VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9299, 27 December 1895, Page 2

VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

_ o By Bnx.LSF.TE.

" Weekly Press and Referee." Local Notes. The Canterbury Engineers are now giving a series of priae competitions f orprize3 which have been presented to the corps, and also for a Challenge Cup, which has been presented by Captain M'Gee for competition amongst non.-eoras. only, and is fired for annually, but is always the property of the corps, being hold by the winner for a period of twelve months. There are three competitions, two of which count, and a final at 500yda from scratch. The Company is divided into two classes, and there are six or seven prizes in each class. Some men must necessarily fire in the match for the Cup and also in their respective class, but are handiapped accordingly. The competitions are fired with tho Snider carbine. Appended are the scores with the handicaps allotted to them for the two competitions which have been fired. The third competition will take place after the New Year:— CiFTiis's Cup. Pirafc Competition—2oo, 300, 500 yds.

There is some doubt yet as to whether any of the Canadian team will take in Australasia on their way to Bisley this year. This is a question which is just now exciting almost as much interest in the Dominion of Canada as in our own centre. The Canadian Military Gazette, which is the official organ of the shooting men of Canada, writing upon the tie of brotherhood which unites all those living under the British flag, says, in regard to this visit:—" Another fine object lesson of this character would be the dospatoh of the Bialey team to England next year by way of Australia as suggested by our antipodean brethren-in-arms. We agree with our always interesting confrere, the military correspondent of the Toronto Telegram, that the scheme is worthy of every consideration. "Wβ are well aware that the despatch of the team to Bisley direct is quite a heavy drag as it is upon the finances of the Dominion Rifle Association, but the Canadian Pacific railway can do much towards reducing the increased expenditure, and the C. P. R. has the unusual happy reputation of dealing generously with Canada's defensive force. The objection is urged, too, that the members of the team would have difficulty in getting away from business for such a long time, but that could easily be found out after the matter is taken into serious consideration, as it certainly ought to be." It will be seen by this that the Canadians are in favour of this visit, and therefore, even if it should not eventuate this year, we may still hope to see a Canadian team competing on New Zealand soil in the near future. ■ I had a look at the N Battery firing practice on Saturday. The fortnight in camp has done the boys a lot of good. Their conduct has been exceptionally good, hardly even the usual camp disturbances taking 'place. I must congratulate Captain M'lntyre upon the excellent manner in which he has his boys in hand. Lieutenant Palmer is a good second, and when these are supported by such men as Sergt.-Major Arnold, Sergeants Suiter, Carroll, Treleaven and the other non-coms., there is little wonder that the Battery is successful. It ■would be a great pity if this battery was, as Colonel Fox suggested in hie late reporfc it should be, turned into a naval corps, as the honest rivalry which now exists between the Lyttelton corps, and which induoes them both to strain every point to excel, would* I am afraid, exist no longer, and it might prove the downfall of both. It is better to let well alone. I notice in looking athrough the accounts of several matches fired in Canada, that the shooting is not beyond the average of what oar fellows here are doing. Hayharst, the Queen's Prizeman, has Keen doing a lot of shooting, but nothing sensationaVin hardly getting to the top place. Mr E. SkeMer, the winner ot the Daily Graphic Cap, However, did much better.~ v &ia -TheJOhristohurch City Rifles held their prize'competitions on November 30th. They had fifteen men shooting, but except in the case of one or two the shooting.was not up to the average. At the longer ranges the light was very bad, which seemed: to puzzle the younger shots a great deal. Sergt. Trebilcock, however, did very well, beating the veteran, Sergt. Parker, from whom ha had a handicap of two points. The competitions were 200, 500, and 600 yds. The following are the prize winners:— A Class. 200 300 600 yds. yds. yds. Hdcp. TL Serjjt. TrebUcock ..23 31 35 2 9* Sergt Parker .. 32 29 29 scr 90 B Class. Private Williams ..22 26 26 ecr 74 Private Tasker .. 27 23 19 scr 69 I hear that Bombardier Lester and Gunner Butler, of the E Battery, will be competitors at the next Association meeting. Both are shooting well, Butler especially so, and they should at very least clear expenses. The shooting at the meeting this season promises to be of an exceptionally sultry nature, and I should not be a bit surprised to see a number of previous records cut down. The New Zealanders will have to go very . hard to win the Federal match. Both in Victoria and New South Wales the shooting, has wonderfully improved. I wonder how ! many Canterbury men will get into the "rep" team. ■ - The E Battery travelled to New Brighton on Thursday evening, at the invitation of a large number of the residents. They wen

