The Volunteers.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1024, 16 October 1891, Page 37

The Volunteers.

Major Newall, Lieutenant-Commanding John Dunaan, and Captains Loveday, Mcorhouso, and Collins have been appointed as a local board for the examination of candidates for commissions in the New Zealand Militia and Volunteer Forces in the Wellington district. The Guards paraded for Government i- B;:eet’on in the Garrison Hall yeate diy week there beiDg present on parade 43 of all ranks. The men were inspected by Staff. Sergeant Finn, and afterwards praclised in company drill by Captain Paterson. This was tho last Government parade in that building, and on and after the 30th of this month parades will take place at the Basin Reserve, commencing at 7.30 p m. The Wellington Rifles paraded for Government inspection at the Garrison Hall last Friday, there being present on parade 27 of all ranks, under Lieutenant Isherwood. Sergeant-Major Finn was present on behalf of the Government. The corps was exercised in company drill by its non-com* missioned officers. On Saturday next a “ bee ” will be held at the Miramar range for the purpose of shifting the targets, at which most of the Guards present on parade yesterday woek promised to be present and esaist. The Volunteers are very much dissatisfied at the disgraceful manner ill which tne Drillshed is kept. The outside doors are off their bingos, and several of the Bide offices have been broken into. Major Sommerville has written to the hou treasurer of tho Now Zealand Rifle Association ( apt. Collins) stating that as soon as sufficient money has been raised to clear the proposed raDgo ho will leave for Wellington to see to tho completion of the work, advertise for tenders, and enter into a lease of tho range, whloh will be vested in three trustees. Ho urges on Wellington the extreme desirability of possessing this range and remarks as to the great advantage it would be to the city to possess such an admirable range olose to the town, Tho rifle match Upper Hutt versus Petone took place on Saturday afternoon at the former’s range, and resulted in a victory for the latter by 14 points. The weather was splendid, and the shooting was witnessed by a good number of spectators, amongst whom were several ladies. The match from the commencement to finish created immense excitement, as neither side" could get away from tho other. At tho fini.-h of the firing at the 200yds, the Upper Hutt wore leading by fivo points, and when the last man for each side commenced their shots at the SOOyds, Petone had a lead of one point, which was increased to 14 when the last shots were fired. Some remarkable fine shooting was made, os will be seen by the scores below, 33 out of a possible 35 being made at an 8 inch bull’s eye. After the completion of the match the visitors were entertained at the Provincial Hotel, where an oxcellout dinner was provided in a marquee by Host Till, whose catering was worthy of groat praise. A most enjoyable evening was spent. Songs and recitations were given, and various toasts were drunk with enthusiasm. Following are the individual scores :

THE CITY RIFLES. The City Rifles held their third competition of this season’3 aories on Saturday last. The weather was fine, with a moderate wind, but as the afternoon advanced the light failed, and somewhat handicapped the man firing at the final range. The attend, ance of the members was good, while the shooting on the whole was fair. Though no scores call for special mentioD, a notable feature of the competition was tho closeness of the scores of the senior class, Iho majority of whom came in at the finish almost together, six points only separating the first man from tho tenth. As the shooting progreased at 300yds, the interest became very keen, as the men were all pretty olose together and Bhooting somewhat alike. Luke, however, managed to secure the pride of place, and scored his first win for the handsome cup presented by Msssrs Littlejohn and Sons. Tolling, who shot oxcet'-d----ingly well at 300 yd?, got his first “ leg in ” lor B class trophy, while Robinson carried off tho win in the junior division with a score of 43. Conditions—2ooyds and SOOyds, seven shots at each range, any position ; 4x4 targets ; Now Zealand Rifle Association regulations ; Snider rifle and Auckland ammunition. The following are the highest scores in each class :

A Class. Littlejohn and Son’s Cup and two ammunition prizes—Private Luke. 73 ; Private R. J. Curry*. 72 ; Corporal Jackann+, 70; Captain Collins, 69 ; Private McGregor, 69 ; Corporal Guise, 69 ; Private Henn, 63 ; Private Elliott, 67 ; Sergeant Mcßean, 67 ; Sergeant aladcley, 67 ; Private Rankin, 58 ; f 'olour.Sergeant Davis, 52.

B Class. —Company tropbv, £l, and am. munition—Private Tollins, 73 ; Private R. Ha!piu + , 70; Corporal T. P. Halpin, 67 Private Lowe, 62. C Class.—Trophy, £l, and two ammuni. tion prizes —Private Robinson, 43 ; Private C. E. Mattheiva’", 39; Private B. Halpin*, 39 ; Private Haggitt, 39 ; Private Purcell, 37 ; Private Bunckenburgh, 36 ; Private P. G. Wickens, 33; Private F. vV. Wickens, 34 ; Private Carpenter, 30.

The above scores count for the season’s oggregat 3 prizes and the special aggregate prize for the first four matches. The scores made in C Class also count for the Captain’s aggregate for two matches. The Shooting Committee meet after parado this evening to arrange conditions for next match, and to discuss the question of sending teams to Wairarapa on tho 2Sth inßtant. “"Ammunition prizes aud former winners of trophy competed for. Tho City Rifles held their weekly parade at the Garrison Hall last Monday, when there were present 35 of all ranks ; Captain Collins being in command. The corps was divided into tquads, and the physical and bayonet teams to take part in the approaching tournament wore exercised by ColourSergeant Davis. The signalling team were then drilled by Sergeant-Major Neville.

Betone. 2 ;0 500 T1 Ballinger, W. II. ... 31 28 59 Ballinger, A. King, B ... 30 24 54 ... 24 29 53 Edlin, \V. ... ... 24 24 4S Mason, J. ... 27 21 48 Kirk, It. C. ... ... 27 21 48 Atkinson, 33. T. ... 24 22 46 Devine, A. ... ... 25 17 42 Burridge, S. V. ... 27 15 42 Gilmour, J. ... ... 26 13 39 2G5 214 GrTl 479 Upper IIutt. Keys, F 30 30 GO Greenwood, J. ... 33 23 56 Sykes, H. ... ... 30 23 53 Whiteman, J. ... 21 28 49 Wilkie, F. ... ... 33 15 48 Whiteman, ]t. ... 21 21 45 Itawson, 11.33. ... 26 16 42 Say well',■U. ... ... 26 15 41 Whiteman, E. ... 26 11 37 Boyd, T, ...■*“ ... 21 13 34 270 195 GrTl-465