VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9137, 20 August 1888, Page 5

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

RIFLE MATCH: WAIROA RIFLES V.

A BATTERY. A friendly rifle match between teams of fifteen men aside of the Wairoa Rifles, under Captain Crawford, and the A Battery Artillery, under Captain Geddes, was fired at the Mount Eden rifle range, on Saturday afternoon, and resulted in a very substantial victory by 82 points for the visitors. The ranges were 200, 400 and 500 yards, seven shots at each range. The weather was somewhat squally and unsteady, but some very fair scores were made by some of the visiting team. Capt. Crawford made the top score of the match, with 74 points, and Sergeant Henderson made the highest score, 68, for the Artillery team. It is but fair to add that this team was greatly weakened through the absence of Woolley, Webster, and the two Doughtys, and comparatively untried shots had to be put in their places. The greatest good feeling was manifested throughout the match. The following are the scores :—

Total 818 , The visitors were entertained by the battery at a smoke concert in the dining-room of the Imperial Hotel, at which there was a full muster of the members and hon. members of the battery, as well as other friends, and Host Gallagher had as usual on such occasions a most attractive table spread. Captain Geddes presided, and was supported on the right by Captain Crawford and on the left by Lieutenant Creighton and Major Payne. opXbfi^^l^M^^^W^n&^-A 1 - iJattery and their friends when he said that they had looked forward with pleasure to this meeting with the Wairoa Rifles, as they were contemporary companies, the Wairoa Rifles almost rivalling the "A" Battery in age. There was at all events only a few months' differeuce between them. (Cheers.) When the "A" Battery accepted this challenge he did not expect a soft thing, but he did expect that they would win. How far that was borne out was shown by the result of the match, and they would excuse him for saying, how have the mighty fallen. It was the most questionable treat he had had for a long time. (Laughter.) But they looked forward to meeting their friends again, and he saw now, although he was one of the Eromoters of the football team, that they ad been developing their heels at the expense of their heads. The Wairoa team proved better than they though), and the 11 A " Battery would have to practice more to be able to beat them, and one reason for this was that Captain Crawford was able to instruct them. It afforded him great pleasure to propose the toast of " The Wairoa Rifles," coupled with the names of Captain Crawford and Lieut. Creighton. (Cheers.) Captain Crawford briefly returned thanks. Lieutenant Creighton also returned thanks. He had enjoyed himself very much, but he was nob more surprised than Captain Geddes at the result of the match, for he fully expected that instead of the Wairoa's winning by eighty points that it would have been the other way, and he fully expected when they met again at Wairoa they would nob have so much to boast of, (Cheers.) The toast of the "A" battery and the losing team was proposed by Captain Crawford, who assured them that they would receive a warm and hearty welcome when they came to Wairoa South. This was the first match between the "A" Battery and the Wairoa Rifles, but he hoped it would not be the last, and that they would soon meet again. (Cheers.) Captain Geddes, Lieutenants Allen and Ansell returned thanks. The intervals between the toasts and the remainder of the evening was devoted to enjoyment, songs being sung and recitations given by the members of both companies, as well as by several of the hon. members, the singing being much above the average at such gatherings. Mr. Reed played the piano accampaniments to the various songs, and the gathering broke up at a late hour, with mutual .good wishes.

WAIROA RIFLES. 200yds. 400yds. 500yds. TI. Captain Crawford .. .. '23 30 21 — 74 Volunteer J. Matheson .. 26 29 13 — 6S Corporal Wallis .. .. £S 21 16 — 68 Volunteer Hill .. .. 27 25 16 — 6S Corporal Kerr .. .. 27 22 17 — 66 Volunteer Pollok .. .. 24 27 13 — 64 Volunteer Clow .. .. 25 20 17 — 62 Lieutenant Creighton .. 22 53 16 — 61 Colour-Sergt. Creigliton 2S 10 21 — 50 Volunteer Bell .. .. 19 25 14—58 Volunteer Alexander .. 19 22 15 — 56 Sergeant Wright .. 25 23 6 — 54 Volunteer Colquhoun .. 27 13 9 — 49 Sergeant Morrison.. .. 22 18 7 — 47 Bugler Fraser .. ..22 14 10 —46 Total .. 900 A BATTERY. 200yds. 400yds. 500yds. Tl. Sergeant Henderson .. 24 28 16 — 68 Gunner Lumsden .. .. 28 17 17 —62 Gunner Williamson .. 26 20 14 — 60 Gunner Payne .. .. 26 15 IS — 59 Gunner Shoarson .. .. 26 16 16 — 58 Sergeant Parslow .. ..26 16 16 —58 Corporal Trevarthan .. 25 15 16 —56 Lieutenant Ansell .. .. 24 17 15 — 56 Gunner Ward .. .. 24 19 12 — 55 Gunner Lipscombe .. 20 16 18—54 Gunner Campbell .. .. 26 19 6 — 51 Captain Geddes .. 17 17 12—46 Gunner Webster . _ 13 17 10 — 45 Gunner Hatswell .... 26 13 6 — 45 Gunner Kearsley. .. .. 18 17 12 —45