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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 10

The total amount raised by lady canvassers at the funeral demonstrations on Saturday in aid of the Queen’s statue totalled £lOl Is 3d. This, with the amount already subscribed, brings the total amount received up to £043 18s 3d.

Trouble has cropped up over the .303 rifles for the approaching New Zealand Rifle Association meeting, at the last moment Lieutenant-Colonel Sommerville being told that there are no .303 for the Southern men and rifle clubs. There are now two alternatives, (1) postpone the meeting ; (2) allow competitors the option of using either the Martini-Henry or the .303. Postponing means bad ■weather, and no certainty of the date when the rifles may arrive from England. Personally, says the Wanganui “Chronicle,” Lieutenant-Colonel Sommerville does not think that for accuracy there is much to choose between the Martini Enfield now on issue to the North Island Volunteers and the Martini Henry. On a calm day the .303 might do better work, but in a wind the Martini would come out on top. On the whole, and under the circumstances, the Colonel thinks that the most satisfactory plan Would be to allow competitors to use either the Martini Henry or the .303. This will suit rifle clubs, as they all have Martinis, and the S.<ssthern men also seem to fancy