The Volunteers.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1032, 11 December 1891, Page 21

The Volunteers.

A battalion parade of the rifle corps took place last Friday at the Basin Reserve. Present —City Rifles, 48, under Captain Collins ; Guards, 44, under Captain Paterson ; Bugle Band, 14. Under instructions from Major Newall, Captain Collins was in command, and exercised the battalion in drill for upwards of an hour, after which they went for a march out through the streets of Te Aro and then to Mount Cook, where they were dismissed. Seaman J. H. Holmes, of the Petone Naval Artillery, has won the Company’s belt for the second time running.

The Wellington Navals’ C and D Classes oompeted for Mr Soloman’s and the “ Tnree Star " trophies on Saturday at the Polhill gully range. P.O. Armstrong scored a win in C Class, and Seaman Griffiths obtained his third win in his class, so that the trophy now becomes his own property. The shooting on the whole was very fair. Conditions —Seven shots at 200yds and 300yds ; Snider rifles and Auckland ammunition. Scores :—C Class (Mr Soloman’s trophy)— P.O. Armstrong, 50 j Seamaa Mundle, 49 ; Seaman McLachlaD, 42 ; Seaman Weaver, 42 ; Seaman Muir, 39. D Clas3 (“ Three Star ” trophy)—Seaman Griffiths, 50 ; Seaman Castle, 44 ; Seaman Thurston, 42 ; Seaman Gell, 39 ; P.O. Alexander, 31. A meeting was held in the Volunteer Drillshed on Tuesday for the purpose of completing arrangements for the entertainment to be held in aid of the formation of the permanent range at Wallaceville. Captain Collins, Chairman of the Committee, presided. A full programme was arranged, to include such military items as sword bayonet exeroise, sword exercise, and a contest between the sword and bayonet. There will also be field gun drill, physical drill, songs, &0., with music by the Garrison Bind. Letters have been received from His Excellency the Governor, Major Newall, Commanding the District, and others promising their patronage. Field gun practice was gone through by the D Battery Wellington Artillery on Tuesday, in preparation for a competition which they are gettiog up. Captain Moorhouse and Lieuteuant Pearce were the officers present. The Miramar range is at length completed, and is now opened. A double mantlet and two targets have been erected, and stages constructed at all distances up to 700yds. Volunteers had better keep a bright look out when they go to practice, as the range abounds with kalipos. An entertainment in aid of a distressed Volunteer is being arranged for the 17th instant.

A general parade of all Volunteers will take place on the 21st inst. for the annual inspection of arms and accoutrements by Major Newall, after which there will be no more parades until the New Year. A parade of the Wellington Navals took place on Wednesday Captain Duncan was i a command, Lieutenant Campbell being also present. From the port watch a squad engaged in 7in- R.M.L. gun drill, under lustruotor Lynch, of the Permanent Artillery. Another squad of the port watch paraded at Mount Cook for instruction in the 6in. B.L. gun. The starboard watch, under Instructor Kimtnins, of the Torpedo Corps, were practiced in signalling, knotting, splicing and connecting up. It may be mentioned that the drill for the 7in. and B.L. guns has been lately altered by the War Department, the result of which is that a good deal of new detail has to be learned by the port watch, who are engaged in gunnery work.