VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5020, 18 December 1877, Page 3

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

WAIKATO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY REVIEW. [from our special correspondent.] Hamilton, Nov. 27. The day broke beautifully, but as the morning advanced it gave every promise of a " brickGelder" day, and such it proved until the afternoon, when a slight breeze sprung up. From all the settlements in the Waikato visitors, on horseback mostly, went towards the Ohaupo race course, the scene of the day's amusement, and the roads from all directions were clouds of dust.

The first event was the Cavalry review of the Te Awamutu troop, under Major Jaakson, and the Cambridge troop under Captain Runciman. There mustered on the ground 132 rank and file, and these were divided into six troops, for the purpose of evolutions ; and prior to Lieutenant-Colonel Lyon arriving on the ground, they were exercised in echelon and other movements, including marching past, by Sergeant Fraaer, Drill Instructor. Upon Colonel Lyon taking them over, they were put through a great amount of intricate movements; including lujrehing past by companies in slow and quick time, and saluting the colours. The precision aud excellence of the men in their evolutions as well as the skill with which the horses were managed, and the of the troops were really admirable, aud when it is stated that fully 1500 people were on the ground, including a large proportion of the fair sex, this is saying something.

At the conclusion the troops formed column, both wings closed iu, forming three siiles of a square. Colouel Lyon highly complimented the troops on the turn out, and the excellence shown in drill. He referred iu feeling terms to the death of Lieutenant Paiker as a soldier, a gentleman, aud a friend, whose loss they all regretted.

Major Jackson, on behalf of the Cavalry, thanked Lieutenant-Colonel Lyon fur his remarks, and, especially, in regard to their late officer, Lieutenant Parker. He took the occasion to refer to something more personal to himself. Colonel .Lyon had reported him to the Government with regard to the position he took as chairman of the meeting at Te Awamutu, saying it was a disgrace to the Volunteer movement that he should take such a position. He would have known nothing of it had it not been brought before the House in the correspondence ; but lie considered that Colonel Lyon, in courtesy at least, should have informed him, and given him a copy of the charges he preferred, or at least tried to ascertain the truth before sending them. He was at present under a cloud, and if the Government sustained the charges preferred against him, he might be dismissed, but he did not mean to resign. If so, this would be the last occasion he would have an opportunity to address them. He asked pardon if at any time he had hurt their feelings, or been overbearing, and called for three cheers for Colouel Lyon, who no doubt did what he thought to bo his duty. The call was responded to.

Three hearty cheers were then given for Major Jackson, and the troops then dispersed.

Fourteen members of the Victoria Volunteer Company, one of the No. 3, and two of the Engineers, met at the Rifle Range on Nov. 2-1, to compete for the Ladies' Prize— a silver teapot. The ranges were 200 and 300 yards, small targets, and S-inch bullseye, and 400, 500, and 000 yards with the ordinary targets. Only three shots were allowed at each range. A strong gusty wind blew from the target, which interfered materially with the marksmen, especially so as it was very irregular and fluctuating; so much so, iudeed, that great difficulty was experienced in calculating the due allowance to be made for windage. So far, the highest score made is that of Volunteer James heigh—au average of centres—and Volunteer John AlcLeod made a similar score ; but, as his number of points at the longest range was less than that made by Leigh, the latter is the winner. The shooting was conducted under Captain Derrom's supervision, and the following are the principal scores. —

200 300 400 too GOO Tl. /"olunteer J. ..10 3 9 0 9 45 /olunteer J. McLeod.. 11 10 11 10 3 45 Voluteer C. Cooper ..9 7 11 8 9 44 olunteer IT. Howricn.. 10 1) 10 9 5 43 /olunteer J. Mnslett .. 10 7 10 10 5 42 volunteer Then. Fairs 7 'J 0 10 G 41 /olunteer Belsham ..10 8 8 9 G 41 /olunteer A. P.«yne .. .9 ft 10 ft S 37 "/olunteer L. Kady ..0 7 0 7 i 3'J /olunteer InifT .. 9 10 10 0 G 35 Sertfe.uit Henderson ..10 G 9 10 0 3ft Volunteer E. Cooper ..9 8 9 G 3 35

