VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9361, 10 March 1896, Page 2

VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

"Weekly Press and Referee." (Mar. sth.) Locaij Notes. I have received from Mr H. Baker of this city a couple of excellent photos of the recent camp held by the City Guards at Summer. The photos, which were taken on the memorable Sunday when the howling nor'-wester militated against both work and pleasure, are really good specimens of what has been called the " black art." One contains a group of officers, which should be valuable now that three of them are withdrawn from active duties with the Guards, viz., Lieuts. Sandford and Baker andSergt.Major Foster. The other is a general view of the camp, snowing the band at work in the centre. I congratulate Mr Baker upon his very excellent productions. Congratulation, Captain Snow, on your appointment. The Mounted are lucky in getting such an enthusiastic captain. Volunteers will be glad .to learn that Mrs Purvis is still progressing on the road to recovery from her serious illness. Sergt. Major Purvis may rest assured that he and Mrs Purvis have the sympathy of all the volunteers in this district.

A trooper of the Mounted Rifles, speaking at the annual meeting of the troop, said, "I think it the duty of every man to form himself into a recruiting committee." This is the sentiment.

The Mounted Rifles want suitable young fellows aa recruits. Here is a popular troop of a popular branch of the service; surely it should only be necessary for them to publish the fact to be overwhelmed with recruits. Perhaps if the older' members would pay more attention to shooting it might alter matters. Locally there is very little doing amongst Volunteer corps, the present being, as a well-known non-com remarked to mc the other day, the interregnum in volunteering. The annual meetings of the different corps will be taking place during the next month, and things will commence to liven up a bit, when members know what resignations are in, how their corps stand financially, and the rest of the etceteras, besides having their little growl. With a full issue of Martinis, the coming year should be a bright one for Volunteering, and I look forward to seeing most of the corps at full strength early in the year. The battalion will probably be strengthened by the addition of another corps, whilst other matters more particularly concerning the regulations will receive close attention. In commencing the New Year, I would impress upon all volunteers to put in the necessary work entitling them to capitation as early as possible in the year, at the same time, I think that the volley firing of the different companies should be done some time during the first three quarters of the year. Class firing is another thing that top many of our volunteers drive off to the latest possible date, and I would advise all officers to divide their companies up into small sections under their non-come and make it a specialty with them that each noncom gets his section through class-firing as early as possible in the year. This would obviate a deal uf the inconvenience which at present takes place later on. Morris-tube practice is another thing which should be taken up with more heartiness than it was last year, and inter-corps matches might be a regular weekly feature, and run under the auspices of the Associated Corps. A correspondent wants to know when we are likely to receive the Maxim guns, and suggests that the Nordenfeldts at present at Lyttelton be turned over to the E Battery. He says :—" If this was done and a plentiful supply of ammunition issued our boys might be able to prove that proficiency in the light quick-firing guns was not out of their reach. As it is the weapons they have are out of date." I agree with my correspondent that it would be well to establish regular practices for the E Battery with the Nordenfeldts, but I would go further and make them pnt in a certain amount of garrison gun work and fort work. They should spend at least four Saturday afternoons during the year at the guns at Lyttelton, as well as two at the Nordenfeldts and two at the 8-in. gnns at Fort Jervois. What our Volunteers want is work, and that of a practical nature. Shot and shell practices should take place at least once every two months, and every artilleryman in the district should know how to handle the guns. The Canterbury Engineers are, I hear, detached from the Canterbury Battalion.

" Interested " writee as follows :—" Dear Botaskyk.—Being out of town for sometime past, I escaped reading the Pres» of 15th. On perusing through them to-night I notice you touch on eleotion matters, viz., hinting

