousand odd in number, was drawn up in the centre of the lawn,.. flanked on either side by the artillery, and the Army S vice Corps, Medical Corps, and Signallers.- Occupying the whole of the. racecourse proper, for the length' of the 'lawn, were the mounted men, excellently horsed, and with their mounts showing evidence ; of careful training. Majoi-Gbneral Sir Alexander Godley first; rode ''through the mounted lines, and .then slowly walked up and down;past every lino of the infantry., .The inspection took' three-quar-ters of ■.an hour, and then the General, mounted on a fine black charger, delivered an excellent address to the men, containing much advice and encouragement, and withal full of praise that was in no sense fulsome. His' remarks were eagerly listened to by the public, which had .crowded the grandstand, and .outbursts of .applause were- frequent. In a'l his life, said Sir .Alexander Godloj, he had never seen ; a ;fiher body of infantry; To the mounted men he also delivered words of praise, and then, .spoke of the high traditions the • regimentsj possessed, : and which their representatives would have to live, up to. Ho was sure they, would take their place with credit alongside the 'British. 'Regular. Army, which' had "reached a pitch of excellence impossible to be reached by any other army in the world " Having addressed the men, they were dismissed,/and Sir Alexander Godley spoke a few words to the officers/ i

„ ' The Men In Camp. The parade state of the men inspected ! was:—; • Officers.; Men. Wellington Mounted Rifles •Regiment ...........;...!..... 24 640 Wellington Infantry Regt. 31' 1165 Divisional Signal Co. .-■ 4 116 Mounted Signal Troop 1 26 Field Troop Engineers ...... 3 80 Field Artillery. Battery ...... 4 203 Divis Ammunition Column .2 ■ 160 Brigade Ammunition ....... 2 58 -Horse Artillery Ammunition 1 22 Mounted Ambulance ......... 2 45 Army Service Corps .1 .88 Attached .:.............'. ; 4' 86 Horses" .........: ;.. 899 "Very Satisfied." Addressing the. men after the inspection, Majbr-General Sir Alexander Godley said; . "Officers, non-commissioned officers, end men of the Wellington contingent of the Expeditionary Force,' I wish to say to you how very satisfied I a,m with .the inspection I have made 1 this'morning of the contingents that have been furnished from the Wellington Military District. : I do not think that anybody could want to see a finer looking lot of iiuon, or men more likely 'to do credit to their country— (applause)—and I hope you will all remember that you- represent the regiments, of the Wellington Military District. Many of them have been formed a considerable time as volunteer regiments, and many of them have traditions of the Maori Wars, especially from the Taranaki district, the .King Country, and Hawke's Bay, in fact from Wellington and all over the district. The squadrons and companies are formed from those regiments of the Territorial Forces, and that has been done in order that each regiment of the : Territorial Force should be represented in tho Expeditionary Force. I" hope that all the men will remember - that in their hands is the honour of those New Zealand Territorial regiments. The Mounted Rifles squadron is founded from the 2nd Mounted Rifles, which wore formed from the old Wanganui Light Cavalry, and known, 'as Queen -Alexandra's Own Regiment. The 6th Manawatu Mounted Rifles' from this district have their squadron, which is to/ uphold the honour of this district, and the 9th Wellington East Coast' Mounted Rifles from Hawke's,Bay and | all the East Coast down to tlm Wairarapa. In their hands is the honour of their district.

No Finer Artillery In the World. "The artillery you have collected from all over the Dominion, and I have no hesitation in saying you have as' fine a body of men as I havo ever seen in my life in any part of tho world. (Applause.) The Engineers, also, come from all over tho Dominion, and so do tho men of the Medical Corps and tho Array Sorvico Corps, and both worthily represent the units o£ thoso arms in other parts of the Dominion. In the infantry you have a company from each of the regiments of the Wellington Infantry Brigade The 7th Wellington-West Coast Regiment is hero, from Palmerston North to Wanganui, and it has always had military traditions. The 11th Taranaki Rifles is knowr. as 'Rifles,' and is allowed to bo known as such because tho old Rifles foil if ht in the Maori Wars, and the company which represents them has to K'cp up tho traditions of that regiment. Th» 9th East Const Regiment from Hawke's Bay has good volunteer traditions behind it, and so ha 3 tho latelytermed 17th Ruahine Regiment, which, though last in tho regiments, will, I trust, not lie found last when wo go to the war. (Applauso.)

