H.—l9.

10

The Championship Belt was won by Rifleman G. Halliday, of the Karori Defence Rifle Club, Wellington, with a score of 483 ; Captain W. S. King, of the Linwood Rifle Corps, Christchurch, being second, with 482 ; and Captain J. H. Ross, of the Active List, and Armourer-Sergeant W. H. Cutler, of the Australian Rifle Regiment, tied for third place, with scores of 479. The Permanent Artillery were employed as markers, there being no fewer than 100 members of the Force on the range. The marking gave entire satisfaction. The Colonial Ammunition Company, Auckland, supplied the ammunition, which was again of excellent quality. The universal testimony of the competitors to the excellent arrangements for the meeting, the absence of any complaints, and the general satisfaction on the whole was most gratifying to all concerned. The Executive, Staff, and Range Officers gave their services gratuitously. The recommendations of the Executive Officer (Colonel Collins, 1.5.0.) in regard to increased longrange accommodation were carried out in part in time for the meeting. Twelve additional " Ralston " targets were erected on the Somerville Range, and the necessary mounds made, thus providing on thirty-seven targets facilities for competitions up to 1,000 yards. It has been decided to continue the projected improvements during the current year, and complete the scheme as outlined by Colonel Collins in 1905. This includes the provision of thirteen more " Ralston " targets for the Somerville Range, with the necessary head-cover and firing-mounds, additional mounds on the Seddon Range, the removal and extension of the present buildings, and the completion of a telephone system. The completion of these works will provide range-accommodation up to 600 yards on seventy-five targets and up to 1,000 yards on fifty targets, and, in view of the rapid growth of the meeting, should enable- the programme to be carried out within a reasonable time. Signalling and Engineer Companies. Progress. The training during the past year has been carried out on similar lines to previous year, and it is satisfactory to report that in every Signalling unit there has been a general all-round improvement. The Engineer units have much improved. With the improved facilities for carrying out their annual training, the Engineer and Signalling companies have carried out good work. Field Telegraph Sections. The four Field Telegraph Sections have shown great improvement since last year, and, with the improved cable-cart, have reached a satisfactory standard of efficiency. Riding is not as good as it should be in some of the sections. Every man in the detachments should be a good rider. The electrical knowledge of some of the men- is excellent. The Staff Instructor for Engineers attended all camps of the Engineers in the Dominion, besides instructional visits during the year. The following tables show the order of merit of the companies and Signallers : —

Return showing Efficiency of the New Zealand Field Engineer Volunteers for Year ending 28th February, 1910.

I h I" w '"i o> Its ' i, I i, District. Corps. | S | J 1 § S 11 \% <2 . Auckland No. 3 Company, 93 ! 7 60 94 i 90 75 F.E.V. J I ■ Canterbury ! No. 1 Company, 73 ' 27 :67-251 96 j 88 75 F.E.V. Otago ■. :. No. 2 Company, 51 ; 49 71 85 i 90 \ 80 F.E.V. Wellington No. 4 Company, I 20 ; 80 j 60 85 | 92 70 F.E.V. 25 ft 02 o p 75 i ii i to j $ J M i O— H ■ "gee ' • • 555-0 179-30 Wins the Field Engineer Efficiency Shield. ! 535-551 76-50 I ' ' 68 69 67-3 oa 77-8 506-8 i 72-4 i 61 60 448-0 64-0 ' I . !