VOLUNTEERING NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11621, 8 April 1901, Page 3

VOLUNTEERING NEWS .

VICTORIA RIFLES WIN THE GORDON SHIELD. ' ' The Gordon Shield teams' match, which has been looked forward to with considerable interest by shooting, men, was fired on Saturday, under the auspices of the Akarana Rifle Club, at the Avondalo range. It was expected that there would be a largo number of entries, as the honour of . winning ' this trophy: has always been keenly contested, and ';■/,.', tho firing for it looked upon as one of theevents '■■ in local rifle- shooting. Unfortunately several country corps who had expressed thesr •: intention of competing, were prevented from doing so; on account of their having other fixtures for the Easier holidays. Seven learns, representing '• the Victoria 'Rifles, t Coromandel Rifles, Franklin Mounted Rifles, the ex-Gor-dons, and the Akarana Rifle Club, took part in the competition, the conditions of wlikji were seven shots' and two sighters at 300 yd?, • 500 yds, and 600 yds. ;.' The onerous duties <■ 'range officer were most efficiently; and satisfactorily fulfilled by Mr„ F. Eoarsley (captain . of the Akarana Rifle Club). Firing commenced in tho morning at the 300 yds range, with a fresh but steady wind jblowing < from the right ■ front, which, however, had ; but little effect upon tho shooting once tho correct Windage allowance had been ascertained. At the finish of this range the scores of the '• four leading teams read as follows: —Akarana No. 1, 149; Victoria Rifles No. 1, 143; Coromandel Rifles, 138; old Gordons, 134: and it was at once apparent that the two firstmentioned , intended making matters warm. Tho best individual scores at this range were Mr. W. H. Shepherd's 33,' Lieutenant : Cos's :! 32, and thoseof .Messrs. Doughty, Penzholz, and J. G. Buchanan, and Private T. Kerr, who each recorded 31. _- V; •'

At the 500 yds range the temporary-lead which ; the Akarana No. 1 ■ team had established was lost, the Victoria No. 1 team having an advantage of five points, securing first position, which they maintained successfully to the finish:. The leading totals ■:'■',■■ for the two ranges now read: Victoria Rifles' No. 1, 299; Akarana No. 1. 294; Coromandel Rifles, 281; ex-Gordons, 273. At this range Private Carlson, with a possible. of 35 points, :■■ and Lieutenant Cox, with a point; short of tho possible, assisted the Victorias very materially; whilst Messrs. Mcintosh and J. D. Webster. With points" each to their credit, ;" fought hard to make the scoring more equal for the Akarana team. Captain Kenrick put ' up 32 and Colour-Sergeant Gatland 31 for the: >- Coromanilels, and Mi. F. Thome, for the Akarana, No. 2 ton-m recorded 32. whilst the score that reads best for the: old "Gordons ." at this range is Mr. G. Buchanan's 31. At the conclusion of the shooting at the' 600 yds firing point the positions of the first ; three teams were: Victoria Rifles No. 1, 443; - Akaraom No. 1, 435 Coromandel Rifles, 415. The highest individual scores "registered at : this rango were Miv H. Doughty's 31, Captain Skinner's 33, and Private W. J. Senior's 33, Sergeant Krotschmar following closely ?? with 31. :■,■- ■ ■ v .■"■■;=.•;■'■■. -

At the conclusion rof tho match hearty cheers were von for the : winning team, for Mr. Kearsloy (tho range officer), and for tho Akarana Rifle \ Club, who had arranged the conditions and details of the match, and lent their range for the use of competitors. 'Mr.Kearsley, in presenting; the prizes to the, first, second, and third teams, :'? stated that the Akarana Rifle Club appreciated the honour which the trustees of the Gordon Shield had conferred upon them by entrusting them with the control of the firing, and so long as they were so favoured the club would spare no efforts to make the competition for it of the greatest interest and moat : satisfactory to .all competitors. .The following are the details of scores and prize-list: — ; VICTORIARIFLES (No.-1 Team).-Gordon Shield and ■"£5. : --:-~.:': !■:*;■:•

THE NEW DRILL HALL. Oil Saturday morning Mrt- George Fowlds, M.H.R., received ;: the :K following - telegram from the Premier with reference to the new ' drill hall for Auckland: —" Th.6 Commandant 13 going to "Auckland respecting the drill-shed in the course of a few days.; The legal portion is now before the law officers. It is my duty to conserve the interests of thecolony. -I am only trustee for the time be- ■: ing, and I do not think it will be very cany to get sufficient land for drill-shed purposes unless' at • considerable expense. : .- If we give .up the present site perhaps the Education Board might supply us with another."