country, and your particular regiment in the'way that, it should be every sol'lier's ambition to do. You are going on activo' service to represent your regiments, and remeißber, however good your-will may be, however you may:be to see active services-fend however hard you may work, and whatever you may do, it is of no good unless you realise that it must'be all done with discipline. By discipline I mean the very best kind of discipline; not the discipline which comes, from punishment,, or the strict martinet discipline of the German Army. I look and expect from the men I see before me to-day something very much higher than that. I expect, to find tho discipline that comes from the • consciousness of Hhe necessity for it.' (Loud applause.) I want a realisation that _without it our New Zealand Expeditionary Force will not do credit to the country.; a realisation that you all intend ; to have a willing spirit of selfsubordination, and co-operation. And. remember, every one of you, that you are not only. soldiers, but you are comrades and fellow-members of a team. It is exactly the same in a squadron or company as in a football team or"' a cricket team, and you-all know perfectly well that unless you work together, and not only work together, but realise the leadership of whoever is appointed to lead you, you will do no (rood in a cricket or football tram. : The same thing applies 'to soldiers..

With tho British Army. "I do not think 1 have very much more to say to you. By your performances on tho troopship, and by the way in which you arrive in England, will not only Now Zealand bo judged, but also the regiments from . which you, come. You will there find yourself alongside regiments of the British Regular Army with great traditions, ,and not great traditions, but having reached a pitch of excellence impdssiblo lo be Teachcd by any other army in the world. (Applause.) There is no reason why the men of the New Zealand Citizen Army, we see before us to-day should not be absolutely able .and competent to take their place alongside .their comrades of the British Regular ATmy. (Loud applause.) But when they do, remember they will find a very high standard; will find a very high standard,' not only, of performance, 1 but, also of personal appearance, esprit de corps, cleanliness, sobriety, and tern-, perance in every way. In all these points I .Arust and I believe you will not bo found wanting. (Applause.) . "Yo u . ma .v find sometimes that.discipline is irksome; that you will have to put up with hardships. You don't go to war on active service expecting anything less than hardship, but I am going to he certain that the men of Wellington, Hawked Bay, Taranaki, and Maiiawatu will. be ready to bear their fair share of any discomforts and .hardships, that come along. I'feel I cannot stop what I have to say without saying .how very grateful I and all tho military authorities are, and I am sura the-Government, too, of the patriotio spirit, not only of the men who have volunteered for the force, but also of the citizens of this district) and particularly to those who have allowed us to use this racecourse; to the motorists and those who h9lped tis with motorcars, and tho hundreds of people that 1 really cannot think of. •'• ; There aro so many. I hav* been told of them every day. l They have given us much help'towards the- formation of this camp, and the getting ready of their contingent for the war. .■'

'' Bon- Voyages Cod-speed. '• '"I.will; say.to.you''now that I shall see some of yon probably embarking at Wellington. Others I may not. I wish you bon voyage, God-speed, and remember that the whole of .New Zealand frill be watching you, this district in particular, and they will expect to see, as 1 have said before, something more than ordinary from the men who' are here to-day. If lam any judge at all, and I think I should be after 'thirty years of soldiering, I think the' men whom I see before me, if they have the will (as I IniovWthey have), they will be well able to take their place in the ranks of .the British Army when tbey reach Home." , (Loud applause.)

THE ROLL OF OFFICERS. WELLINGTON BRIGADE. The following are the appointments to' commissions in the Wellington Mounted Rifles and Infantry Regiments which-are to form part of the main Expeditionary Force to Europe:— , Mounted Rifles. Headquarters.—Commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel W. Meldruni (6th Mounted Rifles); second u. command. Captain J. .H. Whyte (New Zealand Staff Corps); adjutant, Captain V. A. Kelsall (New Zealand - Staff 'Corps)'; quartermaster, Hon. Captain A. H. Wilkie (2nd Mounted Rifles); M.G. officer, Lieutenant H. T. Palmer (6th Mounted Rifles); signalling officer, Lieutenant R. Logan (New Zealand Staff Corps); medical officer, Captain H. J. M'Lean (Now Zealand Medical Corps). "A" (Wellington) West Coast Squadrcn.—Major J. H. Chisholm; Captain \V. .. Hardham, V.C.; lieutenants, Lieutenant Jansen, Lieutenant T. R. James, Lieutenant-W. Risk; second lieutenant, Lieutenant B. L. Joll (all of 2nd Mounted Rifles).

"B" (Manawatu) Squadron.—Major 6. Dick; Captain N. F.: Hastings; Lieutenant J. A. Somemlle; Lieutenant H. P. Taylor; Lieutenant J. B. Davis; 2nd Lieutenant, G. D. Mayo (all of 6tli Mounted Rifles). "0" (Wellington-East Coast) Squadron.—Major S. Chambers;. Captain C. R. Spragg; Lieutenant P. T. Emerson; Lieutenant N- D. Cameron; Second ■ Lieutenant A. Georgetti; Lieutenant H. B. Maunsell (all of 9th Mounted Rifles); Ist Reinforcement, Lieutenant A. F. Batchelor (6th Mounted Rifles).

