VOLUNTEERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4299, 7 March 1901, Page 6

VOLUNTEERS

MARTINI v. .303.

The "Egmout Settler republishes the article from last Fridays '‘New' Zealand Times” bearing the aooyo caption. and supplements it with the iollowing opinions of local men Waom lie ’‘Settler's’’ representative .has intci-vle-.vcd ;Mr W. M. V. oodhesd, captain of the Stratford Hide Chiff, considers the .303 has a decided of the Alartini-Her.ry anti tnat given the same conditions the points _ allow, cil are not too many. Vicc-Ca plain Madden says;—That at 300 ; arris iho «r.iI pons are equal, and no points sjoiau bo conoeded to the Martini. At t».e Oi >. yards the .303 has A slight advantage. At the 700 yards an . advantage ol a«i points. He considers that tuc Aia - ! tini. with four points at. tao emeu 1 ranges, has a decided advantage o>ei the' .303. Mr King, Stratford Rite Club, says that the points allowed to I tho Martini arc not enough. | aiders that i;vo at VUO, two at GOO, ana i one at-’ 50b should bo allowed the Alartini.

The 'Wellington Naval:.- paraded over one hundred strong last evening at tho Mount. Cook Drillsliod. under Lieutenants Cooper, Biss and Handy.side. Lieut. Menzies was absent through having to attend an examination. Tho occasion was the company’s annual inspection of arms, and the duties wore carried out. in a careful manner. A number of men were proposed for membership ot tho corps, which is now assuming Gorgantuan proportions. At the Central Drillshol last night a theoretical examination for district officers was held, under the supervision of Lieut.-Colonel Oollinsi. Those officers who were examined last night wore Lieutenant Menzies (Wellington Karats), Lieutenants McLeod and Harlan-1 (Highland Rifles), and Lieutenant Baillic (Blenheim Rifles). The Hcretaunga Mounted Rifles hold a foot parade at tho Central Drillshccl last night, for the purpose of handing h» arms. There was a good muster of the company; The weekly competition of the Karori Rifle Club, which was to have been held yesterday, lapsed through paucity of attendance. Some members of tho Highland Rifles who were on the range fired their shot* for tho company competition, tho best score made being 57.

There was a good attendance at last night’s parade of tho Highland Rifles. After a short company drill, tho members were measured for the new full dress uniform (Soaforth Highlanders), for the supply of which a contract lias been lot to Messrs Ballautyno and 00., of Christchurch. Tho total cost willbo between £750 and £BOO, and payment will be spread over a term of years.

In tho class firing competition of the Master ton Rifles soino good work lias been done. Colour-Sergeant Brighting topped the list with 154 points, and Private McKay came second with 148. At the Central Drillshed last night a squad of recruits belonging to various companies was put through preparatory drill by Colour-Sergeant Redmond, of the Civil Service Rifles. This noncom. does a lot of work apart from that incidental to his company duties, and is deserving of the thanks of.-all who have the interest of volunteering.at heart. “Tirailleur,” of tho “Wairarapa Daily Times,” mentions that “endeavours are being made to form a volunteer rifle corps in Carterton. About forty-six persons handed in their names as intending members, and tho list was forwarded to Mr Hornsby, M.H.R,., hut owing to the number of corps already in existence throughout this district, it is doubtful whether the Government will accept this one.”