DEFENCE NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 69, 14 December 1907, Page 10

DEFENCE NOTES.

(Br "Echelon.")

Secretaries of Volunteer corps and riflo clubs are invited to contribute items of interest for insertion in this Column.

The official progranimo for tho Defenco Rifle Clubs' Association meeting at Trentham, an January 2, has now been completed by tho 'executive. There arc six .matches, detailed hereunder:— No'. 1, Karori match—7 shots at.'2oo, 500, and 600 yards. >' : \ No. 2, Petono match—7 shots at 500 and 700 yards. No. 3,' Upper Hutt match—7 shots at 500 and'-'6OO yards. ' ..:'.,, . ■

No.■■.■{, Opalci match—lo shots at 700 yards.. For. each of the forogoing the/following prizes -are allotted:—First' prizo,'.''£2o; second prize, £1 10s.; third prizo, £1; four prizes of 155., and five prizes'of 10s. each. There are also four prizes offered for "tyros" who shoot iu the above matches: First prize, 155.; second prize, 10s.; and two prizes of ss. A tyro is defined as a competitor who a handicap (or points) in ln's club' or corps, 'mid who has not previously won more than £1 at any Association:'■ mooting. -.' Tho Kolapore Clip Aggriwato Match (No. 5) is decided on tho individual scores in all the previous matches at 200, 500, i and j6OO, vards range. First prize,'£2; second prize', £1. For the Grand Aggregate Match (No.' 6), the first prize is Mr. W. H. Field's, M.P., championship go!d { medii.l, and £1; tho second prizo is Mr. AY.H. Tisdnll's trophy and £1; the third is a casli, prizo. Senior shots pay ss. subscription and ss.' entrance feo, for each match. Tyros pay 2s. 6d. subscription and 3s. cntranco fee for- each/match.

AN INTERCOLONIAL CONTEST. Liast year, writes "Soutincl" in tho "N.Z. Herald," the "Overseas Daily Mail," in conjunction - with several riflo associations in different parts of the Empire, organised an intercolonial contest, which, was shot on Empire Day, May 24. A number of teams in different parts of tbo Empire, including associations from such widely-separated' places as the Channel Islands, Vancouver, Straits Settlements, West Indies, Rhodesia, Newfoundland, British Guiana, and New South Wales, took part in tho shoot. The contest was won by the. Guernsey and'. Alderney Militia Riflo Association, with an aggregate score of 776 out of a possiblo 840. Tbo inauguration of tho competition has aroused, the liveliest interest in all parts of the Empire, and tho promoters have received lotters of congratulation from many of the most distinguished generals-of the day. Lord Roberts wrote as follows:—"Anything that tends to draw closer the ties that unito the colonies to each other and 'to tho Motherland should be encouraged, more especially, a competition like this, where the weapon is ono tho attainment of skill in the use of winch by all good citizens will do much to strengthen tho ddfonces of the Umpire"

iho secretary of the Akarana Rifle Club (Mr. Jas. M'lntosh) has received a copy of the conditions of the competition, which'provide that the ranges shall bo 200 500, and OUU yards,* with seven shots and a sighter (not to count) at each, and that tho eight highest scoros on tho. day of tho match' shall count as a team. All competitors must he bona-udo members of tho association under which thoy shoot,' and the Bisloynilos for the current year will govern the conditions of the match, which will be shot' under, the direction of an independent,., range officer who mil sign the score-sheets, which must "'rconl.tlio condition of thti weather. Each' association must forward certified scoresheets by mail to each association comnetmg. and one copy to tho "Overseas Daily

Next .years competition will bo'fired on Jimpire Day, when a valuable prizo will be oiiorod, the nature of which will b 0 announced later. There, will, bo no entrant too tor Urn match. It is.the intention of-the Akarana (Jlub to toko part in the shoot. ,

A paragraph appeared in this column re"W'll, which it was stated that Major ivf.,; p 3 0,"! c °™ dill e No - 1 Battalion Defenco Cadets Wellington, who had been officially notified that ho..had . passed .his examination as Major in tho,Dofonce Force was probably the only teacher in the Dominion holding field rank. "Echelon'! is pleased to hear that this is. not- so The headmaster of Woodville. Public School formerly commanding the Fifth Battalion Wellington. (Riiahme) Mounted Rifle Volunteers ,s L.ciit.-Colonel A. Stevenson, now 1905 V ° dati " B fronl Marcll U >'

