THE VOLUNTEERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9947, 28 January 1898, Page 6

THE VOLUNTEERS.

j ♦ **-— I The E Battery mustered yesterday afternoon to do their annual volley and independent firing. The parade mustered fortyseven, of whom thirty-eight were eligrole to fire. The weather was very unpleasant, the high nor'-wester casting up the sand so much as to entirely obviate the sighting of the-rifles. As a consequence the shooting was- very mediocre, the' average being volley 11.02 and independent 13.07, out of a possible 20 each. The remaining members of the corps will fire at a date to be announced. " The Engineers do their annual volley and independent firing to-morrow. Last evening the City Rifles entertained a number of marines and seamen from H.M.S. Mildura at a card party and smoke concert. The teams, which numbered twelve men aside, captained by Sergeant Parker (City Rifles) and Corporal Uarlin, R.M.L.1., enjoyed a very pleasant hour at the card table, the contest resulting in a victory for the City Rifles by 2 games, the scores being—City Rifles 12 and H.M.S. Mildura ■10. At nine o'clock the fables were cleared and the party sat downVto a good spread provided by Mr W. Edwards. Sergeant Parker (City Rifies) occupied the chair and was supported by Corporal Carlin, R.M.L.I. After the toast of "The Queen" had been duly honoured, Sergeant Hopkins proposed the "Navy and Army,"-responded to by Corporal Carlin, who also proposed "Oar hosts, the City Rifles" ; " Our Visitora," proposed by Sergeant Parker, responded to by Private Jones, R.M.L.I. ; " The NonCorns. of the City Rifles," proposed by Private Jones, and "The Press." During the evening songs were sung by Corporal Turvev (City Rifles), Seaman Mines (H.M.S. Mildura), Private Wallace (R.M.L.1.), Beaumont (City Rifles), Whiffen (R.M.L.1.), Cork (Cfty Rifles) and others. The City Rifles do their annual volley s_d independentr firing on Tuesday morning next. The members parade on Monday evening, and proceed to Bromley, where they camp for the night, doing their firing on Tuesday morning early. The first competition for the N.Z.R.A. bronze medal of the Honorary Reserve Corps took place at Cashmere yesterday. Two days each week during the next four weeks have'been set aside for this series of competitions, the members electing to fire on Saturdays or Thursdays, as best meets their business engagements. The weather was very unpropitious, as there was s high, baffling, fish-tail wind, which entirely upset the calculations of several of the marksmen. Sergeant Wakelin did the best shooting at 500 yds, but was beaten badly by the weather at 600 yds, which spoilt on otherwise certain top score. That consistent shot Perkins came out aa top scorer with a very consistently made 78. The shooting was at 200, 500 and 600 yards, the following being the beat scores :—Private Perkins 29, i 23,26—78 ; Corporal McKay 26,26, 23—75; Private E. For 27, 25, 23—75; Private Gundersen 29,27,18—74 ; Sergeant Wakelin 29, 31, 12—72; Corporal Robertson 25, 23, j 22—70; Corporal Lummis 26,24, 20—70. ! An official visit will be paid to-day by Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon to the camp- of the College Rifles at Sumner.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TXLKGRAM.) AUCKLAND, January 27. Colonel Pole Penton hod a meeting with several volunteer officers of the Auckland district. He urged the desirability of obtaining accessions to the companies so as to bring them up to standard strength, and also that the Artillery companies should be drilled more frequently at the batteries on the North Shore.