entertained at a smoke concert, and altogether a real good time was spent. Wellington Notes. The City Kiflea held one of their usual weekly competitions on Saturday week at the Polhill Gully Rifle Range, when some capital scoree were made. The conditions were:— 300, 500 and 600 yds, seven shots at each, any position, N.Z.B.A. targets. The attendance was large, and the weather fairly good for shooting. Turner, who fired in the morning squad, had finished up with 89, and as he had already to his oredit two wins counting for the.trophy (66 and 87), his chance of scouring the prize outright looked very rosy. Three other competitors to fire in the afternoon had also each two wins counting for the prize, viz., Guise (71 and 64), Jackson (89 and 89), B. Halpin (86 and 78), so that considerable interest was taken in the result* Eventually Guise, who was shooting well, secured the trophy with the grand score of 92—27 at 300 yds, 31 at 500 yds, and 84 at 600 yds. The following are the highest scores in eaoh class: — A Class. 300 500 600 yds. yds. yds. Tl. Pvt. A. Guise ..27 31 34 92 Pvt. Turner.. .. 31 31 27 89 Prt. n.wthome .. 29 31 ?.3 88 Corpl. JfeuMen .31 23 26 85 Corpl. Harris ..26 33 23 82 Seru-t. Madeley ..20 29 32 81 Pvt! Luke .. .. 25 25 25 76 Corpl. R. Halpin .23 29 22 74 Serif t. Jackson .22 23 23 73 Colour-Sergt. Davis .. 18 30 23 71 Pvt. Williason ..24 30 15 69 B Class. Pvt. Watson ..28 30 30 88 Corpl-Kankin .■■ .. 27 j 27 '-29 83 Pvt. Bunckenburgh .. 25 29 25 79 Prt. B. Halpin ... 27 21 29 77 Pvt. Ford .. \ .. 26 28 21 75 Pvt. Wiokens ..22 30 21 73 Corpl. Robinson .. 24 23 25 72 Pvt. Curry .. ..20 21 28 69 Pvt. Marshall , .. 16 29 18 63 Pvt Faber .. ..19 21 18 58 " Pvt. Doinrlas .. 13 22 15 50 The shooting off of the tie for Captain Collins's trophy, in which considerable interest was taken, it having twice previously resulted in a tie between Guise and Madeley's teams, took place at the same time, and resulted in Private Guise's team winning the trophy, Sergeant Madeley's team being defeated by 2 points. As Captain Collins's trophy has been now won right out, Lieut. Duthie, in order to keep up the interest in shooting, has given another one, but the teams are to be re-constituted. WOODVILLE NOTSS. The Woodville Elfle Olub fired their second match for the N.Z.R.A. Bronze Medal in weather that was anything but pleasant or conduoive to good shooting* Notwithstanding all this the sooring was very good, three members putting on 64 each out of a possible 70, whilst there was a 63 and two 61's. lam glad to see that enthusiast, " Dad " Chicken, doing bo well, as he has been a tower of strength to the club ever since its inception. The medal up to the present is a very open affair, and is, perhaps, one of the mo3t interesting contests going on in the North. The following are the scores :— 200 500 yde. yds. .O. Tl. 3. 0. Wilson «. .. 30 34 64 Jno. Grant .. .. 32 32 64 Jos. Chicken .. ..31 32 63 A. D. Seymour .. .. 23 33 61 O. Loveday \> ..29 32 61 F. Inßpen .. .. 32 28 60 W. H. Nelson « .. 29 30 59 W. Loveday .. ..29 29 58 J. P. Home .. .. 29 28 57 ' Arch Cox .... 29 27 56 E. J. Gothard .. .. 26 27 53 H.P. Home .. .. 29 23 52 H. Burnett .. .. 19 5 24 Ruahine Rifle Association. I have received the 'programme of the Second Annual Meeting of this Association, which is to be held on the Wopdville Gluts? range on January 15th and 16th. gramme contains seven matches, ,'yizi/r Danevirke Match, 200, SOOaiid 600 yds, i 4 prizee, £13 10s; Match, 300y*ds,-il prizes £59; Pahiatua Match, 500 and 600 yds, 12 prizes, fill 10s; "Woodviile;; fl&itch, 300* 500 and 700 yds, 15/ prizes, £14; Feilding Match, 700 yds, 7 prizes, £10; Teams Match, 200, 500 and 600 yds; Last Try Match, 9 prizes; £8. In addition to this there will be possible prizes of 5s for 200 and 500 yds, 7s 6d for 600 yds and, 15a for 300 and 700 yds. In addition to these, Mr*F. W. Williams has presented a gold medal for the champion, who will be the highest aggregate scorer in the first five matches, and Messrs L. Dβ. Pelichet and Hector J. Smith have given silver medals for the second and third Highest aggregates respectively. The championship of this Association was won last year by Mr W. H. Ballinger, who gave a fine exhibition of shooting. The patron of the Association is Major Sommerville, and as he supervises the arrangements competitors may rely upon it that they will be more than ordinaiily perfect. Mr Hubert Burnett, of Woodville, is the hon, secretary and treasurer, and he will be glad to forward any information to intending competitors. - The members of the Ruahine Association are very enthusiastic shootists, and this promises to be one of the most prominent rifle associations in the North Island. The vice-presi-dents and council contain some of the fore- , most names in the shodting fraternity, and represent nearly every prominent shooting, club from Petone to north of Woodville. If there is any wisdom in a multiplicity of counsellors then the Ruahine Rifle Association should have a promising future before it, Sodthland Rifle Association. A meeting of gentlemen, interested in rifle •hooting was htld in the oomzotuianed

