THE DEFENCE FORCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 14

THE DEFENCE FORCES.

♦ — -—— Bt SMrtfcT. ' ' His Excellency the Governor will arrive in Dunedin by" the first express on September 22. The Otago Hussars will furnish an escort to accompany the viceregal carriage to the Fernhiil Club, and thence later to His Majesty's Theatre. The Ist Battalion and Garrison Band will be drawn up in front of His Majesty's Theatre at 7.45 p.m. It is expected ttat the Battalion will show a muster of at least 100 rank and file. Apparently as the outcome of the protest by Wellington clergy against the holding of massed Volunteer parades for divine service on Dominion Day, a circular has been received at the local headquarters intimating that in connectioa with- the Dominion Day church parades the Volunteers are to be marched to their own churches in the morning. This arrangement had already been made in Dunedin. The month of August has witnessed avery satisfactory advance in the membership of Volunteer Corps in Otago. For the month of July the increase for the whole of the Dominion was 198. For the month of August the strength of Otago has been increased by 151, whilst only six Volunteers have left the forces of the district during the same month. In this increase are included 49 cadets comprising the lately accepted Gore High School Cadets, but deducting them, the increase is dill gratifying. The mounted branch is doubtless responsible for a fair share of the increase The Otago Hussafs, for example, added nine • troopers during the month. B. Battery's strength has teen increased to 90,, whilst the Du+iedh Engineers have added 26 recruits in a little more than two months. The total 'strength of the Otago District is 4369, the combatant forces in this total standing ,. at The Otago Hussars will commence thpir summer Saturday afternoon parades on tho_lßth inst. With the object of fostering interest in three important branches of the soldier's training — shooting, signalling, and bugling— the Otago Branoh of the Navy League has offered prizes for , these subjects throughout the local schools,' Last year's signalling competition was not a 6Ucces3 as entries go, but this year instruction is being given by competent sipnailers. On the 4th inst. 51 boys attended a semaphore class at the Garrison Hall, good progress being made. The instruction will be continued throughout this month, and will be restricted to flag signalling — Morse and semaphore. Since the Dunedin Engineer Cadets de- * y L ed themselves more particularly to signalling, interest in the work has largely increased. Staff-sergeant-major Colbert takes an infinite amount of trouble and pains with the lads, who are keen to work and quiok at assimilating details. Recently Captair Hickey, A.A.G., went to Oamaru to conduct officers and nonoom. officers' class of instruction similar to those whjjjh were successfully carried out in Dunedin, Invercargiil, and Balchitha. Owing^to the lack of interest in the olasses as evidenced in the very poor attendance. Captain Hickey was recalled to Dunedin. ' . The annual presentation of Y>rizes in connection with the Dunedin Highland Rifles •will take place m the Garrison Hall on September 17. On that occasion the company will entertain the ex-members at a smoke concert.. t * Official intimation t"hat the North Dunedin Rifles ha.ye r«solved to disband has now' been forwarded to the O.C. Battalion, and -presumably the resolution will be put into effect in tfc? usual wwaty t Before offinnally notifying fte decision the company held a second meeting to confirm the resolution. It is understood that the company's finances are in a sound state, so that the disbandment should not involve those respojuble in serious expense. Itjwas a graceful act on the part of < the Ehineidn Choral Society to extend to the Dunedin Highland Rifles an invitation to be present at the performance of "The •Lord of the Isles." The courtesy was appreciated, a large number of the members of *he «nrp*ny availing themselves of the privilege. * Thi» Wakfrri Rifles have for some time past been in parloee condition, a shrinking roll and waning interest threatening tlhe existence of the onmpany. Recently the officers and non-commissioned officers of the company met end discussed the situation, and it was resolved that a strong effort -be made to reorganise the coanpany. To this end the EJaikorai Rugby Football Club, the Romlvn-Walsari Association football Club, and -a church aitietk clab in Che district are to T>e approached in pursuance of a erande for -new members. The district is one whtofa sixmld easily support one of the strongest Vokioteer companies in Donedin, an 3 with «. fall staff of capable and entindsstMTofitaasitare is every reason to suppose that Ois eoakt be done. Tfco*e . concerned might with advantage approach kjeo the meftnbsrs of the Maori HiU Association Football Ok*. A capital finale for fhe Volunteer football banner should be witnessed on September 25. The Otago Hussars ar«t tkxt Chalmers Navsls, who contest tfce final, ure both strong sides, and will strive tfieir Utmost to secure the coveted trophy. The fact tfij* the matoh is to be played on the OaJeSctuan Ground, in Association with another Rugby attraction in aid of the Otago Cricket Association, should ensure

