TECHNICAL COLLEGE CADETS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1922, Page 7

TECHNICAL COLLEGE CADETS.

INSPECTION BY COLONEL MELVILLE. RIFLE RANGE OPENED. The New Plymouth Technical College cadets were inspected yesterday by Colonel-Commandant C. W. Melville, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C. (officer commanding the central command), who was accompanied by Captain D. E. Bremner, M.C., N.Z.S.C., and Lieutenant L. W. Andrew, V.C., N.Z.S.C. Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., and Mr. J. S. Connett, members of the Board of Managers, were also present. The company was drawn up for inspection under Captain A. L. Moore, and, after Colonel Melville had had a look at the boys, the platoons were marched off to carry out rifle exercises, musketry, physical training, and drill under their own instructors. Before the parade was dismissed, Colonel Melville took, the opportunity of congratulating the boys on their steadiness on parade, and also congratulated their officers and n.c.o.’s on their efficiency as instructors. He was disappointed, however, at the somewhat slow rata of progress the company had made in its work, attributing it chiefly to the lack of room in which it had to carry out its training, and hoped thstt this feature would be remedied in the near future. The last time he had inspected the New Plymouth Technical College cadets he had had the pleasure of presenting them with the Weekly Press challenge shield for shooting, and he congratulated them on the fine scores which had been put up by the New Plymouth teams in the Empire Challenge Shield competitions, the average scores being 90 per cent, of the possible. He had drawn Lord Jellicoe’s attention to the good shooting of the New Plymouth boys, and he had been disappointed that the Govern or-General’s trophy had not come here. It had been awarded to a school, however, which had entered a greater number of teams, but their individual average was not so high. He urged the cadets to keep up their interest in shooting, and congratulated them on the splendid miniature range they had built. He also urged that when the General Headquarters School was re-opened at Trentham, as many of them as possible should endeavor to attend to make themselves efficient officers and instructors. He then formally declared the range open. On behalf of the Board of Managers, Mr. Connett thanked Colonel Melville for his visit and congratulatory remarks. and assured him of the board’s interest in the cadets. On his call, three cheers were given for Colonel Melville by the boys and the college girls who had witnessed the inspection.