VOLUNTEER PRIZE-FIRING.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4408, 30 September 1871, Page 3

VOLUNTEER PRIZE-FIRING.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir ( — XJmler the above heading a letter appeared in ycsterlay'si Cuoss which compels remark. The abatements made by tko writer are opposed to fact; the language — ( especially that in tho la&t sentence — is unjustifiable and scurrilous ; and the whole letter is calculated to mislead the public and damage the Volunteer force. But one of the statements made by your correspond dent need bo answered in detail, And that in very few words. He asserts that a prize, was presented to the body formerly known as the Administrative Battalion I Auckland Pi-ifle Volunteers, bnt hal been appropriated by four of the six ' companies which composed the battalion,, £o the exclusion of the other two companies. My< answer is that the gift was nut made as your correspondent states, but was given to the Auckland llifle Biigade, and with a full knowledge of what he was doing on the part of the donor. Has it not occurred to yoar correspondent that carping jat the conditions under which frienda of the Volunteer movement are willing to assist it with their 'money is, to day the least, injudicious ? It no doubt prevents many generous friends from helping us at all ; because they cannot please everyone, and they may reasonably object to being the innocent I means of setting in motion such a correspondence as this. When any good fortune falls to the lot of a corps, it indirectly -benefits the whole force, and ought to be 'matter' for gratttUtkm to all Volunteers. Afc any rate, if the "dog in the manger' 1 spirit is to be diet iahed still, let us avoid the blunder of publicly advertising the fact.— Yours, &c, Johk Batger, A.11.8.