VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5729, 29 March 1880, Page 6

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

COLONIAL PRIZE-FIRING.

r B Y TIILBGBiPH, UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] L 2sjzis*os 9 March 1. There was a parade at Brightwater be tweon 2 and 3 o'clock, when 161 members were p.reseut. At 2.30 p.m. Colonel Packe came oa the ground, and shortly after the meeting was opened by Mrs. Pitt, wife of Major Pitt, firing the first shot, which wa3 scored a bnll's.eye. The lady having been cheered, and the men divided into 12 squads, actual businass commenced. Prior to this, the markers had expressed some dissatisfaction, alleging that the butts did not sufli ciently protect them. On tlm some altera tions were made. Shortly after firing com menced, one of the markers received a nasty cut oil the arm by a splinter off the target. Shortly after firing commenced a fire occurred iu camp. It appea-ed that the occupants of a tent composed of Wellington and Napier men, under the conmaml of Lieutenant B nne:t, had been lighting cigars at a candle, which was leit burninj.'. This ultimately communicated with tUe bedding. In addition to this, the trunks containing the private effects a'id dre<s uniforms were destroyed. The tent, however, was saved, as also some 100 rounds of ammunition. The tiring for the several matches continued day by day until the 11th March, when the whole was brought to a successful close. Subjoined are the principal results of the annual competition. THE .RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP. The following are the scores mado by the three top men in tha four matches : — Vol. Okey (Taranaki), champion belt, gold mean.l, and £20 ... ... ... 279 , Sorgfc. Purnell (Wanganui), silver medal, and £10 ... ... ... ... ... 272 . Lieut. Rogers (Blenheim), silver medal, ' and £5 ... 207 J THE CARBINE CHAMPIONSHIP. , Seaman A. Thomas (Thames), champion belt, gold medal, and £10 ... ... 20S 1 Lieut. Somerville (Wanganui), silver . medal and £5 203 "Vol. Winnett (Nelson) ... ... ... 202 . Gunner A. Woolley (Auckland)... ... 202 There was great excitement at the finish, and the winners of the belts were loudly cheered. THE COMPANY MATCH. KIFLSS. For the seventeenth match the wim>»" x£fuciim Uity Guards 409 Blenheim Rifles ••• 431 "Wellington City Rifle* ... ... ... 44Dunedin Guards. —Captain Wilson, 91 ; Fox, SI ; Smith, 93 ; Coventry, 100 ; We'jster, 95. Blenheim. — Lieutenant Rogers, 95; Griffiths, SS; Turner, 90; Hood, SI; A. McKenzie, 9S. Wellington City Pifles. — Lieutenant Ballinger, 91 ; Mair, 90 ; A. Ballinger, SS ; .Hale, S7 ; Bannister, S6. , Thames Scottish. — Fenton, SS ; Pric?, 87 ; Downie, 97 ; Weir, S9 ; Cochrane, SO. Total, 441. Victoria Kifles, Auckland. — Lieu- ; tenant Skinner, S7 ; Sergeant Haslett, S3 ; , Sergeant Taylor, 87; Cooper, 8S ; Haslett, j 89. Total, 434. . Spring Creek Kifles.—A. Soper, S7 ; A. ; Sutton. SO; F. Sutton, 7S ; F. Soper, 90 ; ; Stagg, S4. Total, 427. Taranaki Kifles. — Hoskius, SS; ( Howell, 72; R. N. Hooker, 84; Okey, 100 ; S. Hooker, 79. Total, 423. , Kiv£rto>" Rifles.—Atcheson, S3; Win- i ton, S2 ; Lyons, S3 ; Gilchrist, 75; McKea- i zie, S3. Total, 421. Stoke Riflbj.—Lieutenant Paynter, 9S; < Biadley, 71; Sergeant Doidge, SS; Thor- . barn, 77 ; Beach, S7. Total, 421. I North Dunedin.—Richardson, S9; Hislop, 77 ; Marshall, S4; Miller, S7 ; Hutchinson, 7S. Total, 415. Nelson City Rifles.—Only four men fired. Lieutenant Adam 3, SS ; Crossmao, 97 ; Gray, SS ; D. Burn 3, 86. Total, 357. CARBINES. Nelson Naval Brigade 442 Thames Navals ... ... ... ... 435 Welington Navals ... ... 423 Nelson Naval Team.—Lieutenant Hunter, SO; Fathers, 92; G. Bennett, SO; Wm. Moore, 94; Rowlings, SB. Thames Navals.—Par3low, 90 ; Gordon, 93 ; Thomas, S9 ; Armstrong, 85 ; Jamieson, 81. Wellington Navals.—Lieutenant Beanett, 90; C. France, SS ; A. L ixon, So; F. France, 83 ; Lieutenant Davy, 81. Auckland Artillery.