Commenting on tho volunteer field tacn; m- nt D «"odni recently the ' "Ota«o Daily' Times" says:-The. . chameleon-like adaptability of khaki to its surroundings was in evidence at the Lawyer's .'Head'Sandhills where the First Battalion were at outposts. Against the yellow of lupin flowers a man became a difficult object to aim at Even, ngaiiist a background of silvorv sand the khaki figures viewed from a distance, might have been shadows; while elsewhere it was difficult to toll which was sentry and winch was withered tussock.. Khaki has stood countless tests on blistering desert ycldt, and among the rocks, but one thing it will not stand, and that was also in evidence on Saturday. Clear against, tho sky a group stood on the summit or a knoll in silhouette, a perfect target, advertising far and wide the presence "of all the others. This exposure was doubtless intentional,, hut formed, nevertheless, a useful object lesson, which Volunteers would do well to note for future reference,

RIFLE SHOOTING. CHELTENHAM RIFLE CLUB. The fourteenth competition for Mr. Corkiridalii's Cup was fired on Saturday last, following are tlie scores: — 201) 500 000 yds. yds. yds. II'p. T'l. K. Stuart ... ... 31 28' 29 .8 - .91 K Eeid...- • 30 21 .sii G — 87 I?. Cliristensen . ... 27 27 23 0 — 83 Captain UarrowA ... 30 2(i 22 4 — 82 ¥. Usrnar ... \ ... 2S 27 13 13 - 82 Hobt. Toylor 30 22 29 0 - 81 C. Fittou £0 23 12 14 — 80 Rich. Taylor 30 24 24 0 — .78 O l'ussell 32 20 18 ' G — 70 The club will Sro tho final for Captain | Harrow's-trophy and other prizes to-day. SANDON-OHAKEA RIFLE CLUB. Handicap practice matoli at 200, 500, and 600 yards* 200 500 G00 yds. 3'ds. ; yds." II'p. T'i A. Pearco 27 27 • -29 IS.-— ■-0!) H. Pagan- ... ... 19 29 23 23 — 06 Captain Penney ... 32 32 31 0 — 95 ,\. iv. Drew 23 30 31 0 — 95 I'\ Purnell 31 31 32 0 — 94 W. Pcarce 23 25 22 1G — 80 W. A. Lumsdon ... 28 33 20 4 — 85 1''. Lnmsden 21 20 , 21 12 — 83 J. A'Court 2.5 28 18 12 — 83 A. Robinson 14 10 -13 35 — 72 IS.- Gedge 19 12 12 25 - G8 C. Pcimcy » IS 20 0 25 — GO Y. --1'agan >1 23 0 . 20 - 07 •■A -match: between teams representing tho l'almerston North Rifles and the Manchester Rifles was lired at Fcilding on' Saturday last..Col.-Sergt. Pcrrin put up tho possible. at 200yds. with a tricky wind. Conditions were scvon shots at each ' Tango. Scores:— • • ... MANCHESTER RIFLES.- - v 200 500 GOO T . , , yds- yls. yds. T'l. vol. Mayhew SO 33 31 — 94 LI. Doinigan 2S 31 30 — 89 Sergt - Fisher 30 30 29 — S9 Vol. Evans 32 28 28 - 88 Vol. Stewart , ... 28 29 30 — 87 Vol. l'arker ... 20 29 31 — 80 Col.-Sergt. Aitfccn ... ' ... 30 28 28 — 86 Cabtain Barltrop ... '... 29 27 29 — 85 VjI llelk 30 23 2G — 79 Vol. Pleasants ... ... 25 32 18 — 75 858 PALMERSTON. RIFLES. Sorgt. Neodham 31 31 31 — 93 Vol. Smith. ... 32 ' 20 30 — 88 Sergt Stock ... 23 33 27 — 88 Vrl. Kelts ... ' 31-' 31 21 — 80 Col.-Sergt.' Perria 35 .- .29 22 — 80 Vol Mngridgu ... ... 29 . 28:. 27 — 84 VjI. Griggs ... 29 .29' 24 — 82 Coip. Porrin. ... ..25', ,''29 21 — 78 Substitute ... 22 : 24 25 — 71 Substitute ... 20 17 24 — G1 817