to volunteers the course they should pursue at the Christchurch election —now over. On reading the notes one cannot come to any wrong conclusion what party you represent, or at least yon .would suggest so. Now, as one who takes an interest in shooting and ■welfare of volunteers generally. I think these notes, if they are supposed to represent the volunteer movement of the colony, should be strictly impartial and confined to its own territory, and not interfere-with matters outside of this. If readers want any information concerning election matters surely they can use their own judgment; or at any rate, get their information elsewhere without your utilising these notes for the purpose. It is not as if Bullseye's Notes wex-e read by Christchurch readers alone—even then it is inconsistent. But they ar« read throughoxvt the colony, and read by many simply for these notes alone and naturally certain hints affecting a certain member of Parliament or Political Party, must assuredly meet with opposition and contempt by those who may not agree with the views expressed. Therefore, if these notes are to be read with interest,, strict impartiality and observance to shooting and volunteer movements only can do it, as I take these notes to be set apart for that purpose. Thanking you for inserting this, and success still further you in this interesting column. ; ' E.NIJSTMEKT OF RIFLE CIXBS. Major Sommerville, the chairman of the N.Z.R.A. has written a letter to the Defence Department re the advisability of enrolling the members of private rifle clubs in the defence forces of the colony. He points out that there are at least 1000 men in the colony skilled in the use of the rifle, and armed with Martini rifles which have cost the Government nothing. After combating the idea that these rifle clubs are inimical to the volunteer force, he points out that a large number of men are unable through business and other reasons to give the necessary time to volunteering, and that others are men who have with credit passed through the various stages in our volunteer force.

In conclusion, Major Sominerville says :— "In my opinion rifle clubs would prove a great service to the colony should they be called upon to defend our shores against the landing of an enemy, and taking into consideration the fact that their services cost the colony nothing, I would urge that they should be recognised as a part of our Defence Forces under the following conditions :—lst. That all rifle clubs with a membership of not less than twenty, now existing in the colony, be formally recognised by the Government, and a nominal roll of the members with the names of officers be registered in the Defence Department. 2nd. That no person under the age of twenty-five (25) years shall bn allowed to become a member of any rifle club unless he has served at least four years in a Volunteer corps, provided always that there is a Volunteer corps within five (5) miles of hi 3 resid-

ence and a vacancy exists in the corps. 3rd. Drill will not "be required from rifle clubs, but an inspection parade of each club may be held by the officer commanding the district in which the club exists and any man absent from such inspection, if not satisfactorily accounted for by the captain of the club, may be struck off the roll by the Inspecting Officer. 4th. Members of rifle clubs must make themselves proficient in shooting, and the captain of each club must annually certify that each member of his club has fired away at least 50 rounds of ball ammunition at target practice, and can make at least 21 points from seven shots at 500 yards. sth. In the event of rifle clubs being called upon for active service every member will have to turn out; two or more Rifle Clubs in the same district may be amalgamated and formed into a company under officers appointed by the Government, the captain of each club shall, however, if efficient, be appointed as subaltern of the Company. 6th. Rifle club 3 shall be allowed to purchase their arms from the Government at cost price, and their uniform from the same source as Volunteers. 7th. Every member of a rifle club who is certified to as efficient in shooting shall in each year be allowed to purchase not more than 200 rounds of ball ammunition at 5s per 100 rounds. Bth. That any member of a rifle club wishing to join a Volunteer corps shall have preference as against a civilian. 9th. That in all large centres.only one rifle club shall be permitted and the membership of each club shall not exceed sixty (60). These, the sugjesfcions I havft to offer ; they are in a rough form and can be amended in detail. I trust, Sir, that the Hon. the Defence Minister may see his way t<s enroll the clubs and so retain the services of 1000 good men."

The following is the reply which the Defence Department have returned :— "Defence Office, Wellington, N.Z. sth October, 1896.—Sir, —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th ult., with further reference to your proposal to enlist the services of private Rifle Clubs in the Defence Forces of this colony, and in reply thereto am instructed by the Hon. the Defence Minister to inform you he regrets that he cannot accede to the suggestions you have brought forward on the subject.—l have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, Arthur Douglas, Major, Under Secretary Defence.

Oamartj Notes.

My Oamaru correspondent writes: —Major Sommerville arrived here on Saturday, the 22nd, per express, and the local committee had a short interview with him the same evening. Wedrove him to the rangenext day, and went over the various firing points. The trench was getting towards completion, and as we walked along from the various flags the Major's opinion was that there was something wrong with the angle of the trench as compared with the flags, and he decided to go thoroughly over the ground next day This he did, and we had a committee meeting in the evening, when he reported that the left wing of the firing points was some two chains out of the right angle. A mistake had been made somewhere. The result of thie was to throw the right wing into some bad ground. The committee gave Major Sommerville power to make aU necessary alterations, and he has extended- the trench three chains to the left, and his opinion is that it will be a really good range. When we took the Major out for his first visit there was a heavy south-east gale blowing, and almost his first remark was : "I shall lose some of my targets here." But we do not get south-east gales every day; in fact, they are rare. The prevailing wind is north-east. March is generally the month for the equinox gales, which are north-west. I hope we escape these, for certainly the targets would not stand them. The usual number of tents will be up on the ground for protection for the men, and the markers will probably stay in camp. ■ There will be no limit of locomotion to the range. A train will leave' town ■at 7.20 each morning and bring home the shootists in the evening at a time to be stated by the' Association. Then there will be cabs and expresses to further order at a cheap rate. :

The hotels are all preparing for their visitors, and many private people are taking boarders, so that every one will be put up comfortably. In this respect let mc for the last time advise all intending competitors to arrange at once about their accommodation.