RAGLAN MOUNTED RIFLES. The Raglan Mounted Rifles and the residents of the district" turned out on the night of the 22nd ult. to do honour to Sergeant Mahood, on the occasion of his return from South . Africa. The function took the- form of 1 ; Fecial and dance in the Raglan Public Hall, and attracted a largo attendance, and dancing was kept up with; spirit\ till an early' hour on Saturday. : There was a full muster of the Raglan Mounted Rifles, who had been inspected during the day by. Sergeant-Major Hoare. On Saturday following 'another drill ensued, and in (lie evening Sergeant Mahood ' was entertained at a dinner bv the Raglan Mounted Rifles. Mr. \V._M.~Bankart presided, and apologised for the absence of Captain Smith, who had unexpectedly been, prevented from attending through urgent onvate; business. .After the loyal toast ha.: 4 been duly honoured, Mr. Hill proposed th "Army and Navy," which was responded tc by Sergeant-Major -Hoare, who' spoke in appreciative terms of the' officers and men of ' the Raglan Mounted Rifles and their efficiency. The Chairman, then proposed ''Thai Health of Sergeant Mahood," speaking euloffistically of the colonial share taken in the Boer war and the conspicuous part Sergeant Mahood ' had , played personally. Sergeant Mahood was ; received with great 'enthusiasm on rising to reply, and spoke feelingly of his f reception •; home, and referred in the highest appreciation to other Raglan members of the contingents and the manner in which they had upheld colonial prestige, concluding by toasting the Raglan, Mounted Rifles. Lieutenant Langley responded. Toasts of " Drill. Instructor, '* : " The Ladies," and ■■" The Press" followed; which were respectively entrusted to the chairman. Sergeant Palmer, ; and - Lanne-Cor-noral Smith, and responded to By Sergeant- v Major Hoare. Corporal Cory, and Lieu tenant Langley. Musical selections and recitations brought a mo3t enjoyable evening to a satis- • factory conclusion.[Own Correspondent.]

-.. .-.—.'.'.- ■■■'.-.V« : ';'300V•"'500"' : .'--'€o6 : --""-"-v Lieut r. G. Cox 3 rd8 $» >£" T i Lieut EG Cox 32 34 28 94 Private .T. Carlson. 29 35 29 93 Capt. Skinner (captain) ... 28 30 33 - 91' ; Sterst. Kretcchmar 27 23 31 86 Private Tohin 27 29 28 84 = Totals ... 143 ~156 ~149 ~448 ; AKARANA BIFLE CLUB (No. 1 Team).-JB3. 'Mr. & DoTjRhtr; (capt.) ... 31 ' 28 34 93 Mr. W. Mcintosh ... ...'-30 33 30 93 « r - J / Webster • 28 -33 -' 25 85 Mr. A. Henderson ... ... 29 ' 24 30 83 Mr. A. Peiizholz ... ... 31 27 • 22*- '80 Totals ... ... ...149 lis ~141 lii COBOMANDBL BIFLES.—£1. Colour-Sorst. Gatland ... 30 31 29 ■ 90 ■Private W. J. Senior ... 26 27 ' 33 . 86 Private. J. McCarthy- . ; ... 29 ; •' 25 ,■ ■■': 30 ' '■' 84 ; Pergt. Morrison 28 28 • 23 79 ' Capt. Kenrick (captain) ... • % c > 32 . 19 75.: '■ ■' Totals ... . ... ..■. 138' ■ 143 ~134 ~415 "OLD GORDONS.". r ■ c . Mr. .T. G. Buchanan ... 31 28 29 88 Mr. W. H. Shepherd ... 33 28 24 85 Mr. E. Buchanan (capt.) 25 31 27 83 Mr. J. Leigh ...: ....:..., 27 : 27 ' 26: ' 80" : Mr. D. Kay ,...18 25 .24 67 Totals ... ...... 134-: 139 130 .403 AKAEANA RIFLE CLUB (No. 2 Team). Mr. F. Thome ... ... 24 32 28 84 Mr. A. G. Maustem (capt.) 28 30 26 84 Mr. E. .-Pollard 28 27 27 82 Mr. W. Cox 29 27 24 80 Mr. J. J. Buchanan ... ,23 27 22 - ; 72 Totals ...:.. ... 132 143 ''127 402 TEANKLTN" MOUNTED BIFLES. Swfft. -Major A. Shaw • ... 27 ' 23 27 82 Private W. McCormick ... 25 , 27 27 .79 Captain L. Wallis (capt.) 21 29 23 73 Private J. Cokiuhoun ... 23 26 21 70 Lieut. W. J. .Hyde ... -... 25 28 9 62 Totals ... .121 138 107 366 VICTORIA RIFLES (No. 2 Team). Private T. Kerr ... ... 31 28 29 83 Private E. Buchanan ... 27 ' 29 22 ' 78 Private Arroll - 30 28 15.,, . 73 Colotir-Sorort. Aylett " " ... 21 -.-: 30 .". 14:-; 65;-;.; Private Gibson ... . ... 20 0 9 29 Totals ... ... 129 115 89 333 ■