VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 27

VOLUNTEERS.

Mr Stevenson, headmaster of tho district, has been elected captain of the now volunteer corps at Woodville, and Messrs O. G. Morrell and Melvinnon lieutenants. Air Morrell is an old Royal Welsh Fusilier, and was tkroua'h the Ashanti war under Lord Wolseley.

Colonel Fox inspected the Dunodin Naval Artillery last work, and in addressing the men said his sympathy was altogether with tho Volunteers in shooting, and he had little sympathy with shooting which took prizes away from Volunteers which provided prizes for men who did not do their duty as Volunteers, lie would like every grant mado by tho Defence Department to bo devoted solely to benefiting Volunteers. He did not deprecate tin value of the good shots in tho rifle clubs, but ho did not think they should bo allowed to compete with Volunteers who had to do any amount of duty during tho year, whereas tho former were mostly independent men. lie hoped the time was not distant when the competitions for tho Champion Bolt would bo oonnhed to Volunteers, and when other men could have their own and a different championship. At a meeting at Auckland of those interested in the proposed Club, it was decided to go on with the formation of tho club. A resolution was passed expressing regret that the Government was so ill-advised as to discourage tho formation of rifle clubs, the meeting believing that a body of good shots would bo t' e most effective and least expensive defence force the Colony could have.