VOLUNTEERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4803, 5 November 1902, Page 2

VOLUNTEERS.

WELLINGTON RIFLE BATTALION. ' On Monday a meeting took place of the committeo that has in hand the arrangements for the active service competition to bo hold on Monday next. The officers ajjpomied to command teams were present by invitation. The different rules and stipulations wore discussed and adopted with amplifications. It was. announced that on Monday a special train will leave the city at .10 a.ni., for Lower Hutt, at which station the competing teams will detrain, ana ,thence march to' Trentham, a reasonable lime limit for the trip being specified. The companies will be formed up in column of sections at tho Lower Hutt, and bo inspected by Liout.-Colo-nel Newall, O-C. District, assisted by his staff. On the range tho firing wit be done under tho purview of Liout.Colonel Collins, assisted by Major Brandon. Along the route judges will be stationed m concealment at different points, the duties -of these officers being to award marks for appearance, regular marching, orderliness, and so on. General Babington will bo present at the competition; also a number of officers from outside volunteer districts, who wilt be in Wellington on defence business hext week. A train will leave on tho return journey at 5.55 p.m.

Tho rifle range at Pclhill’s Gully is being put in repair, and when the work is completed a largo amount of classfiring may be done on tho range. This will afford facilities to companies to put through their annual shooting practice those men who cannot get away to do their class-firing at Trentham. In connection with the latter i range, a considerable concession to;the, Wellington Garrison Volunteers has been obtained from the Railway Department by Lieut.Colonel Collins.. Hitherto a - rule has boon made' that volunteers en 'route to Trentham ,011 Saturdays must, be dressed in uniform —a rule'that debarred many from going out to the range because of tho short period allowed between t‘knocking-offi” time (1, p.m.) and tho starting of the train (1.20.p.m.). The new rule was instituted last Saturday, and tho immediate response to the better conditions resulted in an attendance on the Trenthaln range of over one hundred, \ r ol.unteors.

The bazaar that is being" organised in aid of the uniform fund of tho Wellington Rifle Battalion" is being advanced successfully by the various company committees working to that end. At a meeting of officers held last week the date for the opening of the bazaar was fixed for the last week in February next. Under the now arrangements that have been made the interest of each company pf the battalion lies in working for the company’s individual stall, as the whole of the, proceeds therefrom go to the corps’ special fund. The Submarine Miners have Thrown m their lot with tho battalion so far as the bazaar is concerned.