There is some talk of an outing to be given to our Australian friends. This is almost sure to be arranged, and matters in connection with it are kept in view. There will also be amusement for the visitors in the shape of an opera, which is for a double purpose—to give pleasure and to swell Oamaru's contribution to the fund for shooting. Regarding this I may say that so far £180 has been collected, irrespective of anything the opera may bring in. The Theatre Royal has been engaged for two nights while the men are here to give thie—Wednesday the 11th and Thursday the 12th. Shooting will begin on Friday morning, the loth.

We had a visit from a member of the Victorian team recently—Lieutenant Clarke —and, though I did not* see him personally, I am told that he thinks the range will be a capital one.

Major Sommerville is a busy man Any evening you call to see him at the* Criterion he is in his room surrounded by papers and attending to everything. And now for a few shooting matters. The local rifle club will be strongly represented by the following-:—Messrs Creagh, J. Macgregor, W. S. King, R. L. Rule, J. Spiers, W. Nimmo, T. Little, J. Every, J. Blyth, J. Cameron, and probably one or two more. The volunteer companies will be poorly represented from what I can hearperhaps Mr Barnes from the Navals,' Mr Whyte from the Battery, and a likelihood of someone from the Mounted Rifles. I

trust for the sake of the companies they will have some more men in. One man from each company says very little for our volunteer forte. There are plenty who can , shoot fairly well. The Rifle Club are firing for the bronze medal and present indications point to Mr W. S. King as the. winner. He has made the following shoots :—63, 61, 68 and 58. All these ecores have been made in a good amount of wind. The 68 was made up with 33 at 200 yds, and 35 at 500 yds. The allowance at the last range being sft right wind. His last score (58), was made in a terrific north-west gale. In the first competition the leading scores were:—W. S. King 63, J. Spiers 65. W. Nimrao 62, T. Little 62, J. McGregor 62, &c. In the second competition, Mr Macgregor, Mr Nimmo and Mr Spiers, each made 62, Mr King 61. The other competitions will be finished this week. Some members have fiuished their shoot, three days last week being taken to try and get the medal shooting throueh.

This letter will be the last before the commencement of the meeting. Before the next issue from the one in which this appears I shall have shaken hands with all my old friends and bidden the strangers from across the water welcome, and everything will be in full swing and everybody, I hope, happy. In conclusion, let mc ask all Canterbury men to come here with a good heart, forget that Oauraru is a rival (for the range) and enjoy themselves as shooting men (good and true),should. lam sure of one thing ; they will admit before the meeting is over that the Oamaru folk are not " bad sorts," and really deserved to have the shooting tin's year on account of their generosity and enthusiasm shown in all matters to help their town and make things agreeable.

Members of the Oamaru Navals competed last week for the trophy presented by Mr P. .Corcoran, the conditions being seven shots at 200 yards (handicap). The morningwas fine for good shooting, and some very fair scores were made. Seaman Baker wins the trophy with the good score of 31. The following are the names of the principal scorers.- —

Waikarapa Notes. The bronze medal competition in connection with the North Wairarapa Rifle Club was continued on Saturday week. The following are the scores :—

Wangaxui Notes. My Wanganui correspondent writes :— Since my. last notes the rifle range has been well patronised, more especially by the navals, who, I am glad to say, are taking a keen interest in shooting, thanks to the energy of P.O. Scott, an old Christchurch volunteer and shootist. As the result of steady practice the navals made bold to challenge the second ten men of the Wanganui Rifles, ranges 200, 500 and 600 yards, 7 shots at each, under N.Z.R.A. rules. The match was fired last Saturday week and resulted in a win for the Rifles by 44 points, %vith an average of 79 points, not si bad performance for a second ten. The scores were as follows :—

The Wanganui Rifles completed the competition for the N.Z.R. A. Bronze Modal this morning, when sx-champion Sergt. Kruse made a record, I should say, by putting on 70, two " possibles," and winning'the medal with a total of 196 points. Private Churton, another ex-champion, finishing, second with 190. The following are Sergt. Kruse's targets :—• , 200 Yards.

6, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5-35. 500 Yards.

5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5^5— 35. Kruse has been shooting most consistently this season, and is expeoted to do well at Oamaru. Firing for the, Manawatu Rifle Club on Saturday, after putting on 67 for the club's bronze medal, he put up "another record" at 700 yds, viz., 46 for ten shots. His 700 yds target reads thus:— 700 Yards.

5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 3, 5, 5, 5—46. Lieut.-Colonel Newall has been very busy the last month putting the many corps in his extensive dietrict through their annual volley firing. Generally the average is very low, from four to eight pointa, the exception being the Wanganui Rifles with 14*70. Napieb Notes. The Napier Rifle Club held a competition on Saturday for trophies presented by the captain, Mr F. W. Williams. The conditions were 300 and 600 yards, seven shots at each distance. The shooting was very good, the score of Mr James Sellars at 300 yds (33 out of a possible of 35) being worthy of special mention. The following were the principal scorers:—

Wellington* Notes. " Possible " Robinson has turned up once more as the winner of a N.Z.R.A. bronze medaL This time it is against the members of the redoubtable Upper Hutt Club, he beating no less an opponent than Mr Wilkie, the well-known shot of the club. When the aggregates were taken previous to the final match it was found that Messrs Wilkie arid Robinson had tied, so the match was looked forward to very keenly by the members. At the 200 yds each marksman succeeded in putting up 32, still a tie, then at 500 yds the score on the part of each man was 29, thus leaving matters still in an undecided state. In the fire-off, however, Robinson scored 5, 5, 5—15, whilst Wilkie got 2, 5, 5—12, and Robinson was declared the

winner. On the same day a handicap trophy match was fired by the club at 200, 500 and 600 yds, and was won by Mr Robinson, who was firing with one of McGibbon's " Ideal " Martinis, supplied by Sergt. Wakelin, of Christchurch. The following were the

The match was fired with colonial ammuni- J tion, and Mr Wilkie had one shot at 500 yds which it is asserted fell some yards short of the target. 1 The Upper Hutt Club are organising a match for a gold medal, the conditions for j which are seven shots each at 200 and j 300 yds, 300 and 500 yds, 500 and 600 yds, | and 600 and 700 yds. The highest ten ! aggregate scorers to fire ten shots' at 700 yds j for the final. I The Petone Rifle Club held a competition J on February 22nd for Mr P. Casey's trophy, j ranges 200 and 300 yds, when B. Pv. Bunny : secured his first leg-in. The following are the principal scores :—

The match for Mr J. G. Wilson's prize was shot on Saturday, February Bth. The ranges were 300, 600, and 700 yards, seven shots at each. Shooting commenced at 6 o'clock. The light on the targets at the first two ranges was not by any means good, and consequently the shooting was j indifferent, twenty-nine being the top score at 300 yds, and twenty-six at 600. At the 700 yds, however, ] some very good scores ' were made—in fact, it was thought at first that there would be a possible put up, as '. Mr Arch. Cox started off with, five consecutive bulls eyes, but, alas, fell dolefully on the sixth shot, only an outer being regis- j tered. He, however, picked himself up on i' the last shot finishing with an inner, making ' i his score 31 out of a possible 35. Mr ] W. Loveday also shot well at this j. range. Starting with an inner, his second j • shot brought up an outer; his next five i[ shots-were, however, bullseyes, making 31. j [ " Dad" Chicken started badly with a miss ; ]' his second shot was a bullseye, then anj, outer, and finally finished with four bulls- j, eyes, making 27 with a miss. Mr Jrio. \'- Grant also shot well at this range, putting 1 on some very "hard hitting, but his sixth shot ; ] did not bring up any signal from the trench, j' although it was thought it was a hit. He 1 also finished up with 27 with a miss. Altogether the above four men out of 28 shots they fired at 700 yards put on 18 bullseyes, ; certainly splendid shooting at such a distance, and shooting that any club might jl feel proud of coming from their members. j' The final competition for the N.Z.R.A. J, bronze medal for 1896 was fired on February •. sth, and resulted in a win for Mr G. Love- t day, with a score of 189 points. The winner, s who shot badly in the final competition, i decided to take his first three " shoots." ] The following are the full scores for the j medal:— '\

