3

E.—ll

Results of Competitions for Shields, Cups, and Medals for 1911. All rifle-shooting (class firing) at primary schools is now done on miniature ranges of from 15 to 25 yards with miniature rifles. The type of range most generally in use at schools is the Hazard Perfect .Target, with B.S.A. air-rifles at 15 yards. The other type of range is the 25 yards miniature range on which -22" Winchester miniature rifles are used with short black-powder cartridges. The following are the winners of the various shooting trophies offered by Government and leading citizens for competition between primary schools in the North and South Islands during the past year : — North Island Government Challenge Shield. Score. Rotorua .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . 45-03 South Island Government Challenge Shield. Timaru South . . . . .. . . .. . . . . 56-04 " Weekly Press " Shields. North Island— Paeroa District High School .. . . . . . . .. 52-01 South Island— Tokomairiro District High. School . . . . .. . . 50-08 Wanganui National Defence Shield. Ashburton .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49-08 Champion Belt. Corporal A. Maxwell, Makaraka School . . .. .. 89 " Star "and Graphic" Shield (known as the "Brett"). Kamo School . . . . .. . . .. .. .. 48-07 Medals with " Star and Graphic " Shield. Sergeant Rae Mitchell, Cadet Reginald Scott, Cadet William Scott, Cadet Ronald Crawford, Cadet Albert Andrews, Cadet Victor Taylor, Cadet Instane Wakelin, Cadet Fred Fuljames, Cadet Douglas Drever, Cadet William Crawford. Colonial Ammunition Company's Cups. Auckland and Hawke's Bay — ' Score. Sergeant Ohaki Potal, Rangitukia (Native School) . . .. 79 Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wellington— Colour-Sergeant H. Harrison, Queen's Park (Wanganui). . . . 85 Nelson, Marlborough, Grey, and Westland— Cadet Neil Wylie, St.' Albans (Christchurch) . . . . . . .. 83 Southland and Otago— Sergeant I. Stewart, Palmerston South .. .. . . 83 North Canterbury Public Schools Carnival. I was privileged last December to be present and witness the North Canterbury Public Schools Athletic Carnival at Christchurch, and to watch about 3,000 public-school children of all ages doing massed Swedish drill, club-swinging, and dumb-bell work. The spectacle was most impressive, and reflected the utmost credit on all concerned. At the conclusion of the athletic contests I reviewed nearly 1,500 Junior Cadets, and was well satisfied with what I saw. If more of these athletic carnivals could be held by means of State aid the nationalization of the physical-improvement movement at public schools, which I have outlined, would go ahead faster. Equipment. It is estimated that there is £27,000 worth of equipment, Junior Cadet uniforms (officers and Cadets), and other Government property —such as miniature ranges, shooting trophies, goods in store and on the sea, ammunition in magazines, &c.—now in possession of the Junior Cadet Department. During the past year 10,000 sets of Junior Cadet uniforms (including jersey, Glengarry cap, belt, and haversack) have been issued, and it is estimated that 20,000 Junior Cadets are now in uniform throughout New Zealand. There is £625 worth of equipment on order from England through the High Commissioner's Office. Four wholesale manufacturing firms in New Zealand have during the past year had orders for Junior Cadet officers' and Junior Cadets' uniforms, &c, placed with them, valued at £2,232. Junior Cadet property consisting of 878 -310 Westley-Richards rifles and 683,000 rounds of -310 ammunition and spare parts were sold to the Defence Department on the authority of Cabinet for £2,165, and there are still over 200 -310 Westley-Richards rifles in addition on loan to the Defence Department. The amount paid by the Junior Cadet Department in insurance against loss or damage of equipment belonging to public-school corps and kept in school buildings during year 1910-11 was £99. There was no loss of equipment from fire or any other cause, and in this respect the year 1910-11 furnishes a record.