THE VOLUNTEERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14396, 12 June 1907, Page 4

THE VOLUNTEERS.

• (“ Canterbury Times.”) At the annual mess of the officers of the Canterbury Military District, held at the United Service Motel last week, . Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkins, on behalf of Lieutenant H. D. Buchanan, of Kinloch, Little River, presented to Captain King and Lieutenant Timbrell, ot the Linwood Rifles, gold medals as a memento of the recent rifle competitions at Kinloch, at winch those gentlemen kindly acted as range officers. Lieuten-ant-Colonel Hawkins took occasion to . make some interesting remarks on shooting. The medals bore the follow- - ing inscription:—On the obverse, “ H.D.8., Kinloch, 1907,” and on the reverse, “In appreciation of services voluntarily renoered.” The recipients replied thanking the _ generous donor, and offering to assist him in his future efforts on behalf of shooting During the evening, the health of Lieutenant Buchanan was drunk, and that gentleman, in replying,' said that when he commenced to encourage rifle-shooting; on the Peninsula there were about thirty men who could claim to know something of that desirable recreative pastime; now there were four hundred. He realised that this force was something to be proud of in the way of de-' fence. Some very fine shooting had been done at Kinloch, and the Service Match was an evidence that the men who had acquired a mastery of the rifle knew well how to judge distance. The service competition at Kinloch had been carried out under difficult conditions, and the target result was, he believed, a record . He asserted that the rifle clubs offered a fine field from which Volunteer recruits might be drawn. His own corps had recruited well from that source. He would encourage ing wherever practicable, and jn this respect, would draw no distinction between clubs and Volunteers, recognising that the man who learns to shoot i* a decided acquisition to the _ defence power of his country. He wished to place on record his appreciation of the assistance given to him at Kinloch br Captain King and Lieutenant Timbrell .ana by Sergeant>Major Hoar and and he would say that the catering of Mr P. Burke quite exceeded all anticipations, He felt thoroughly sati*fiea and pleased at the earnest suupoW, he had received. He would like to see captains of rifle clubs recognised i» status, and ho hoped the Defence authorities would make more use of tha clubmen in the future. Captain Gundersen, of the Christchurch Defence Club, also spoke, the tenor of his remarks being iu appreciation of the recognition of rifle clubs. The sub-committee appointed to arrange a programme for the season’* shooting at the Redcliffs Range met on Friday evening. Suggestions and oropo~ed programme will be laid before the full committee next Friday. An attempt was made on Saturday to interest officers in a match, but only ten belonging to the infantry and six to other branches of the service turned up, and the afternoon being beautifully fine was, iu this respect, an extra inducement to make the journey; to Redcliffs. Really, some officers should take - more interest in shooting. A Morris-tube match will be fired at the King Edward Barracks on Thursday evening between teams representing the officers of local infantry versus these of other branches of the service.

A meeting of the Board of Manage* ment of the Christchurch Volunteer Rifle Association will ho held in the Officers’ Club-room, King Edward Barracks, on Friday evening, at eight o’clock.