The competitors are allowed to take the three highest scores to count for the medal. Southland Rifle Club. Ten members took part in the final stage (7 shots at 700 yards) for the club's championship and Mr Smith's trophy. The weather conditions were favourable and it is difficult to account for the erratic scoring, except perhaps that the ammunition was at fault, the number of shots falling short of the target being The winner turned up in Mr Wills, wliO shot steadily all through the competition and has the satisfaction of also winning Mr Johnson's rifle and Mr Smith's a first rate season's performance. The runner-up was Mr Crowther, last year's champion. It was anticipated that Messrs McKenzie and Craigie, who held good positions prior to this match, would have run Mr Wills much closer, but they both broke down. The folio-wing are the principal scorers :—J. Crowther, 5553222—24; W. Bannennan, 5055046—24; W. Smith, 4225235—23 ;A. R. Wills, 2533222—19; T. Gilkison, 2322333— 18. The highest aggregates were:—A. R. Wills, 126; JT. Crowther, 121; W. Bannerman, 120. The previous champions were W. Smith, J. E. McKenzie and J. Crowther.

Seaman Baker .- P.O. Boyland .. Seaman Appleby Seaman Andrews Seaman McNaujjht I/ieut.-Com. Mohan Seaman Harsh all Seaman Barraclough Seaman McCombie 200 yds Help. .. 31 0 .. 29 1 .. 28 2 .. t>7 3 .. 29 0 .. 29 0 .. 26 3 .. 27 0 .. 24 3 Tl. 31 30 50 30 29 29 23 27 27

•T. M'Hattie .. D. M'Lachlan A. Matthews 200 33 31 31 500 31 27 15 Total. 64 53 46

Wanganui Rifles—Second Ten. 200 500 600 yds yds yds Vol. Purser ..31 28 33 Vol. Bead .. 32 26 26 Vol. Ransom ..51 25 26 Vol. Wright ..28 30 24 Vol. Sarten ..23 29 24 Vol. Ross .. 27 25 27 Vol. Bun-ell ..28 26 22 Vol. Drew ..27 32 17 Vol. McGonagle .. 32 19 23 Vol. Rozg ..28 19 17 Tl. 92 84 82 82 . 81 79 76 76 74 64 Total 790

Wangftnui Rivals. 230 500 603 yds yds vds P.O. Scott ..31 27 "29 Gun. Love ..30 31 24 P.O. Kite ..29 32 23 P.O. Gordon .. 25 23 28 Gun. Ainsley ..23 27 26 Bugler Moosman.. 25 30 19 Gun. Murphey .. 27 27 19 Gun. Townsend .. 30 27 11 P.O. Cronnin ..29 18 18 Gun. Kirke ..30 24 4 Tl. 87 85 84 76 76 74 73 68 65 58 > Total .. .. .. 746

J. Gleadow J. fellers J). S. haing A. Pirie G. Robson ■ .. F. W. Williame.. S. F. Anderson .. C. Robson 300 600 yds. yds. 31 31 33 23 27 30 27 29 25 23 29 28 27 24 30 23 Handicap. 5 3 3 9 *cr 5 3 Tl. 62 61 60 59 59 57 56 56

res:— 200 500 600 yds. yde. yds. G. Robinson .. 32 29 28 F. Williie ..32 29 25 F. Benge .. 28 33 21 G. S. Rawson.. 23 26 25 F. Greenwood 30 29 23 Hep. ser scr 2 9 scr Tl. 89 86 84 83 32

200 300 yds. yds. B. R. Bunny ..31 26 R. Peek i; ..28 21 W. Edlin .. ..27 24 C. Hollard .. .. 2\ 24 Hep. Tl. 3 60 10 59 6 57 3 51 WOODVILLE NOTKS.

G. Loveday Jos. Chicken J. G. Wilson .. P. Ingpen W. H. Nelson .. A. C. Seymour .. Jno. Grant J. P. Horne ... 64 60 61 56 57 45 51 61 63 64 60 56 61 64 57 64 53 189 ■ 67 53 188 . 60 60 184 61 59 182 65 58 182 59 58 178 57 47 168 56 52 165