VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9816, 27 August 1897, Page 2

VOLUNTEER ITEMS.

«• Weekly Press and Referee."

Local Notes,

The North Canterbury Non-coms. Club has forwarded to Messrs Gale and Polden an order for some of the latest books on drill and tactics issued by that popular firm. The Lyttelton Non-coms. Club have a standing order with the same firm to eupply them periodically with new books. The E Battery with the wish to keep well abreast of the times have sent an order for a number of works of their special branch, and I hear that other local corps are likely to follow their example. There was some talk of getting np squad competitions among the members of the E

Battery. Nothing, however, will be done in the matter until after the non-coms, examination, which takes place on the 14th and 21st of September. These examinations over the Battery will go in for a lot of real hard work. Already the recruits are being ticked into shape, and from what I have seen of them they should turn out a fine body. I am sure the Battery will, by the end of the year, be quite up to its old standard. I learn that quite a number of men have qualified for marksmen's badges, among the number tSergeant-Major Berland of the Mounted Rifles.

Re the question of holding a Camp of Instruction at Christinas and New Year, the general opinion of volunteers in Canterbury is that it is impracticable, as certainly no company could ensure anything like a respectable attendance. It is therefore probable that the usual private camps will be held again this year. I understand that although the district medals were competed for some months back, they have not yet been distributed, or at least Sergeant Lester, of the E Battery, who won the medal for Canterbury, has not yet received his. The naniae of the winners have already been published, so there appears to mc no reason for withholding the medals. It is on matters like this that the volunteers get utterly disgusted by the red tapeism of the authorities, and this loti3 more harm to volunteering than anything else I know. I hope soon to bear that the medal has arrived, and would suggest a general parade like that of Friday last for its presentation. On Thursday last a Morris Tube match was fired at Lyttelton between teams representing the Navals and Engineers, which resulted in a win for the Eugineers by five points. After the match the visitors were entertained by the Navals in their orderly room. Chief P.O. Toomey presided, and in proposing the toast of the Engineers, referred to the good feeling that existed between the two corps. Sergt. -Major Jones responded on behalf of the Engineers. Private Hale is one of the oldest volunteers in Wellington, having beeu associated with the force fnr tweaty-four years. He has always been .a hard" worker, and for years has occupied a high position as a shot in the district. His prize list in Wellington district, company, and association meetings would occupy- far more space than I could afford, but the winning of the District Belt was the crowning achievement of his career. When we come to consider that the Wellington district contains some of the very best shots in New Zealand, the feat will be the l>ett«v appreciated. Hale was considered a very strong tip for the New Zealand Championship last meeting, and that he did not shoot so well as was expected, was due to the fact that his health at the time was not first-class. As a genial companion there are few to beat the veteran " Charlie," and whatever the faults and trials of the shooting men he always has a cheery word for everybody. I trust that in the coming season he will be even more successful than in the past, and that we shall see his name figuring high in the list of the winners at the Oamaru meeting in February.