VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 13, 16 January 1901, Page 4

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

N.Z. RIFLE ASSOCIATION,

Lieut.-Colonel Sommerville, efoair-

I man of the N.Z.K.A., has issued a circular to officers commanding volunteer corps and captains of rifle clubs, concerning: the forthcoming meeting of the A-ssociation. The circular states that "the meeting will b e open to members of volunteer corps and rifle clubmen on equal terms. Rifle clubs may now practically be considered as part of the defence forces of the colony, and it is to be hoped that in the future volunteers and rifle club men will work together harmoniously with one end in view, the protection of the colony from invasion and the. solidarity of the British Empire. The meeting will be held at Putiki Range, Wanganui, on Thursday, the 21st of March, 1901, ending on the 28th; Friday th e 29th will be a special day for the mounted infantry tournament. A- new feature in the meeting Will be the introduction of a "<Field Service Match," as nearly similar as possible to what is seen every day in South Africa. Two matches in the programme will be open only to competitors who have never won a prize at any previous Association meeting. By instructions from the Hon. the Premier a special match will be included, open only to those men who have served in South Africa. The Martini-Enfield 303. rifle will be used at the meeting. Any attempt to use the 303. and the MartiniHenry by handicapping the former would in my opinion cause great dissatisfaction The Government are making arrangements by which they hope to issue rifles to competitors about the 20th of January. Applications for I rifles by individual competitors must be first sent to the officer commanding the corps or rifle club, and will be sent on by him to the officer commanding the district. Care must be taken not to send single applications for rifles when a greater number may eventually be required. The sum of one pound per rifle must be forwarded with the application, and this sum will be returned to the competitor at the meeting. Any person having received a rifle and not attending th» meeting will forfeit his pound, and the captain of the corps or club will be responsible for the safety of the. rifle. Thes e rifles will be handed in cleaned and oiled at the conclusion of the meeting. Ammunition ' for practice with the 303. will be sold at cost price to capi tains of companies and rifle clubs, in cases containing 1,100 rounds. Tents ! will be provided at the range, and i competitors can live in camp and do their own messing, or make arrangei ments in Wanganui. A lunch will be provided daily. Bronze medals, affiliating corps and clubs will be issued as usual. 'These medals make clubs practice, and are the means of bringing out good men. Railway passes will be issued to competitors, and arrangements made with the Union S.S. Company for the trip from Lyttelton to Wellington. The programme will be issued shortly, and will be on the same lines as heretofore, but the prizes will in all cases be increased. The total prize money will be- about £1,400. ~