VOLUNTEERING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11533, 19 November 1900, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING NEWS.

PONSONBY NAVALS. ' • Shortly after daybreak on Saturday morning the Porisonby Naval Artillery volun- « teers, now in camp at the North Shore, attended at Fort Cautley to go through the first series of shot and shell practice in connection with the competitions arranged by the Government for artillery and naval companies throughout the colony. Lieutenant- • Commander Patterson, officer commanding the corps; was fort commander, and Captain Mackenzie, of the No. 1 Service Company, acted as umpire. The firing, which was carried on at a moving target, towed up the Rangitoto Channel, to represent an approaching cruiser, was noteworthy for its rapidity, the two 7-in muzzle-loaders firing 19 shots in 10 minutes, and the Bin gun four shots, while a fifth shell was in the gun ready for firing when tho " cease fire" was founded. The accuracy of the shooting was also commended by Captain Mackenzie, who will report on it in detail. On Sunday, though the weather was by no means favourable, quite a number of visitors attended at the camping ground, where a musical programme was provided by the Garrison Band. THE COLEMAN SHIELD CONTEST. Our Hastings correspondent gives the following account of this shooting contest: — 1 Tho Coleman shield, which has now a provincial reputation, was again competed for - on the Prince of Wales' Birthday. This year the contest, between the rival teams was held at Waipawa. At an early hour the following. teams were at the range, which was on the property of Mr. J. Knight: —Napier Rifles. " Napier Guards, Woodville < Rifles, Hastings Rifles, Hawke'a Bay Mounted Rifles, Waipawa Rifles, Dannevirke Rifles. Ahuriri Mounted Rifles, Ruahini Mounted Rifles. All tho arrangements were conducted in the most systematic manner by Mr. F. W. Williams, tho range officer, whose recent experience at Bisley specially qualified him for the work. The weather throughout was perfect, and not a hitch occurred to mar the business of the day. Shooting commenced at a quarter to eight a.m., and although kept going continuously, did not finish until after six p.m. Next year it is intended to have 12 target! going instead of six. The Napier Rifles came out on top, with a good number to their credit. This is the fourth time that this fine team has pulled off the event. In presenting tho shield to Captain Halpin, of the Napier Rifles, Mr. Coleman, tho donor of the shield, made a short address, in which he reviewed several matters of importance connected with rifle-shooting, volunteering, and the conspicuous part that the New Zealand contingents took in the South African war. Mr. Coleman warmly congratulated Captain Halpin on tho success of his team, and Colour-Sergeant Humphries, of Hastings, on being the highest scorer two years running. Hearty cheers were given for Mr. J. H. Coleman, and Captain Rathbone, of tho Waipawa Rifles, for their generous assistance, and the hearty welcome the visiting teams had received. GRAND AGGREGATES. Napier Rifles 941 Napier Guards 884 Woodville Rifles ... 862 Hastings Rifles 839 Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles 672 Waipawa Rifles 658 Dannevirko Rifles 634 Ahuriri Mounted ■ Rifles 615 Ruahine Mounted Rifles ... 534-

SHOOTING COMPETITION AT PAKAWAI. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] Thames, Saturday. The quarterly competition for the district bolt took place at tho Parawai range this afternoon, under circumstances from a weather point of' view that were anything but favourable. A strong nor'-westerly gale, accompanied with heavy showers' of rain, prevailed throughout the contest, so that under these conditions the scores made were very creditable. . The ranges were 300 yds, 500 yds, and 600 yds, si* shots being fired at the first-mentioned distance, and' seven shots at the later two. Volunteers Grundy and McCollum each made a total of , 77. points, but as tho former secured the most points atthe 60yds, he was declared the winner, which gave him a second consecutive win for the belt. The individual scores at each range and totals were as follows: —

PRIZE-TAKERS. " Colour-Sergeant Humphries, Hastings Rifles, 94- <■ £5 0 0 Captain Storkey, Napier Rifles, 92... 3 0 0 Sergeant Cullen, Napier Guards, 83 2 10 0 Colour-Sergeant Gleadon, Napier Rifles, 86 ... 200 Private Howard,. Napier Guards, 86 1 10 0 Private Simmonds, Napier Rifles, 85 1 0 0

300 dS ' 600 Total. Vol. Grundy (Navals) 18 30 29 77 Vol. A. McCollum... 19 31 27 77 Bugler Rowe ... 20 24- 29 73 Vol. J. Crosby ... 26 23 21 70 Vol. W. Newman... 23 30 17 7G Vol. W. Crosby (Haiiraki Rifles) ... 20 28 20 63 Corpl. Finlayson ... 16 28 23 67 P. O. Spraggon (Navals) 19 25 21 65 Vol. Lukey 26 22 17 65 Vol. Clark (Hauraki Rifles) ... 19 27 17 63. A. Brown (Navals)... 17 26 17 60 P.O. Pearse 21 26 12 59 Vol. Lang (Hauraki Rifles) 17 29 13 ' 59 Vol. G. Newman (Navals) 19 28 9 56 Vol. Comer 10 2,5 17 52 Vol. Herival ... 13 22 17 52