—Henderson, 95 ; Woolley, 92; H. Rose, 87; W. Rose, S5 ; Fairs, OS; total, 427. Nelson Artillery".—C. Moore, S7 ; C. Bird, S6 ; D. Hood, 82 ; T. Wimsctt, S2 ; Clonston, S9. Total, 417. Christchdrch Artillery". —Lientenant Strange, 89 ; Fox, S7 ; Sinclair, 85; Hill, 70 ; Mapp, 66. Total, 406. Wairoa Light Horje.—McLean, S7 ; Arthur, S6 ; Howie, S3; J. Thurston, 71; Johnßton, 69. Total, 401. Wellington artillery.—Robinson, 84 ; McCredie, S2; Scott, 81; Holmes, 77; Turner, 75. Total, 399. NORTH V. SOUTH. CARBIKES. The Carbine Match, North v. South Island, resulted in favour of the North by 4 points. The totals were :— North Island 311 South Island ... ... ... 307 North Island Team. — A. Thomas (Thames), 58 ; Somerville (Wanganui), 67 ; Woolley (Auckland), 60 ; Burr (Wellington), 62 ; Gordon (Thames), 64. South Island Team.—Winsett (Nelson), 64; Fathers, 60 ; Hill, 65. [ Two names were omitted in the telegram.] RIFLES. Match 3—North v. South Island, for rifles — was won by the South with one point. The totals were :— South Island ... 571 North Island ... ... ... 570 South Island Team —Rogers (Dunedin), 56 ; Atcheson (Riverton), 47 ; Paynter (Nelson), 66 ; Webster (Dunedin), 00 ; Buckley (Christchurch), 52; McKenzie (Marlborough), 61 ; Hood (Nelson), 61 ; Richardson (Dunedin), 64; Christie (Dunedin), 51; Turner (Marlborough), 56. Noeth Island Team.—Okey (Taranaki), 52; Purnell (Wanganui), 49; Cnmmings (Wanganui), 59 ; Monk, 62 ; Haslett (Auckland), 65; McK«e (Thames), 59; Hay (Auckland), SS; Taylor (Auckland), 59 ; i>ownie (Thames), 68; Mair (Wellington), 59. CONSOLATION MATCH. The Consolation Match has just been comThe following are the winners :—lst, Sinclair (Christchurch), 73; J. Ballinger (Wellington), 72; Freerson (Thames), T. Hutchinson (Dnnedin), each 71; Bradley, Hay, Cochrane, each 70; Howell, 69; Mcßae, 68 ; Haslett, Howie, each G7; Bannister, CO. The other scorers are.—Thorburn, 06 ; Stagg, Rutherford, Rose, Sutton, JEady, Miller, each 65 ; Menzies, Marshal), F. ?utton, il. Winsett, each 64; Maddock, Lees, G'och rane, each 63; McKenzie, W. Rott, Neill, Barriball, each 65 ; A. Turner, W. Thomson, Wemysß, Scott, A. Bird, Pinks, Hutchinson, each CI; Haycock, Winton, Sutton, Harkness, Hislop, G. Johnson, Holints, each 60; Cooper, P. Smith, Gilchrist, Aicken, each 59; Martin, 58; Hale, Twist, T. Wandy, McLean, W. Adams, Lyon, F. Soper, each 57; Hawess, 56 ; Jes3op, 55 ; Lewes, Batfc, each 53; Uowea, 51; F. Smith, 50; Deaforges, 45; Captain Thompson, 41. THE LO_\G-DISTANCE MATCHES. Nineteenth Match.—The following are the winners :—lst, Somerville (Wanganui), 63 points; 2nd, Purnell (Wanganui), 55 points ; 3rd, Fenton (Thames), 50 points ; 4th, Skinner (Auckland), 00 points ; sth, Gordon (Thames), 60 poiuts ; 6th, Paynter (Nelson), 47 points; 7th, Hutchison (Dunedin), 46 points; Bth, Captain Wilson (Dunedin), 46 points; 9th, Dixon (Wanganui), 46 points. I.IGHTEENTH Alatch. — The winners are : 1 —Paynter (Nelson), 44 points ; Fenton (Thames), 44 points ; Purnell (Wanganui) 39 points; Somerville (Wanganui), 36 points; Gordon (Thames), 34 points • Skinner (Auckland), 28 paints. The other scores are Hunter, 25 points ; F. France, 25 points; H.Dixon, H Jpoints ; Mill, jl() poinfafi , The last day of the contest was devoted to a Cavalry tournament, at the conclusion of which there was a -narade and the prizes were distributed bv Mrs A. J. Richmond, wife of Mr. Richmond, M.H.R. In presenting Oakey witi the rifle belt, she Baid she had great pleasuri in making the presentation. The splendit shooting he had made in the late contest combined with the high position he secure! in last year's contest, convinced her tha she was assisting to confer the much-covetei honour on the right man. Three cheers wer given for Mr. Oakey, after Mrs. Richmoni bad plaoedthebsltonhim. Thelady then pre sented Gunner Thomas with the carbine belt congratalating him on winning it, and ex

