J BATTERY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 16, 1 December 1883, Page 3

J BATTERY.

In compliance with the District Order issued by the Commanding Officer, Captain T. W. Porter, and dated Nov. 26, the above Battery fell in at the Drill-shed on Thursday evening last, for the Annual Muster Parade. On the order to full in, Sergeant Piesse numbered his men off and put them through a few movements, and reported 17 files present to Captain Winter, who formed the Company into open order, with fixed swords, or inspection. Captain Porter next passed down the ranks and inspected them front and rear. Captain Winter then gave the order to unfix swords, shoulder arms, for inspection port arms, and Captain Porter then inspected the carbines ; and, on the men being again formed into close order, called the muster-roll.

After which Captain Porter said he was about to inspect all the Government property on issue to the corps, and hoped to fiud every member in possession of his proper arms and accoutrements, otherwise he should be compelled to inflict a fine wherever he found any breach of this order. Each man’s arms, &c., was now minutely inspected with the following results : —Carbine 785, no snap cap ; 837, no rumrod ; 799, no snap-cap ; 825, no suapcap ; 806, no sling ; 782, no sling ; 803, no sling.

On terminating this inspection, Captain Porter said he must compliment Captain Winter on having found everything in perfect good order and condition. It was seldom that such au excellent state of things could be found in such a large body of men, and he felt highly pleased to be enabled to compliment Captain Winter and his men on the exceptional and highly commendable state in which he found the stores.

Sergeaut-iMajor Featon then read the following orders :—“ Battery order, No 153— Major H. J. Finn’s gold medal. The competition for this prize will be by handicap ; to be won by the highest aggregate scorer ut three competitions at 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards, five shots at each range, no sighting shots—to be fired under government regulations. The first competition will be on Boxing Day at 11 a.m. Intending competitors to forward their names to the OrderlySergeant before December 20th.”

“ Battery Order No. 154—The following officers and non-com missioned officers are detailed for duty for the month of December i —Captain Winter, Sergeant Ledger, Corporal Thompson, Bombadier Hansen,”

“ Battery Order No, 15o.—Class Firing— Friday-Firing will take place as follow’s t—--7.30 a.m., Ist period for marksmen, 500 yards; V a.m., Bid period, 200 and 300 yards; 11 a.m., 2nd period, 500 yards; 12 noon, Ist period, 500 yards; 2 p.m., 3rd period, 200 and 300 yards; 4 p.m., 2nd pe iod, 500 ya.ds; 5 p.m,, let period, 500 yards.” “Battery Order, No 156.—Gun Drill, &c.; —The following order is made in respect to instruction drill to be conducted by Staff Sergeant-Major Hyde, from November 29 :No 3 Detachment, December 3 ; No 4 Detachment, December 4 ; No 1 Detachment, December 5; No. 2 Detachment, December 6th. Officers, non-commissioned officers, and men drill, Friday, December 7. No. 1 Detachment, and so on in this order until otherwise countermanded. It is requested by the officer commanding, that every member will avail himself of these opportunities for instruction ; at the same time he must point out that there are express orders for dull, absence from which will entail the usual fine.”

“ District Order — Government Prizes, 1883.—The following is the order of competition for District Prizes Ist. £3 7s 6d ; 2nd. £2 9s 6d ; 3rd. £1 5s 6d. Range not less than 1200 yards ; three shots and three shells each detachment. Firing to take place on Saturday, December 15, at 1 p.m. Small Arms—lst. £3 ; 2nd, £2 ; 3rd, £1 5s ; 4th, 17s 6d. Ranges, 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards; five shots at each range; no sighting shots : regulation position—Firing to take place on Saturday, December Bth at 1 p.m.”

District Order—The Battery will parade for inspection during the month of December as follows : —Daylight inspection at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, December 13; ie o ular monthly inspection, Thursday, December 27, at 7 p.m.—Captain Porter, Commanding Officer East Coast District.

Captain Winter, in remarking on the number of parades and drills, said he would endeavor to get a target fixed up across the river for the Government prize competition With respect to the instruction drill by Staff Strgeaut-Major Hyde, he trusted that every member would use their utmost endeavor to attend, and even on lookers would derive a large amount of insti action if they would only look on. The drills were certainly very ne..vy, but it was an absolute necessity so as to make efficient members, and qualify them for the Government grant. The Major I’ inn gold medal competition handicap had been left in the hands of himself and Capta.n Porter, and he would inform members who had neglected their firing practice that they need not expect to have a large allow.' ace made no as to be placed in a more favorable position than those who had been steadily prac king. The medal had been given to encourage firing, and it was those who had been attentive to this essential part of their duties who should be encouraged. i\s to the daylight parades, he must impress members as to the great importance of the same, and he asked them to endeavor to their utmost to avail themselves of this opportunity of p ©fitting by their usefulness to become thoroughly efficient. After putting the company through various evolutions they were dismissed, and ammunition served out to members requiring the same. No, 3 Detachment was then put through a course of gun drill by Staff Sergeant-Major Hyde,which finished the business of the parade.