THE VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 780, 11 February 1887, Page 13

THE VOLUNTEERS.

The Wellington Rifle Battalion paraded for Government inspection at the Basin Reserve last Friday. The parade state was as follows :—Garrison Band, 17 (Bandmaster Cimino and Drum-Major Davis); City Rifles, 43 (Captain Collins); Guards, 35 (Lieutenant Tayton) ; Wellington Rifles, 27 (Lieutenant Tait); Te Aro Rifles, 45 (Captain Marshall); Thorndon Rifles, 33 (Captain Maginnity) ; Newtown Rifles, 30 (Captain Cole); Colonel Crowe in command. Major Loveday and Adjutant Quick were also preseut. Colonel Butts was the inspecting officer, and Sergeant-Major Bell assisted him. The men were exercised in various battalion movements by Colonel Crowe for upward of an hoar. A meeting of the Wellington Rifles was held at the Caledonian Hotel last Friday night, after the parade, for the purpose of electing a captain and other officers. The chair was occupied by Lieutenant Tatum. Lieutenant Tatum informed the meeting that he had decided to withdraw from the contest in favor of Lieutenant Tait, who was accordingly elected amidst applause. In returning thanks, Lieutenant Tait said that he would do his utmost to promote the interests of the corps, which he had deeply at heart. Before resuming his seat, Lientenant Tait said he had much pleasure in nominating Mr Freeman L. Jackson to fill the position of junior Lieutenant. The announcement was received with applause, and Mr Jackson was subsequently elected. Lieutenant Tatum, by seniority, takes the first lieutenancy of the corps. Mr Tait, it may be worth mentioning, is the youngest captain in New Zealand. A match was fired between the Guards and City Rifles at Polhill Gully on Saturday, resulting in a victory for the former by 9 points. The conditions were 10 men a-side, ranges 200, 300, and 500 yards, 7 shots at each. Captain Collins was in command of the City Rifles, and Lieutenant Tayton of the Guards. The high wind interfered considerably with the shooting, especially at the 500 yards, where clouds of dust and gravel blew along the ground. The following are the scores:—Guards —Private Russell, 78; Lieutenant Tayton, 71 ; Private Shaw, 67 ; Sergeant Townsend, 66; Private W. Ballinger, 66 ; Private A. Ballinger. 65 ; Color-Sergeant Hale, 63 ; Private Asher, 62; Corporal Isaac, 53 ; Private Vaux, 48. Total, 639. City Rifles—Private Cato, 77 ; Sergeant Mcßean, 69 ; Color-Sergeant Davis, 68 ; Private Moore, 64; Sergeant Burton, 63 ; Corporal Jaokson, 62; Sergeant Madeley, 60 ; Private Guise, 60 ; Captain Collins, 58 ; Private Luke, 49. Total, 630. The Newtown Rifles (A, B, and C classes) fired for prizes at the cadet range, Polhill Gully, on Saturday, Private A. France scor. ing a win for “Anonymous ” prize (A class), as did Private Wilson (B class) for Mr Collins’ prize. Corporal Wood (C class) having won Mr Flockton’s prize for the second time, it now becomes his property. The conditions were 10 shots at 200 and 300 yards, also to count for the Company’s Belt and class aggregate prizes. The following are the scores : —A class.— Private A. France, 74 ; Private Embury, 71; Private J. Ballinger, 69 ; Private E. France, 65 ; Private Oakley, 54. B class.—Private Wilson, 65 ; Private Russell, 60 ; Sergeant Kinnis. 56 ; Corporal Hutchens, 47. C class.—Corporal Wood, 56; Private F. France, 55; Private Blick, 45; Sergeant Godber, 37. The following will represent the Thorndon Rifles in the match against the . Featherston Rifles on Monday next, at Featherston. Town men to leave by the morning train on Monday : Captain Maginnity, Color-Ser-geant Clark, Sergeant Stone, Corporal Murphy, Privates Barlow, Barber, W. Wilton, Feist, Murphy, Guilford, Guerken, Allen, Emery, King and Cloke.