VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13846, 8 March 1907, Page 2

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

•I By Sf.ktrt.

My notes this week will bo condensed ' and curtailed to mnko room for some interesting notes upon tlic opening of tlw Trenthani meeting. I understand that the Maniototo Mounted Rifles aro the winners ot the shield competed for by the first Regiment Otago Mounted Rifles. Tho annual shooting match Highland .Kifles v. Ex-members is to bo fired tomorrow. Tho shield competition for companies of has been won by the Dun■'odin City Rifles, with Dunedin Rifles second and Green Island Rifles, City Guards, and Wakari Rifles in consecutivo order. The result will comc as a. surprises to many who regarded tho capital shooting performance of tho Green Island Rifles as giving that corps ail important hold upon the competition. _ Groen Island, however, lost in tiio judging distance test—a curious and anomalous position in view of tho fact that good shooting of necessity implies accurate judging. The official announcement giving details is not availablo for this week's notes. A/parado of No. 1 Battalion will be held on tho 21st inst. The O.C. disiriet will bo .present, and at tho conclusion of tho parado tile shield will bo presented to the successful corps, tho Dunedin City Rifles. Intending competitors aro reminded that entries for tho Ladies' Shield competition close on Monday. Sovoral entries arc in tho fiands of tho secretary. Captain Douglas (Guards) and Lieutenants Phillips (Dunedin Navals), Smith (Engineers), and Macdonald (Highland Rifles) underwent examination at tho Defence Office on Wednesday. So far as the infantry of Otago is concerned, the proposed Easter manoeuvres are abandonod. The camp for officers which had been discussed will not be held either. Tho Dunedin Engineer will not go into camp, but the mounted men and tho field and garrison artillery, with possibly the bearer and signalling corps, will probably carry . put some manoeuvres. Colonel Nicholjs and Major Bowler are coming to Dunedirf. to-day to confer with the O.C. district and Captain Ritchie in regard to Easter proposals. Congratulations to the Tort Chalmers Navals upon securing first position amongst the garrison artillery corps of tho colony. The results of the Government examinations for badges and personal payments in connection with, tho local Field Hospital and Rearer Corps arc lo hand. The following gain personal payments of £1 and proficiency badges:—Senior: Corporals .1. Adam and J. 11. Hanson. .Iniiior: Corlioral A. E. Eonnin, Lance-corporal W. Dunn, Privates P. J. Wilson, G. 11. Mitchell, G. Cooper, ami 11. J. Ford. Badges ■wcro secured by iho following: —Lancecorporal ,T. G. jowsey, Privates G. Jackson, T. Neilson, G. 11. Davis, .T. Jowsey, J. W. Simpson, and J.-Kobb.The corps is to bo congratulated upon furnishing practically a complete muster upon the occasion of Surgeon-general Sherman's inspection. Tho four absentees proved to be all out of town. Tho inspecting officer stated he had not seen a. smarter bearer corps in 'the colony. Tho annual meeting of the Non-commis-sioned Officers' Club is to be held this evening. Tho secretary informs me that a determined effort is to bo made this year to enhance the interest and usefulness of tho club. All non-coms., and especially Hie younger ones, should recognise fho value of this institution and support it, not by becoming subscribing members only, but by taking an activo part in Iho syllabus of work prepared. Tho 33 Battery, of whom private advice has been received to the effect that they have secured a second class pass, hold their annual smoke concert this evening. On Monday evening members and exmembers of the North Dunedin Rides did honour to Sergeant Bradley, winner of (lie South Island championship, tendering him . a complimentary smoke concert. Sergeant Bradley's health was entlmsiaslically drunk, and a pleasant programme of music was rendered. On Tuesday next Iho Green Island Rifles will hold a smoke concert, in honour of their Trenlliani representatives. Mr .r. B. Flynn. who has been connected with tho Dunedin Kugineors for some years, ami who has occupied I lie position of lieutenant in Ihe engineering section for tho lasi three years, Ims severed his conneelion with Ihe company. Among olhcrs who have retired from tho Dunedin Engineers at I he end of the Volunteer year are Q.M.-sergeant Roach, who is unabio on account of business arrangements to keep np his conneelion wilh Ihe company, and Sergeant Mulligan, of Iho .signalling scciion, who is being transferred f to iho Telegraph Department- at Jnvercar* {fill.- To fill these positions. Corporal Wells has been promoted lo Q.M.-sergeant, and Sapper Parker, who recently bold the position of corporal in tho Wellington Engineers. has been promoted lo sergeant in tho. signalling section. Tho Engineers and North Dunedin Rifles fired a friendly match with scratch teams on Saturday last, when the Engineers were beaten by ,24 points. There was keen speculation among iho Engineers as lo whclhor anyone could teat Iho South Island champion (Sergeant Bradley), and groat was the cxcitenient when both Sergeant Keilar and Corporal Wells, of the Engineers, came out on lop. For tho Engineers Ladies' Challenge Belt this year there is keen competition, the first four men being covered by 2 points. The last of Iho competitions lakes place lomorrow. and at the present time it would be impossible to say who will have the honour of wearing the belt this season. THE TRENTHAM MEETING. By a Coiifetitou. I TREXTIIAM, March 2. Although tho meeting did not open till Thursday, compel ilors began to arrive two or three days prior lo that, so as to get settled down and also lo get practice, which • was continued up to the afternoon before the meeting. The meeting opened on Thursday at 8.30 a,m. under most favourable conditions. Tho number of targets had been increased, and the firing took place in perfect order, wilh very little delay between the ranges—conditions much preferable to tho rush and bustle of last year. The general improvement of the whole camp was favourably commented on by many of the competitors. Next year Colonel Collins intends to try and further " improve by getting the whole of the land ploughed up and sown in grass. His idea is to let the place for grazing purposes. & Tho 500 aercs in the rear of the camp (a part of tho property) could carry the sheep while tho meeting is on, and thus the range would Iks self-supporting. The meals on tho range aro very good, and no fault is to bo found. A number of tho men, .however, still prefer to live out.sido tho camp and have home comforts. With the present

