VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9030, 16 February 1895, Page 3

VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

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♦'Weekly Press.*' Local Notm. A correspondent wants to know why the A Company, which possesses such a fine shooting team, have uot yet entered for the bronze medal. Perhaps some of the members can give him a reply. m__ —A-t —Jt _1 /"*_.__ __._t-.._._TT— ___._.

Tbe officers of tbe Canterbury Volunteers played a cricket match on Thursday last with the Veterans. The Veterans put them down. Lieut. - Colonel Gordon astonished some of the younger officers by the way in which he played the game.

The Little River Rifle Club fired their first competition for the bronze medal on February 7th on their range. There was a strong cross wind blowing, which puzzled most! of the competitors. Mr Harris, the captain of the club, however, seemed fully at home In it, and put on the respectable score of 32 at 200 yds and 3_ at 500 yds. He had hard luck in not getting a possible at the long range, as his second shot, although only counting an inner, almost cut the line of the " bull."

The City Guards put down the Engineers on Saturday for the Associated Corps Shield. It is a pity that a number of the best shots of the Guards have gone in for Martini shooting, thus spoiling themselves for tbe Snider, or otherwise they might have given tbe A Company a close run for the Shield.

Mr James Gray, the well-known Dunedin shot, sends mc the following re the Association Meeting:—Dear Bullseye,—ln a recent Weekly Press I noticed a letter stating that the Auckland members were making an attempt to have the '96 Association Meeting held there, and that the Dunedin members were going to assist them in carrying this arrangement out. I thought of writing at the time to contradict the statement as regards the Dunedin members of the Association, but did not do so. In this week's paper 1 see a letter signed "Old Member" referring to the subject, and now write a line or two to say that as far as the members of the Association here are concerned nothing of the sort has ever been thought of, and the Association can depend on the Dunediu members backing them up in the present arrangement. I have spoken to Captain Smith, Captaio Proudfoot and nearly ill members that were at last meeting and tbey have never heard of anything, of the kind mentioned here, so where the report came from it is hard to say; but it will dot be the southern members that will move for, any alteration in the present arrangement or try to a**ist the Auckland members in doing so. You can safely contradict the raporc. I read with great interest the notes In each week's paper.**.

With reference to the vexed question as to whether the winners of bronze medals in Rifle clubs can fire as Volunteers at the Association Meeting, Lieutenant F. W. Sandford. Christchurch (iuards. sends mc the following:—"D-_ab BuiJ.s_rT_._-I have to draw attention to a slight error In a paragraph in your laut week's notes re tbe bronze medal. While in Wanganui I saw Major SomerviUe on the subjsct. A member of a Volunteer corps can fire for a medal in a Rifle club. If he win* It he can fire through the Meeting as a Volunteer; he can also fire in his Corps team match, but on the day* of the medal match he must dress in the uniform of tbe Rifle club to enable him to fire, as he wiil be considered a civilian for the time being. I held an adverse opinion to this, but Major SomerviUe is very certain ou this point."—[As this letter comes to hand very fate, I have ho time to comment on it in thi. ii*ue, but will do ao next* week.— BOXLSErB.)

The Bist Tabqw. The diagram I pnblish this week is made by Mr Joseph Chicken of the Woodvilla Rifle Club. The rare of 33, which is an exceptionally fro™, one, wa. made at che regulation N.Z.R.A. target at the club's ranee on the morning of Tuesday, January 22nd, and is certified to by six first-class shooting men of the dub, who saw the acore maae. Mr Chicken, who is .» watchmaker at Woodville- is an old shot, and has done some really first-class work in the shooting line previous to -bis. He has an attendant at several of the Association Meetings, winning a considerable number <;f prizes. < Mr Chicken is bc-iid**. t*i<*. a;i .astin all matters, concerning .booting, always ready to give advice when possible, aad no better seech

than he i« to be'f .nnd inthi<! jrr. »t shooting centre. 3'hl*. tar^ecreAtaa- follow- ;— Mr Joseph Chictrpn: Woodvilie llilid Clnb. 700 Yds.