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43. The Annual Inspection by his Excellency the General Officer Commanding was ordered for Saturday, the 25th March, but, owing to the unfavourable weather and the bad state of the ground, it was postponed to Saturday, the 15th April, 1905,
Miscellaneous.
44. His Excellency the Governor has been good enough to present a Cup for annual competition between units for efficiency; marks are allotted to each unit for every efficient member, also for musketry and to the officers and sergeants for proficiency at the annual examination. In order to encourage each unit to recruit up to full strength, 1 mark is added to the total for each member.
The marks are given proportionately to the total strength.
The order of efficiency for this Cup for this season is as follows :—-
Marks.
(1.) Right Half No. 2 Company, H.K.V.A. (Winners)
O.C. Capt. Armstrong
2,908
(2.) Left Half No. 2 Company, H.K.V.A.
(3.) H.K.V. Engineer Company
(4.) Left Half No. 1 Company, H.K.V.A.
(5.) Right Half No. 1 Company, H.K.V.A.
O.C. Capt. Skinner
2,835
O.C. Lieut. Crake...
2,633
O.C. Lieut. Oliver... O.C. Capt. Macdonald
2,573 2,419
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20+
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I would add that in future I think it might be fair to add more marks for the number of efficients in a unit to encourage recruiting.
45. The competition for the Musketry Shield presented by Sir H. A. Blake, G.C.M.G., for teams of eight from each unit took place on the 30th April, 1904, at the Volunteer Rifle Range, and was again won by the Left Half No. 1 Company, H.K.V.A.
46. Two members of this unit, Gunner F. W. Penning and Gunner J. T. Hayton, tied for the Corps Rifle Championship at the Volunteer Rifle Meeting held on Saturday, the 4th and 11th March, and Gunner F. W. Penning won on the shoot off by one point.
47. The competition for the shield presented by General Sir W. J. Gascoigne, K.C.M.G., for Maxim gun practice took place on the 18th February, 1905, and was won for the second year in succession by the Right Half No. 2 Company, H.K.V.A.
48. The Corps took part in the King's Birthday Parade, in conjunction with the remainder of the garrison on the 9th November, 1904.
49. An Ambulance Class was conducted by Captain F. O. Stedman, M.O.; seven members of the Corps presented themselves for examination on the 11th May, 1904, and five qualified.
50. On the 8th and 9th February. 1905, a general mobilization of three sections of defence took place in conjunction with the navy; the H. K. Volunteer Artillery units received orders to man four 15-pr. B. L. guns and the Engineer Company to proceed to their posts on the searchlights.
Two officers of the Staff, 5 officers and 53 n.c.o's. and men, H.K.V.A., and 2 officers and 16 n.c.o's. and men, H.K.V.E., took part in the mobilization; they paraded at headquarters at 7 A.M. on the 8th February, and were broken off again at 1 P.M. on the 9th February.
This was a valuable experience for all ranks; the mobilization was carried out under service conditions, and the Officers and men were enabled to practise pitching and striking tents, duties of sentries, &c., in addition to their actual work by day and nights on the guns and searchlights.
51. The engine shed with engine and electric light installation at Kowloon for the H.K. Volunteer Engineers was completed and handed over to the Corps in September 1904; this has enabled the members of this unit to carry out their drills without the great delay which was formerly unavoidable in proceeding to and from the forts; the strength of this unit has now increased to 32 as against 21 in March 1904.
The necessity of occasional drills with the actual plant in the forts has not been lost sight of, and the members of this unit usually attend the night mannings with the Royal Engineers once a month.
52. The question of suitable headquarters, which have been under discussion for so long, has been decided, and plans have now been drawn up by the Public Works Department; the building will, I understand, be shortly commenced, and will consist of a drill hall, 70 feet by 50 feet, Commandant and Clerk's Offices, an officers ante-room, sergeants' mess, reading room and billiard room for the rank and file, a clothing store, and quarters for the Corps Sergeant-Major. The present Maxim gun store will be retained, and the field guns and small arms will be kept in the drill hall, which is to be provided with a strong concrete floor.
The building will be on the present site and should fill a long-felt want.
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58. In conclusion I might add that, in my opinion, the work done by the Corps during the year has been very satisfactory; the numbers have increased, and I am hopeful that the total strength will be greater next year.
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