Infantry. Headquarters.—Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Colonel W. JB- Malone (11th Regiment); Senior major. Major H. Hart (17th Regiment); adjutant. Captain M'Donald (N.Z. Staff Corps); M.G. officor, 2nd.'''Lieutenant E. R. Wilson (17th Regimont); Qnitrtermaster,, Hon. Captain W. J. Shepherd (17th Regiment); Medical Officer; Captain C. Homo (N.Z. Medical Corps). ' "A" (Wellington West Coast) Company ': Major W. H. Cunningham (7th Regiment); Captain J. T. 'Watson (7th Rogiment); Lieutenant D. Bryan (New Zealand Staff Corps); Lieutenant A. J. Cross (7th Regiment); second Lieutenant F. K. Turnbull (7th Regiment); Lieutenant C. B. Mentoth (7th Regiment). . a "B" (Hawko's Bay) Company: Major R. Young, Captain C. F. D. Cook, Lieutenant L. S. M'Lornon, Lieutenant E. S. Harston, Second Lieutenant L. H. Jardine, Lieutenant B. Morrison (all of 9th Regiment). "C" (Taranaki) Company: Major J. vWi Brui).t t 9th Rogj'menti Cas.taiu E..'

Colng on Active Service. "I wish to say to all of you men that .sou are eoitt* jmw' to represent your,

P. Cox, Lieut. G. C. Wells, Lieut. W. F. Narbey; Second Lioutcnant A. B. M'Coll; Lieut. M. Urquhart (all of 11th Regiment).

"D (Ruahine) Company: Major E. H. Saunders (11th Regiment); Captain J. L. Short, Lieut. L. W. A. Hugo, Lieut. W. E. S. Furby, Second Lieut: 11. Leo, Liout. H. R. Cowan (all of 17th Regiment); first reinforcement, Second Lieutenant H. E. M'Kinnon (17th Regiment;: Tho following chaplains have been appointed to the Wellington section for service with, the Expeditionary Force, and will embark at Wellington:—Captain Bush King (Anglican), Captam Blamires (Methodist), Major • Grant (Presbyterian), Captain M'Manamin (Roman Catholic), Captam Green (Salvation Army), and Major Luxford (Methodist), who iB now in Auckland. '

Non-commissioned Officers. Following is the list of appointments of Permanent Staff with the Wellington district section of the Expeditionary Force: — .

Sergeant-Major G. Sandham, attached to A Section Field Ambulance; Ser-geant-Major E. P. Cldugh, troop ser-geant-major; Field, troop sergeant Major C. L. Nicholls (regimental sergeantmajor Wellington Mounted Regiment), Sergeant-Major J. Spence (Regimental Q.M.R.S. Wellington Mounted Regiment), Sergeant-majors H. L. Dunham and J. R. T. Bel), attached to A squadron (2nd) Mounted Rifles; SergeantMajors P. J. Higgins and P. A. Deloree, attached to B squadron (6th) Mounted Rifles; Sergeant-Majors R. J. D. Davis and C. E. Rogers, attached to 0. squadron. (9th) Mounted Rifles.

Sergeant-Major J. \B. Parkcs, Regimental Sergeant-Major, Wellington Infantry Regiment; Sergeant-Major J. T. Dallinger, Regimental Q.M.S., Wellington Infantry Regiment; Sorgeant-Majors B. Woodhead, T. A. Davidson,. H. Wrny, and J. H. B. Thompson, attached to A Company, 7th Regiment; Ser-geant-Majors A. M'Donald, C. R. Henry, J. J. Corkhill, and E.-H. T. Kibblewhite, attached to B Company, 9th Regiment; Sergeant-Majors M.'J. M'Glade, A. J.M. Bonar,.F. H. Woodward, and L. C. Dudson, attached to O Company, 11th Regiment; Sergeant-Majors J. W. Domney, W. H. Winter, S. W.. B. Foster, and J. P. Routledge, attached to D Company, 17th Regiment. ■ Sergeant-Major J. G. Heap, Sergeant Military • Mounted, Police _ Divisional Headquarters; Sergeant-Major C. S. Mahoney, Sergeant Military. Mounted Police, Mounted Brigade Quartos; Ser-geant-Major A. A. Brown, ' Sergeant Military Mounted Police Infantry/Brigade Headquarters; Sergeant-Major A. H. D. Harty, Acting Q.M.S. Infantry Brigade Headquarters. <

