OUR VOLUNTEERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 55

OUR VOLUNTEERS

The Volunteer corps and Rifle Clubs throughout the colony which have paid the necessary subscriptions to enable their xnembersto compete for the bronze medal given by the association to each subscribing corps—and the winners of such medals to compete in the “Bronze Medal Match” at the association’s meeting at Wanganui—are now arranging fpr. -the preliminary firing, by Avhicli Mil be determined the member of each corps >vlio will represent it in the final stage of the competition, which will Le held at the forthcoming Wanganui meeting: The Karori Rifle Club began its competition last week, and the Highland Rifles will * follow suit next week, ; The Wellington Guards and the Petone Rifle Club also intend to compete. Each or the before-mentioned corps will: be represented at the association meetr ing by a full team of five, and at least one of them is likely to have ten competitors taking part-. Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, who went to Australia in charge of the New Zealand team of riflemen which competed at the Commonwealth prize meeting c f the -National Rifle Association of New South Wales, returned to Wellington by tlie Waihora yesterday afternoon. Colonel Collins expresses himself well pleased with his experiences in the Land of the Golden Fleece, and speaks of the march past of the troops and Volunteers as. a superb sight. Adjutant Harcourt also arrived by the Waihora from Sydney, whither he has been on a holiday trip.

It was originally proposed to hold a oamp of the Wellington Rifle Battalion in Newtown Park for a period beginning to-morrow, but Lieutenant-Colonel Collins and his subordinate officers yesterday decided that the Park would be unfitted for a camping-ground for at least a week to come in consequence of the Sixth Contingent horses having been picketed thereon for several weeks past. The camp has therefore been postponed to a date as yet unfixed. Arrangements have been made by the Wellington Navals to go into camp aft Mahanga Bay to-night for a fortnight’s training at fort manning and similar drill, but owing to the unpropitious weather there is a chance that- the opening date of the gathering will he set forward by a day or two. r . At the Newtown camp last night several members of the Highland Rifles attended to give a farewell “ shivoo ” to three late members of the corps who are going to the front with the Sixth Contingent.