officers' rooms of the Zealanuin Hall last week. Present :—Capt M'Kenzie and Lieut. Hannah (G Battery), Pvt. Wills (City Guards) P.O. Challis (Bluff Navals) Sir W. M'Hutclieson and Mr VV. B. Montgomery (Bluff-R.C.) and Messrs R. M'Nab, M.H.R. Johnston (2) Crowther, Bannerman and Craigie (Invercargill R.C.J Capt. M'Kenzie was voted to the chair and the following resolutions carrried. (1), That a rifle association be formed to be called "The Southland Rifle Association. , ; (2). That as January let has been found ac inconvenient date for country clubs, thi first meeting of the Association be held at Invercargill on Boxing Day, December 26thMr M'Hutchcson's circular was then con. sidered in detail and with some slight amend' ments adopted, the effect of which was to decide to fire a Championship match at 200, 500 and 600 yards, open to membors of al! volunteer corps anil rifle clubs in Southland, Entrance fees (less exponses) will bo divided into prizes at each range and aggregates, and one gold and two silver medals for th* three highest aggregate scorers—tho winnev of the gold medal to hold the Southland championship for twelve months. In addition to these individual contest prizes, each volunteer corp and rifle club will be asked to send a team of five men to compete for a ladies' challenge shield or other suitable trophy. The country dubs will als< fire an match among themselves, and a combined match of twenty or twenty. five men against the Invercargill con* petitors. • As the Secretary pro tern., Mr Bannorman, has to make early arrangements, he will be glad to hear from intending competitors at soon as possible. It is expected that af least fifty or sixty of the best shots in South land will attend the meeting. Dunedin Notes. "Bombardier" writes :—The tournamen committee are to bo congratulated on tht distinct success which has attended theil efforts. Altogether over 160 entries for the various events have been received, which augurs well for the success of tht , "gymkana." It reflects very strongly oi the powera that be, that after four weeki we should not have, had a reply re passes. I , understand the matter was referred by the Defence Minister to the Brailway Depart" ment, whom turn forwarded it to the Defence Department, where it is at present hung up. The sucoess of. the ball is assuted, all tho tickets (250) being out, with further inquiries even at a greater price. The Garrifon Band are busy rehearsing the music for the devotees of Terpsicore, and the grand march should be a very imposing sight. A splendid programme has been drawn up by the M.C.'s, Corpls. Boenioke and M'Tamney and P.O. Perry. The Annual Muster Parade of the B I Battery took place on Wednesday evening 1 last, when the parade state was:—Capt. Chalmer, Liouts. Morris and Baron, one eergt. -major, one quarter-master sorgt. four corpls., two trumpeters and forty seven gunners, total sixty-two. Colonel Webb was the inspecting officer, arid, after exwn? ining the arms, ftc, the company ,was exercised by the officers. The Colonel referred in' terms of pleasure at the witness* ing of the various movements gone through, also spoke in terms of high praiee at finding the arms,' &c, in that high state of cleanliness for which the Battery is noted. On Sunday the-B Battery and Garrison Band attended divine service at Knox Church, where the Rev. W. ifewitaot delivered' an .eloquent discourse. - Th; parade state was:—B Battery sixty-three. Garrison Band, thirty-three. . ' ,