Staff OfficGM (or the 'Front. It is understood that all tho members of the Headquarters Staff, with four exceptions are to go. Those exceptions include Major G. M. Gibbon (Djrecter of Military Operations), and Major H. E. Pilkington (Assistant AdjutantGeneral) . and Colonel Robin as has been stated previously, remaining to take command of tho home forces in Gehoral Godley's absence. It is considered that Colonel Braithwaite (Director of Staff Duties and Military Train-, ing) will be tho Chief of Staff. Others who are understood to have been successful in securing places in the expedition are:—Lieutenant-Colonel G. N. Johnston (Director of Ordnance and Artillory), artillery staff officer; Colonel Johnston (Officer Commanding the Wellington District), who lias, sorved in the Indian Army; Lieutenant-Colonel A. Bauchop (Officer Commanding tho Otago District); Major Temperloy (General Staff Officer, Wellington District); Captain Hudson (of ..the Headquarters Staff), who has seen considerable service; Captain Edwards. R.E. (Headquarters Staff); Captain Whyto (of Palmerston North), who is expected to command the mounted regiment from the Wellington District;_ Captain Powles, of Wellington. (Officer in Charge of No. 5 Area); and Lieutenant. Richmond (Assistant Military Secretary).'

SOLDIERS' PAY. ;. IN CAMP AND ABROAD. An order has been issued to. the effect that whilo in 1 camp prior to embarking the members of the Expeditionary Force will receive ordinary-camp rates of pay, as follow:—Colpnels, £1 Is. per day; lieutenant-colonels, 155.; major's, 12b. ; captains, 10s.; lieutenants, Bs.; sergeant-majors', ss. 6u.; sergeants, 55.; corporals, '4s. 6d.; privates, 4s. . After, the embarkation the rates of pay will be:—Colonels, £110s.; lieuton-aiit-colonels, £1 55.: majors, £1 Is.; captains, 17s. 6d.; lieutenants, 125.; second lieutenants, 10s.; adjutants, 55., in addition to pay of rank; medical officer, 10s., in addition to pay of rank; veterinary officer, 10s., in addition to pay of rank; chaplains,, pay of, rank; reg : mental sergeant-majors, 95.; regimental quartermaster-sergeants, 95.; squadron battery or company quartermasters, Bs.; quartermaster-sergeants, Bs.; colour-sergeants, Bs.; sergeants, 75. ; ; lance-sergeants, 6s. 6d.; corporals, ss. 6d.; lance-corporals, 55.; , privates, trumpeters, buglers,' 45.; pay clerks, 65.; orderly-room clerks, 7s. . Half the pay due to members of the Expeditionary Force will be kept back in New Zealand. No liquor will be permitted, on the troop transports except as medical stores under the medical staff.

NEWS AND NOTES. -PREPARING FOR EMBARKATION. No difficulty is being experienced in obtaining horses for the Expeditionary Force. At one time, the Hon. Jas. Allen, stated yesterday, it, was thought that there would be difficulty, but he was now informed by Mr. C. J. Reakes. (Chief Government Veterinarian) that all the artillery horses and all the draught horses required had been obtained. A largo number of horses of an excellent stamp bad also been brought in for the mounted infantry. Some would have to bo bought, but there would bo no difficulty in getting them. A very large number of horses have been presented to the Government for the use of the troops.

New <Zealanders In England Anxious to Serve. New Zealanders in England, the Defence Minister stated yesterday, were expressing a desire to join the Expeditionary Force. They could not bo allowed to join at present, but might he allowed to fill any vacancies that occurred. All ofHliom, Mr. Allen remarked, were very keen to serve. '

Troopship Charters. The Hon. Jas. Allen told a reporter yesterday that ho had now got the wholo of the troopship charters fixed up and some of them signed. Mr. Allen has been advised by General Godloy that.ho has inspected tho Canterbury Concentration Camp, "'and found both tho mounted men and infantry very good indeed. Tho horses also are of a good stami>. -General Godley gave an equally satisfactory account of his visit to tho Otago camp.

Fodder for the Horses. Tho loading of fodder for tho Expeditionary Forco on tho Athenic has been completed, and everything is in readiness to finish this portion of the provisioning as soon as other vessels aro available. Yesterday, it was intended that tho Limerick should be loaded immediately she reaches port, and it was oxpected that she would berth last night or this morning. The Mannganui and the Orari, also, aro to tako in fodder, but they have not arrived yet. lYestcrdas, 'notica .was received that a

Hastings farmer had donated 1000 sacks of chaft. Tlia gift* have been »o generous that it is considered that the fodder will cost the country little or notliing.

, IN OTHER CENTRES*. THE WEST COAST DETACHMENT. 'Dy Telcgiaph.-Prcsa Association.) a it.- jj. 9 reymouth « August 24. A third detachment is being mobilised hereto-day, 54 of whom go to tho camp at Dunedm, and 6 to Addington, making the West Coast total of men in the ■iixpeditionary Force 260. , , Dunodin, August 24. vjho men m camp at Tahuna number 1442. The mo anted men are now over the full strength.