its being witnessed by a large attendance. The lands- of the club are likely to benefit appreciably. • • ■i "The Officer Commanding the.Dißtricfc ! congratulates the officers, non-cotamissioned ! officers, -and men of the No. 2 Field Ambulance, on the st&t& of efficiency., enabling them to win the N..Z.M.C. challenge shield." — Extract from the latest district . order. The corps -will hold its reunion on j the 21st n*st., wfeen the shield ' and the Evans oup will be presented. The following dates for annual training ! camps have been sanctioned: — B Battery, ' January 22 to February 6, 1910; Catttha | Mounted Rifles, January 29 to February 6, I 1910; Maoiototo Mounted Rifles, January j 20 to 23, 1910. ; lite principal medical officer will deliver a lecture to officers and non-commissioned ' officers on medical work in the field as follows: — At la.verea<rgill, September 14; 1 Gore, Septsmhsr 15; Milton, September '• 16; Oamaro, September 20. Uniform need : not be worn. i When the armourer paid his usuoJ visit {to the Fort Chalmers Navale the other ! evening he found c state of affairs winch ! ooiidd soeroedy be matched in the 1 Dominion. The night before the armourer's inspection the whole of the SB rifles on issue to the company were in store, and wihen the armourer had inspected them he found er&ry rifle in good cocdition, so that *t the conclusion of the inspection the company will not be^debited , with one tsewny i The following orders are issued in con- , ncction with the 3rd Battalion, 0.R.V. : — ; A lecture will be given in tie N.C.O.'e Club Room every- Wednesday nigjht at 8 o'clock, for N.C.O.'s and those desirous of obtaining certificates. Under instruction from headqtatxters, j all corps will hold church parade* on Dominion Day, 26th September, 1909. A, B, and I .Companies, Band, and Oaroaru Defence Cadets will parade at the Drill Hall at 10.30 a.m. C, D, E, F, G, and H Companies will make their own arrangements to hold a church parade on the above date, and will ssnd in a parade state to this officer coin' nianding- the battalion, and wire A.A, general on Monday morning numbers preecnt on paicade. Each detachment, no matter how remote, must hold a parade. Dress, review order. -A, B, and I Companies, Band, and Oania.ru Defence Cadets will parade at the Drill Hall on Tuesday, September 28, et 7.45 p.m., for outpost duty, as per scheme attached. Officers oonunacidine companies are requested to place the scheme on the wall in their orderly room, so that ai'i ranks oan make themselves acquainted with the work to be carried out. All officers and non-com-missioned officers are particularly requested j to attend the P.M.O.'s lecture on 20th inst. ■ Uniform need not be worn. The disbandment of the Portobello, Nevis, LimehiUs, North Otago, Waikaka, Mataura, and Clyde Rifle Qhibs, all in Otago, is gazetted. Tfe No. 1 Garrison Artillery (says an Auckland paper) have, had c unique record during the past 12 months, hayine won the quick-firing- cup in competition with all the garrison artillery companies in the Dominion, with, what is considered! to be an Australasian record. In addition, they have also won the Kirker Cup, presented for the most efficient artillery company in Auckland ; they were also second for big-gun and first for ligtht-g>un shooting in the Dominion. In efficiency, they were a good deal ahead of the Auckland artillery companies, being fourth for New Zealand. Ths company attained A grade for efficiency and first-class for shooting. In addition to these trophies, the company is to be presented with a 100-guinea. cup, presented in memory of the late L. D. Nathan. It is anticipated -that the corps 'will -attend in its maximum strength in honoTxr of tins ooweioD.