tending her congratulations to his corps, which, for the second time in succession, had sent the best carbine shot to the meeting. Tbree cheers were given for the ex-championa. The gold medals were presented to W. Ballinger, Lieutenant Gordon, Oakey and Thomas ; silver ones to Hutchinson, Smith, Mapp, Purnell, Rogers and Somerville; and bronze ones to Sutton, Jamieaon, Neill, Rule, Sopor, Hood, Gee, tach being preaentei with suitable remarks. The Cup for the North and South Islands was presented to the winners in the rifle and carbine matches. Cheers were given for the winners, after which Major Baillie, on behalf of the Volunteers attending the meeting, thanked the people of Nelson most sincerely for the welcome and reception, and as regards the shooting, he said he was surprised at its excellence. Colonel Packo said he found the meeting had gone on wilhout the loss of a single moment. The shootin" was magnificent, and he complimented Oakey on winning the rifle belt, remarking that years ago, at Hokitika, he shot remarkably well. He also congratulated Captain YViM man, of the Thaaics, who for the second year had shepherded his men, and for the second time the carbine belt had been secured by his corps ; and he warned other chirps that the Thames men would win it altogether unless they wera on the lookout. He thanked the ladies of Nelson fur their presence, and spoke in the warmest terms of Mr. Canning's generosity in placing the grounds, luncheon, fee., at their dis postil, and he thaaked the people of Nelson tor their hospitality. Three cheers were given for Colonel Packe and the .other members of the staff officers, and by the Nelson men for their companions during the meeting. Thanks having been returned, the force dismissed, and the meeting was at an end.

The Volunteer representatives who recently competed in the prizs-firing at kelson arrived in Auckland on Monday, about half past one o'clock. They were met at the railway station by a large numbir of citizens an ! a more or less numerous muster of the variom Volunteer the Navals being predominant. Ou alighting from the train the Champion was carried shoulder-bigh to a gun-cat riage on which be was placed. Tho procession then marched to the drill-shed, precided by the i\aval Baud playing airs suitable for the occasion. In the evening the representatives were entertained at a banquet in the Albert Hall, which was largely attended, and the usual loyal aud complimentary toasts proposed and responded to.

The annual general inspection of the Volunteers of Pukekohe West|took place on March 10. At the appointed hour, 3 o'clock, the inspecting officer was seen approaching, accompanicd by Major Withers (commanding the district), and on arriving on the ground—a paddock kindly placed at their disposal by Mr. J. Dihvorth —he was received in the usual manner. Major B. Harris, M. fcf. R. (the officer commanding the company), was present. Colour Sergeant JDalton put the company through the manual and platoon exercise in both slow and quick time, which was creditably done. Sergeant-Major Mowbray then put the company through the various movements in the bayonet exercise, after which the company was manoeuvred in quick and double time. The inspecting officer impressed upon the men that they had still something to learn, which could not be attained without regular attendance and attention. The inspection being over, Major Harris informed the company that as the Governor had accepted the resignation of Lieutenant Wallis, it now devolved upon the company to elect an officer in his stead, in pursuance of which he had much pleasure in proposing Colour-Sergeant Dalton. Sergeant Dalton declined, and nominated in his stead Sergeant Chilmau ; which proposition being seconded, Sergeant Chilman was duly elected to be a lieutenant in No. 1 Company Pukekohe Riflt-s.

The annual inspection of the Waiuku Troop R.C.V. took place in one of Mr. Constable's paddocks, on 2nd March, at noon. There was a good muster, under the command of Captain Hamlin. The troop was formed in double rank, when the inspecting officer, Colonel Leckie, accompanied by Major Withers, came on the ground. The Colonel minutely inspected the troop, and afterwards took up his post at the British ensign. The troop were marched past in double columns, sections, and single file, right in front, and afterwards the same movements were gone through left in front. The troop were then put through the sword exercise by Lieutenant Barribali. The Colonel addressed a few words to the troop. He said he waswell pleased at the movements gone through by the troop, with the exception of the sword exercise. In it there was not sufficient force given in the cuts. As the cuts were given the sword should be heard to whistle by the force given in making a cut. The troop appeared to know the cuts pretty well, and by practice the failing he had pointed out would be overcome. He explained how the troops did the exercise in India. On the whole he was well pleased. The Colonel then wished the troops good day, and left. The parade was then dismissed.