TE AWAMUTU CAVALRY DRILL.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1153, 15 November 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

TE AWAMUTU CAVALRY DRILL.

The To Awamutu Cavalry Volunteers concluded their five days' half-yearly training on the Bth inst. The manoeuvres on the last morning were performed very creditably. There was very little confusion after an excellent charge in the passing line, the greatest speed attained being at the saluting point. There was scarcely any talking observed. In addition to the usual evolutions the troop was exercised in post practice, and riding quarter of a mile at full speed, taking two fixed fences about three feet in height,, and rapidity ball practice. The post practice consists of posts being placed in two parallel lines 9ft. apart, and 150 yards in length. The horseman places himself at a given point between the two lines. On the line to the right of the competitor are placed four posts, 20 yards apart, on which are placed heads, which the horseman has to try to take off with a fair cut with the edge of his sword, the distance between head and post is three inches. In the line to the left of the competitor are placed four posts with arms attached, from which are suspended rings three inches in diameter, for the horseman to take off with the point of his sword passing through it.. The horseman starts by signal, and at 30 yards is No. 1 post, at which he delivers cut 1 on the right; then at 10 yards distance he delivers point to the left; the next 10 yards, cut 2 on the right; the next 10 yards, point to the left; then cut 3 to the right, followed by point to the left; then cut 4 to the right; and finally point to the left, riding past the post indicating 150 yards, which has to be ridden at a fair gallop, and within 25 seconds. The object of this practice is to demonstrate the unity which should exist between the hand and eye, with the true edge or point of the sword leading. Points count one for each head and ring fairly taken. Score made by those who

The riding at speed and rapidity ball practice consisted of squads of two men riding quarter of a mile, over two fixed fences, about three feet in height, to the 200-yard range, dismounting and picketing their horses together, and firing as many rounds as possible at a target (6ft. x 2ft.); time allowed from start to cease firing three minutes. The squad making the greatest number of hits to be considered the winning squad; the men to be mounted within one minute after the cease firing. The object of this practice is to demonstrate the practical utility of cavalry in the field, where rapidity of movement is the desideratum. The squad may be supposed to be detached in order to make an attack on an enemy, which enemy is represented by the target, so that the squad that makes the greatest number of hits, is supposed to have inflicted the greatest execution on the enemy. The scores are as under:— Fired on sth Instant, Names. 48 3 a - 9 Sergt-Major Higginson and Sergt. Bruce .. .. 9 9 Corporal G-. Wilkinson and Trooper J. Taylor.. .. 7 5 Troopers J. Scott and J. 0. Grierson 12 5 Troopers McDonnell and Mandeno .. .. .. 3 4 Troopers W. Bruce and Munro 7 8 Troopers Churches and W. Hill .. 0 6 Troopers N. Higginson and E. Farrell .. ~ .. 5 8 Troopers W. Alexander and Gibson ~ .... 3 10 Troopers Goodwin and Maunders ,« «< ft M % 9

Troopers Gr. Hill and Liyne.. 4 6 Troopers Graham and W. McLaren .. .. .. 4 9 Troopers R. Alexander and Donovan .. .. .. 0 7 Troopers Greshain and Rogers 0 4 Troopers Hume and Orinsby 4 11 Troopers T. YV. Weatherall and Kichdale .. .. 5 5 Troopers Sullivan and J. Weal .;' .. .. 2 6 Troopers F. 3ruce . and A . Bruce .. .. .. 8 4 Troopers W. Bond and J. Weal 3 4 Scores Fired on the Bth Instant; GO . Names. -S I -I •H JJJ cq 3 cq Sergt. -Major Higginson and • SESergt. Bruce ..... 17 2 19 Corporal Wilkinson and T.ooper Grierson .. ..13 4 17 Troopers Macfarlane and Scott.. .. .. ..12 5 17 Troopers Weatherall and" Hume .. .. ..8 6 14 Troopers A. Bruce and Munro 6 14 20 Daily attendance 61, men of all ranks, including band, who performed on parade on Friday and Saturday.

competed on the.8th inst. :- - Names. Heads. Rings.Tl. Lieut. Rutherford .. •. 4 0 4 Sub.-. Lieut. Weatherall ., 1 0 1 Sergt -Major Higginson .. 1 0 1 Sergeant R.Bruce.. 1 2 3 Corporal Q-. Finch 0 0 0 Trooper W. Alexander .. 4 1 5 $ j W.Bond.. 0 0 0 )) A. Bruce.. ;. 3 0 3 )} G. Churches .. 1 0 1 i) F. Farrell 2 1 3 jj T.Gresham ,, 1 ■M 1 j> N. Higginson .. 1 0 1 jj Gr. Macfarlane .. 1 3 4 )j J*. Matthews .. 0 1 1 » A. Ormsby 2 1 3 )) J. Pollard.. 1 0 1 J) Gr.Richdale "1 0 1 )) H. Roche 2 1 3 JJ J.Scott .. 2 0 2 31 J. Simpson 3 1 • 4 )| J. Weal .. 0 0 0 )) J". Munro.. ,. 2 1 3 J) J. C. Grrierson ,. 1 1 2 jj W.J.Wilson .. 0 0 0 JJ J. Hume.. ... 3 1 4 J) H. Graham 4 3 7 j) H. Short 3 2 5 j J T. W. Weatherall 3 0 3 jj J. Gibson 0 0 0 )> P.MoDonnQll .. 3 1 4 jj W. McLaren 2 0 2 SJ G.Hill .. 1 0 1