VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9022, 7 February 1895, Page 2

VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

By Bullseve. •'Weekly Press." SotTi'HLAIW) RIFLB CjLUB. On January 23rd eleven members took Part iv the third competition (seven shots ; at 200 and oOOydi)for the N.Z.R.A. bronze i medal. The light was good and, but for a fresh breeze from the right, tbe conditions were favourable for shooting. Messrs. W. Smith and W. Craigie are rnnnlug each other close for the trophy. Appended are the scores :*—W. Smith, 64 j W. Craigie, C 4; R. M'Nab, 62; W. Banneruian, 60; J. Crowther, SS; E. Dunlop, 54. Four highestaggregates are:—W. Smith, 64, 04, 128;. W. Craigie.62. 64, 126; J. Crowther, 63, 58, 121; R, M'Nab, 59, 02, 121, at 2GO arid 500 yds. The match between the Bluff contingent of the Smthland Club and the Matuura Club took place on the 23rd, each team nriug upon its own range. The day was fine and some -very fair ncores were put up, notably Mr Shelcon'e 34 at 500 yd». The match was won by the pore i»»eu by 31 points. Bluff, 471; Mat aura, 45' J. GOOD SHOOTiNO. An Auckland correspondent, sends mc the following:—'" Recently a very warmlycontested sweepstake match was tired with Martini-Henry rifles at the Mount Eden range, by some of our volunteers. The excellent scoring mado compared, very favourably with any made for tome time. With the exception of heat and mirage, the weather could not have bsen better. That the rack rifles are not yet to be despised is substantially proved by the following score*: —Gunuer Nutt (rack rifle) heads the Use, with the splendid total of 102; Gunner Taylor (rack ride), 9S; Gunner Head (prize rifle), 97; Sergeant Paralow (97); Petty-Officer G. Spinley (prize rllle) DO;. Sergeant Doughty (prize ride), U5 Sergeant Rose (rack rifle), 93; Mr Meyers, Whangacei R»C. (prize riile), Bb*; Gunner neiiderttiit (rack ride), 85. The ranges wero 200. 500, and GOO yards; ecven shots at each distance. 1 think this is worthy of record." New Zealand RiFr.-B Associatiost. LOCALE OF THIS 1895 MKBTIKG. Captain Proudfoot, raprabar ot Council of the Association for Dunedin, writing under dato January 25th, says:— "Sib.—ln your note* of 10th. inst. you state that a correspondent,, who has just returned from' Auc&laud, says that the support of the Duuediu members of the New-Zealand Riile Association has been obtained wish a view to holding the next meeting in Auckland. 1 have made inquiries and I cannot come across anyone who knows anything about this. The Duuediu members look at the matter from a business point, and are ot opinion that peripatetic meeting* are not in the interest of the Association. It Is to be hoped that at the next annual meeting members will look at the matter purely from the Association point of view, and vote accordingly." [I print Captain Proudfoot's letter with the greatest pleasure, as ib show.* to riflemen of New Zealand thab the Dunedin members are fully alive to the interests ot tho Association, and I join with Captain Proudfoot in hoping thab the members at the next annual meeting will look at this matter from the Association's point of view.] As Opening Fob Our Boys. The question h often asked," What shall we do with our boyc" and it seems to mc that the question can be answered by manning our navy with them. Admiral Bridge, in speaking the other day, said that tbe Australian squadron cist Australasia £126,003 per annum, which, it Is admitted on all allies, is cheap enough. But whilst admitting the cheapness at which we procure the defence of our colony, it seems out of all reason that Auntralusia, with her large population, should nobbeiillowedtocontiibuteaquota from her surplus to man the chips which are to defend liar. Some time ago a •ugge*tiou was thrown out tha* a ship should be kept continually perambulating the coast seekingtrecruits for the army, but now much better would it be if such a suggestion was carried out as.regards the navy. In all large centres iv the colonies at prasei*.*; th« population is, in proportion to the work to be provided, too large, and there seems Tittle or no remedy for it. All around there are growing lads who have little or no chance of competing successfully in the labour market. If facilities were given by the arrival of a recruiting ship, nay once in six mouths, at each of tho parte doubtless a largo number of these lads would embrace the opportunity and bscome members of Her Majesty's navy. I commend this idea to Admiral Brldjco, and whilst it might, so far a* Australasia I<i concerned, solve the question ot *' What shall we do with bur b<t;i<?" it might also do a good deal to assist tho Government to obtain naval recrrtlw, -wbJcb, I believe, is at times a very difficult matter.