PROFESSOR ALDIS ON THE VOLUNTEERS AND SOALLS TARGETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9095, 2 July 1888, Page 3

PROFESSOR ALDIS ON THE VOLUNTEERS AND SOALLS TARGETS.

TO TES SiDITOE. Sir,—The old adage, that the cobbler should stick to his last, applies to the Professor's letter published in your issue of yesterday, 1 have never asserted that it was easier fco make a score upon my targefc than upon the old or present r> /ulafcion one. But I have asserted that the rifleman should be taught in conformity 'with the circumstances he would meet with in the field ; that in the field the colour of an enemy or his surroundings would be dark, not white, and that to be enabled to aim on a dark ground, oftentimes quickly, a white foresight to the rifle is necessary. The startling difference of the scores on the two targets is a mathematical question, which even the Professor must come fco school to be able to solve, but he may rest assured the object is to make volunteers more efficient for the field. The insinuation about the expenditure of mo;iey falls harm« less, because the alterations proposed would not cost the colony a penny. The Professor goes on to sny the proposer of this new system not long ago wished the country to spend £4000 on new weapons for volunteers. In these" depressed times such enthusiasts are to be watched with care. Now, sir, the reason for my suggestion for re-arming the volunteers, was this: It would be absurd to send our men with inferior weapons against men armed with weapons of three times their power. The head and front of my offending consists in my being 1 the author of the Mount Eden rifle range, and my strong defence of it when it was assailed by the Professor's wife. If the Professor could show the Government » system by which all the education establishments' in the colony could post up their attendants in mathematics without the services of professors, ho would confer a benefit upon Us all and save some heavy salaries to the colony. Something similar to this is what I have so long been trying to do.—l am, etc., J. C. SoAii. June 28, 188 S.