EVENTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2279, 13 October 1914, Page 6

EVENTS IN NEW ZEALAND.

TRAINING THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. ANOTHER STRENUOUS DAY VARIOUS OPERATIONS. Troops of the Expeditionary Forco aro faced with another week's training,, but not on the strenuous scale of last week. Yesterday the Wellington Infantry Battalion went out to Trentham for musketry practice, whilst the other infantry battalions exercised separately. Tho Otago Battalion marched to Karori, and proceeded with company training and outpost work, and tho Canterbury Battalion went to Miramar, where the men were put through ah outpost scheme. The .battalions returned at five o'clock,- headed by tho Expeditionary Force bands, which aro always at the head of the marching infantrymen. To-day the Canterbury Battalion will occupy tho ranges at Trentham, for no opportunity is being lost to bring tho troops to shoot straight. _ The Otago Battalion goes to Karori for platoon training to-day, and the Wellington Battalion will be exercised,in outpost work at Miramar.^ To-morrow promises to be tho big day For the infantry. They will be exercised in manoeuvres by Colonel F. E. Johnston, Infantry Brigade Commander. , Lieutenant-Colonel G. N. Johnston, R.A., is keeping tho Field Artillery Brigade busily employed at the Hutt Park, where the brigade is encamped. Yesterday the men were engaged again in instructional practice, and fired forty rounds of shrapnel from tlie 18-pound-ers, which are the pride of the brigade. These guns are watched with much interest by the public when the men are on tho march. As 'has been stated before, they aro the samo gun as is being used by the British force at tho front to-day. The New Zealand gunners are acquiring excellent command over them, and their shooting will not be a weak factor when they are called upon to face their enemy. The shooting from the Park is watched by many interested spectators each day. Tho Mounted Rifles Regiment encamped at Trentham-went through another campaign yesterday, when they ; .te-fought the battle of Wednesday last. On that occasion the Wellington Mounted Rifles, to the number of 450, were tho. attacking force, whilst the defenders were a squadron of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Yesterday the attackers were the same, but two squadrons of the 10th Regiment (Nelson) defended the position. The defending force, Which was commanded by Major E. J. Wain, had to hold Upper Hutt -station against, the attackers, for two hours, to cover tho loading of stores.

The attacking force waß commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel W. Meldrum, and they worked down the Hutt River from above the township. The battle was re-fought to correct tho' errors made last week, and to give tho officers and men better training. The result of tho operations was that tho task allotted to the defenders was successfully accomplished.