The Victoria Company had a good muster at the targets on Decomber 3 to fire for the company's medal. The conditions upou which this medal are lired for are, that it must be won twice in succession, or three times at intervals, before it becomes the property of any member. It has already been competed for eight times, and lias been twice won by Volunteer Howden, who also scored well this time, but he was beaten by Corporal .lames Leigh, who made a line score of 45 points, and Corporal J. W. Leigh, with a score of 44 points. Twenty-eight iired altogether, although only fourteen competed for the xjrize. Of those iu attendance, 17 were members of the Victoria Company, 5 Artillery, 2 Xavals, 1 Scottish, 1 Engineer 1 No. 3, and 1 Thames Volunteer. Th • extra men with the consent of Capt. Derrom, who was in charge of the liriug party, lired for practice, and Gunner Rose, of the Artillery, made the handsome score of 43 points. Volunteers Trayes and Belsham were not present in time to fire the first two ranges. The following are the scores made by the competitors:—

200 300 400 GOO GOO 11Corporal .T. Leigh ..11 9 9 11 ft 45 Corporal J. W. Leigh 8 8 10 9 9 44 Corporal Duff.. ..9 7 10 8 9 43 Votuuteer Uowden .. 10 9 11 10 3 43 Sergeant Henderson .. 10 8 9 8 '7 42 Volunteer E. Cooper.. 9 9 7 10 5 40 Volunteer Taylor ..9 8 10 G 5 40 Volunteer I ayue ..10 7 7 9 G 39 Volunteer Fairs ..7 8 10 4 8 37 Volunteer Kiidy ..9 5 9 G 7 30 Volunteer McLeod ..8 9 10 4 5 30 Volunteer C. Cooper.. 10 7 10 2 7 30 Volunteer Bel^hanijg.. — — 9 12 4 2"> Volunteer Troyes .. — -*11 9 2 22

A number of the members of the No. 3 Company, Auckland Volunteers, assembled at the Kiile-range on Sth December, for the purpose of competing for the Ladies' Prize, presented to the company some time ago. The prize, a handsome inkstaud, has been already competed for many times. The ranges on Dec. S, were 400, 500, and 000 yards, six shots at each, and the liring party was under the command of Captain Morrow. The scoring on the whole was rather poor, and the trophy was won by Volunteer K R. Partington with a scoreof 51 points. The conditions were that the prize must be won three times in succession or five times at intervals before it became the property of any member. \olunteer Ji'artmgtmi has, it so happens, fultiijed both those conditions, for Saturday's match wab tliii lit'th occasion on which lie hail won il. aud thu third in succession. Volunteer LlutUe would have been the winner on Saturday, but he, unfortunately for himself, scored otm of his shots ; an outer was scored on the wrong target, and therefore did not count.

On Dec. 15; twelve members of the Victoria Company met at the KiJle-xange to compete

for the Ladies' Prize. A number of members of other companies also, by the permission of Captain Derrom, who was in charge of the firine-party, fired for practice. The ranges were 200, 3UO, 400, 500, and 600 yards, 3 shots at each. Some very good shooting was made, especially at the 400 yards range, at which two of the competitors made the maximum score of 12 points. Volunteer H. Bowden bore off the trophy on this occasion, with a good score of 40 points ; Volunteer Stewart being next with 42 points. The day was on the whole favourable, although there was a somewhat lusty wind blowing from the south-west up the range. The following are the scores made by 10 of the competitors. The other two are omitted, as they were very low, the men firing under peculiar disadvantages : —

In the Gisborne Rifle Volunteers Mr. George Winter has been gazetted Captain ; Mr. Charles William Ferris, Lieutenant; and William Daly, Sub-Lieutenant, in the same corps.

•203 3U0 400 500 600 yd*. yds. yds. yds. yds. TJ. Vol. H. Borden.. 11 S 12 10 5 46 Vol. Stewart S 10 12 0 0 42 Corpl. Duff .. 9 8 10 7 7 41 Sergt. Ha*lett .. C 8 10 11 5 40 C-'rp). Cooper ..9 8 7 5 io 39 Vol. Tavlor -.8 8 9 10 4 39 Vol. Haslett ..10 8 S G 5 37 Vol. Payne .. 10 7 7 9 2 35 Vol. Fairs.. ..9 S 10 7 0 34 Vol. Alderton .. 7 8 9 C 2 32