THE VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 14

THE VOLUNTEERS.

. The annual meeting of the Wellington Naval Artillery was held in the Drilished on Wednesday night. There was a good attendance, and Captain Duncan presided. The election of officers resulted as follows : Secretary—Seaman O. Young ; Shooting Committee-Petty Officer Harris, Bugler Aiaher, Seamen Rabe, Moore, and Balcombo; General Committee —Chief Petty Officers Armstrong and Moran, Petty Officers Pallthorpe aud Woodyer, Seamen Davenport, W. Armstrong, Redding, and Rotheram. It was decided to entertain the seamen of the Squadron provided the Jubilee Celebration Committee would make good any deficiency whioh might result. Gratuities were voted to the retiring Secretary (Seaman MacOurdy), and Petty Officer Paiethorpe (cu3todiau of arms and atores). Captain Jones, of the s.s, Mana, was elected an honorary member of the corps in recognition of his services in rescuing a crew of the Company who were capsized off Somes Island about three weeks ago. Three cheers having been given for the officers, the meeting terminated. EXHIBITION RIFLE MEETING. We learu that Captain Sommerville has succeeded in securing an excellent range for the meeting, within half a mile of the Wingatui Railway Station, on the Otago Central side of the main line. The range is perfectly level, and plenty of water is available As any number of targets can be erected. Captain Sommerville is sanguine of carrying the firing through in nine or ten days. Over 400 entries are expected, including 60 from Australia. Wellington will be represented by about 35, amongst whom there are several well-known marksmen, viz. -—-Sergeant Kuehen, Gunner Wilson, Volunteer A. O. Atkinson, Volunteer Cato, Corporal Ballinger, Volunteer A. Ballinger, P.O. Harris, Seaman France, P.O. Taylor, Seaman Williams, Sergeant Willason, and Major Donald. Wanganui will be represented by Major Purnell, Sergeant Remington, Volunteer Churton, Lieutenant Foster, and several other veil-known shots. Capt. Sommerville, who will have control of the meeting, has sele.oted the following staff s Colonel Baillie (in command), LieutenantColonel Noake, Major Ross, Captains Lomax, Thain, Borlase, and Lieutenant Fulton. Captain Collins will have ohargfe of the details, and supervise the secretarial work of the meeting. Special arrangements have been made with the Union Steamship Company to convey competitors to Lyttelton at reduced fares, and free railway passes will he issued by the officer commanding the district to all Volunteer members who travel in uniform, and who are actual competitors. Most of our local men left by yesterday's boat, so as to reach Dunedin to-night.

(PER PRESS ASSOC TATI OR.) Dunerin 7 , January 6. The number of entries for the New Zealand Rifle Association Meeting are satisfactory, except from Otago, where as yet the numbers are not up to expectation. The Victorian team arrived to-night. They include Captain Hanby, Lieuteuant3 White and Eals, Sergeant Mason, Corporal Kirk, Bombadier Grummett, Privates Degrandi, Buley, Mitchell, Draper, Ferguson, and Chapman, The team to represent the colony in the inte-oolonial match will be selected from those who shoot best. The Yarroworga Rifle Club men arrive by the Mararoa in the morning. The South Australians have been out practising at the E'elichet Bay range, and the Victorians will indulge in some tomorrow. All the visitors so far are greatly pleased with the liberality of the pro gramme. Auckland, January 6. The steamer Takapuna, which left Manukau to-day for the South, had as passengers for Port Chalmers the Auckland Volunteer Representatives who are to take part in the New Zealand Rifle Association's meeting at Dnnf din. The following is the team : A Battery of Artillery—Lieut. Ansel!, Sergt. Parslow, Bombadier H. Doughty, Gunners J Webster, C. Taylor, J. S. Buchanan, N. Buchanan. O Battery-Gunners McCullum and Cullen. Victoria Rifle corps—Private McCarthy. Newton Rifles Private Butt. Thames Navals Seamen Thorburn and Weir. Lieut. Ansell is in command.

Christcuup.ch. January 0. The following have entered for the coming rifle meeting at Dunedin : —Hon. Reserve Corps —Captuin Harman, Privates Collins, Cameron, Robertson and Hammond. Christchurch Rifles —Corporal Scott, Privates Batchelor and Foster. City Guards - Sergt. Lavery. Christchurch Engineers— Sergt. Le Creu. Wan.ianui, January 6. Wanganui will send about fifteen representatives to the New Zealand Rifle Association. Meeting at Dunedin. Foster and Remington left to-day. Purnell goes tomorrow night. Dunedin, January 7. At a meeting of the members of the N.Z. Rifle Association, presided over by the Mayor, a committee was appointed to canvas for subscriptions, and another to arrange an entertainment for the visitors. The Government decline to put telegraph wires to the rifle range. As the Association is unwilling to contribute toward the expense of a telephone, there will be no direct communication with the range. January 8. Captain Sommerville has been finally informed that telegraphic arrangements for the rifle range have had to be abandoned, owing to the cost of carrying the wire to Wingatui. All messages will be conveyed by bicycle to Mosgiel, aud sent from that station. Blenheim, January 7. The following form the Marlborough contingent to the Rifle Association meetine, and left for Dunedin to-day :—Captain Griffiths, Sergeants Maddook, Powick, Wemyss, and James, Corporal Brewster, Privates Harding, Purser, and Ransome, .Troopers Canovan and Andrill.