Hdcp. Total. St. Major Paul .. .. 10 51 <J.M. Sergt. Hean .. .. 10 40 Serge. Watte .. -. scr. 65 Ser-rt. Donaldson .. .. 10 42 Seru't. Evans.. .. .. 15 49 Corpl. Smith .. .. 5 56 Corpl. Wise .. .. .. 15 34 ■ Corpl. Hawlev .. .. 20 57 Corot. Buutin -. .. 5 44 L. dorp!. Taylor .. .. 5 29 • L. Corpl. Schwartz .. .. 20 50 Second Competition—200, 300, 500yds. Hdcp. Total. Sergt. Watts . - .. scr 65 : Evans* . ..15 70 Corpl. Smith .. .. ■ 5 54 Corpl. Wise* .. ..20 70 Corpl. Hawlev .. .. 15 49 I..-Corpl. Schwartz .. .. 16 40 L.-Corpl. Taylor .. .. 10 50 "Handicap scores limited to 70 points. A Cuss. Firat Competition—200, 300, 500yd8. Hdcp. Total. Sergt.-Major Paul .. .. 10 51 Sergt. Watts .. .. scr 66 Seiyt. Donaldson .. .. 10 42 Corpl. Smith .. .. 5 56 Corpi. Buntin .. .. 5 44 Corpl. Taylor .. .. 5 29 Sapper Murray .. .. 10 44 Sapper Parker .. .. scr 57 Sapper Meikleham .. .. 5 62 Sapper Morrow .. .. 5 62 Sapper Capstick .. .. 4 44 Sapper Mansfield ... ..15 48 Second Competition—200, 300, 500yds. Corpl. Smith .. .. 5 54 SetVt. Watte .. .. scr 65 Lance.-Corpl. Taylor .. 10 50 Sapper Oapstiok .. .. 6 52 Sapper Parker .. .. scr 62 Sapper Morrow .. .. 5 65 Sapper Meikleham .. .. 3 43 B Class. First Competition—200 300, and 500 yds. Hdcp. Total. Q.M. Sergt. Hean .. .. 2 32 Sergt. Evans .. .. ..3 37 Corpl. Wise .. .. ..4 23 Corpl. Hawley .. .. 4 41 L. Corpl Schwartz .. ... 3 33 Sapper Carter .. ..3 43 Sapper Lightfoot .. .. 4 40 Sapper Firman .. .. 3 25 Sapper Preebury .. .. o 37 Sapper Andereon .. .. 4 21 Sapper Mapplebeck .. .. 4 27 Second Competition—200, 300, and 500 yds. Hdcp. Total. Corpl. Wise 9 64 Sapper Freebury .. .. 4 60 • Sapper Carter .. .. scr. 55 Serjft. Evans .. .. .. 4 66 Corpl. Hawley .. .. 2 36 Sapper Mapplebeck .. .. 7 41