VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4366, 25 May 1901, Page 6

VOLUNTEERS.

WELLINGTON RIFLE BATTALION. FIELD DAY AT TRENTHAM. Tlie Wellington Ride Battalion had a field day at irentham yesterday. The battalion went out b’y special train at 1U o’clock, and reached the range soon alter 11 a.m. The general oversight of affairs was undertaken by Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, assisted by Major Brandon, Captain and Adjutant liarcourl, Captain ami Quartermaster Henderson, and ISergt.. Major Sanderson. The competition for the Ranfmdy C-.p was concluded, the Rost and Telegraph Rifles being tho successful company, with the very lair average of 45.975 per cent, of hits. The differen 1 companies of the battalion wore at intervals exercised in attack *nd defence by .Major Brandon, but a coupiu of cold showers which fell during tli2 day militated agai list extended manoeuvres being gone through. The majority of the companies mustered poorly, the Zealandia Rifles, Wellington Guards, and City Rifles cadi being without a cou.nussoned officer. Whole day parades such as yesterday’s aie absolutely essental to the attainment of perfection, so it is mu civ to be regretted that the companies concerned mustered so poorly. Tilde of place in numbers, as well ns in murkmanship, went to the Post and Telegraph Rifles. After the shooting had been gene through the whole battalion marched from Trentham to the Upper Hntt, and (here entrained tor town, which was reached shortly before 7 p.m. The"full parade state was as follows: - Post and Telegraph Rifles (Captain Morris, Lieutenant Horton), 411; College Rides (Captain Turner. Lieutenant 11. Lewis), 28; Kelburnc Rifles (Captain Davis, Lieutenants Miller and Charters), 24; Civil Service Rifles (Lieutenant .T. Lewis), 22; Zealandia Rifles (no officer), 21: Highland Rifles (Captain Mclntosh, Lieutenants McLeod and Harland), 21; City Rifles (no. officer), 20; Wellington Guards (no oiaccr) 8. Appended are the scores mado for the Ranfurly Challenge Cup: City Rifles—lßo shots, 198 hits; average, i 41.25 per cent. Kclbnrne Rifles —320 shots, 96 Inis; average, 30 per cent. Civil Service Rifles —320 shots, 126 hit*; average, 39.375 per cent. Post, and Telegraph Rifles—B2o shots, 377 hits; average, 45.975 per cent. College Rifles —120 allots, 176 hits; average, 41.9. Zealand!!! Rifles—sßo shots, 238 hits;' average, 41.034 per cent. Highland Rifles—327 shots, 133 hits;average, 40.367 per cent. The winning team fired on the occasion l of the parade in November, when it had l a muster of 51 men. SPORTS AT NEWTOWN PARK. The bitterly cold weather and sharp, showers in the morning had an adverse influence on the attendance at the annual military sports of the Heretannga Mount ed Rifles at Newtown Park yesterday, which had been announced to begin at eleven o’clock. The men, however, stuck gallantly to the work of getting through tho pi'Qgram'me, and the Petone Brass Band did loyal service in helping to charm 1 away the depressing conditions under which the tournament was held. The : following officers were present:—Captain. Loveday, Lieutenants Kinsey and Lloyd, l and Non-commissioned Officers O'Brien, Talbut and cithers.

In the parade Private Perrett waff, picked out as the best mounted trooper present, Murphy and McCarrison being second and third respectively. At the '■reltv exercise of lemon cutting, Private Redding showed good style, and won the nrize. Corporal Arnold being second., Private Perrett won the mile walk from scratch, making a record for heavy march ing order in 9min 40sec. “Heads and Posts” saw Arnold again a winner, with Welsh second. Sergeant O'Brien won the tent pegging contest in fine stylo, .. MoWalter coming in second. Trotting by Sections—Corporal McMillan, 1; Corporal McDonald, 2. Lloyd Lindsay—Sergeant Morris’s section, 1; Arnold’s, 2. Tilting in the Ring—Lowe and Murphy tied, Lowe winning the final. Some other events were also carried through. As the light failed and the cold increased, less interest was taken in the proceedings, which might with advantage have been curtailed under the circumstances.

During the visit of his Highness the Duke of Cornwall to Wellington it will become necessary to mount a permanent guard of one officer, a sergeant, a corporal and fifteen men at Government House. The Wellington Rifle Battalion has volunteered to supply the guard, and the offer is now under consideration by the autlionties. The battalion is to he congratulated upon its spirit, which at once evinces loyalty and a determination to undertake the hard as well as the smooth duties of volunteering. . , The shipment of new rifles received by the Government ex Matatna last week to which reference was made in the "Times”' at that period, numbered 2500. They are of the magazine pattern (LeeMetford). It is probable that the Christchurch companies will he armed with them at an early date,, in which case they will probably begin to regard as a disguised blessing the fate which kept them for, a year or two armed with Mar-tini-Henri rifles subsequent to the I'sortii Island corps being fitted out with .303 single-cartridge weapons. Sergeant Sarsfield Colclough, of the Christchurch College Rifles, who went as Regimental Sergeant with the Federal Contingent from this colony to Australia, was yesterday on parade with the College Rifle's of Wellington at Trentham. In the vicinity of Trentham rifle range there are now running several hundred remounts recently purchased by Imperial officers for the South African Army. The steeds look decidedly rough and ungainly at present, hut they will doubtless furnish into- staunch and useful animals when Ihc corners are rounded off them by the responsible men. Vesterday the nags Imai-d what was probably their first fusilado (the Volunteers being engaged m skirmishing operations near), and the manner in which the whole mob turned tail at the sound and left the vicinity would have gladdened the heart of the flving Christian De Wet himself. 'At Island Bay yesteydar D Battery put in an interesting day’s drill with the battery guns. A large Ira.ct of ground wa.s covered, and (hough the weather was bleak the company on the whole had an enjoyable ns well as a useful outing. The necessity for providing a shelter shed at the recently-acquired Trentham rifle range should bo urged upon the Defence Department. Yesterday a somewhat heavy shower of rain and hail foil while the ' companies were manoeuvring, and there being no shelter beyond ihat afforded by a shed about ten feet souerc, it follower! that nearly all the Volunteers on the range passed a had quarter of an hour and had to walk round in wet clothes snlJsoonently. There is a probability of the Irish Rifle Corns in Wanganui shortly becoming an accomplished fact. Over 50 names nr** now on the roll.