I LUmiiIUIEMW'iMUUmW woathor tho oamp 16 very comfortable. M'Callcy, tho Australian crack shofc, was present for the first of tho matches, but had to leave on Saturday for Sydney. Thence ho sails for England, and intends taking part at the Bielcy meetings. He Had an interview with Colonel Collins and several of the executive officers at Trentham, and introduced his patent back sight to them. They were all favourably impressed with it, and as an outcome of tho interview Colonel Collins has asked him to send a complete one over from Sydney. Colonel Collins will bring the matter before the proper authorities here and endeavour to get tho back sightadopted throughout the colony. If this is done it will he a boon lo shooting men. Sergeant M'Caliey lias promised to send one over to a shooting man in Dunedin, and on its arrival tho latter will show it to all interested. Sergeant M'Callcy is daily expecting word from England as to its adoption or otherwise in that country. The shooting in the first match was not quite up to previous years, 91 this year getting a place, while 99 was top. "The latter score was made by a young lad from Nelson, Sonntag commenced well in this match, but broke up at the last range—6ooyds. Mills, of Dunedin, is sofar shooting steadily, scoring the passiblo at 800 yds. _ lie with a few others had a little wacticc at Pclichct ]3tiy range at 300 and 900 yards, and this no doubt proved of advantage to him at Trentham. Cameron, of Opaki, who is at the present time leading in the aggregate, is a good long-range shot. lie won the Ten-shot Match at 1000 yds last year (tho final for the Belt), and although there is a long way yet to go I would not bo surprised to see him tho winner of the Belt for 1907. In the year the High School boys won tho Ladies' Challenge Shield from the Volunteer teams in Dunedin, Cameron was a member of the team. Ching, our champion of two years ago, missed every shot at 1000 yds —-a very easy matter' with the wind that was blowing. In spite of this fact I consider Ching one of the finest shots in tho colony, and I know no one who can beat him at rending mirage. Although mirngo troubles a good number of shots, a writer on ".Shooting at Bislcy" states mirage, if understood, is a great- heln and a surer indicator than flags. The llags at- Trentham this year, by the way, are blowing out in their usual giddy fashion, very puzzling not only to newcomers but to tho old shots, beating tho best of them. By the time this is in print the championship will bo won. Ayson, from Southland, is not far away' from the leader. ]Ie is what one would call a scientific shot, studying everything in connection with shoot inir so thoroughly. The Biillinger brothers are also hanging on, and may bo hard to shake oft'; "they are generally close up at the finish of any meeting, and have been competing for so many years. Captain Ross, an ex-cham-pion carbine shot, is again present, but is not shooting well. Piirslow and Wakelin have dropped out, but Harding (of Blenheim) is still a regular attcmlcr and shooting well. Sunday will be a day of rest. A number will no doubt visit tho blackberries. which are verv plentiful near the butts. I must- not forget to mention that there are no less than "10 competitors from the Orepuki Rifles. Good for Orcpuki! They are not great shots, but are going (he right way to beconio so. May they all get into the prize list. SOUTHLAND NOTES. My Southland correspondent writes on (ho 6th inst. as follows:— That tho time of short days and long evenings is fast approaching is evident in tho increased gatherings and interest shown around the orderly rooms. The committee of tho City Guards, recognising tho benefits accruing from social intercourse, lias resolved to provide extra comforts and further attractions. To this end a first-class billiard table lias been added to the rooms. To attain even a moderate skill at this pastime is a costly item, and members of this corps will find the thoughtful action of their managing committee in the matter of finance a subject- for much gratitude. On Tuesday evening B Company (Orcti Rifles) paraded at the hall, there being but, a moderate muster. A squad was told oft' for .Maxim gun instruction, while membei-s of Sergeant Boyce's signalling squad were examined by Sergeant-major Thomson with a practical lest, the results of which have not yet been announced. The recruits were exorcised in the rudiments of soldiering by a company corporal. Promotions.—B Company (Oreti Rifles): Corporal Daniels lo be sergeant. On the 261 h of Ihe month members of the Orc-ii Hides will he asked to elect- a junior subaltern. By all accounts the promotions will no! extend outside the corps. Through ttie generosity of a well-known Invereargill citizen the Range Committee finds itself possessed of a first-class shed for .use ou the Grasmcre range. Tho gift was given in the face of a. monetary ofi'er for the building for private purposes by a local firm. After an indifferent display at the recent band contest the Invereargill Garrison Band lias rot timed to reorganise and generally effect a clearance in matters appertaining to their kind. Some five members have found themselves retired as a result of misconduct when away. A realisation of what this means will perhaps form the awakening to a better order of things so far as these individuals arc concerned. Mr R. Trist Soared will still wield tho baton, which latter event, by the way, is a matter for congratulation. Grasmcre range was occupied this afternoon by the Rifle Club and the City Guards. Members of the former were concerned in a trophy presented by Sergeant Wills (S.M.R.), while the Guards were firing tho final ranges for the company championship.