OUR DEFMNCE FORCES.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 31 January 1899, Page 5

OUR DEFMNCE FORCES.

THE RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING. [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] "Wanganui, 30th January. A meeting of the citizens was held tonight to arrange for the framing of prizes for the Citizens' Match, etc., in connection with the forthcoming meeting of the New Zealand Rifle Association. Major Sommerville announced that he was negotiating for a splendid range close to the town, and that the meeting promisedoto be one of the most successful in the history' of the Association. Some 270 competitors from other parts of the colony are expected, and several ladies have signified their intention of competing in the Ladies' Match, including three from Oamaru and two from Masterton. [Major Sommerville, in a letter which he has sent to Major Collins, states that the meeting of the Association will be held at Wanganui on 13th March.] There is a possibility of the rifle meeting being adjourned to March to suit the convenience of the Auckland men. The Defence Department finds that the Wellington volunteers are determined not to compete for the Sargood Cup under the conditions laid 'down by it. The men absolutely refuse to go out to fire at Petone at their own expense. The Polhill Gully range is not suitable for the class of competition arranged by the Defence Department, and hence the decision that the firing should take place at Petone. Lieut. -Colonel Newall has come back from Hawkes Bay. Captain Falconer, of the Torpedo Corps, has gone to Lyttelton in connection with the electric lighting of the forts there. A satisfactory trial of the 50,000 candlepower electric light just erected at the forts on the Miramar Peninsula has just taken place. The engines and boilers were supplied by Messrs. W. Cable and Co. The City Rifles and the Zealandia Rifles paraded last night under Captain W. Dutfiie and Captain Morison respectively, and went through a variety of drill under their own officers. Work at the Naval Artillery camp was very much interfered with last evening on account of the wind and rain. Nevertheless 83 men went into camp, and the various squads were lectured on theoretical gunnery, ammunition, and duties by the following Permanent Artillery instructors : — Fort Ballance squad, by Sergt. Silver and Corporals Butler and Lynch. Fort Gordon, by Sergt. Heath. Kau Point, by Sergt Webb ; and Fort Halswell, by Bombardier Connolly. In spite of the stormy weather strict camp hours and duties were maintained, and at 4.30 this morning the men were up and classes were formed under Lieut. Bell and MasterGunner Richardson. To-morrow evening the Duco takes excursionists to the camp, and the company will be permitted to suspend work half an hour earlier than usual so as to enable members to go round the harbour with their friends in the Duco. j

At Mount Cook Police Station this morning, Mr. F. M'Purland, J.P., fined j a, first offender for drunkenness.