OUK VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 15

OUK VOLUNTEERS.

The Waitahuna RiHes fired the fifth of a series of handicap competitions for tli>; prizes presented by Lieutenant York and Volunteer Laffey, and also range prices of aniinunition, at the Waitahuna range on Saturday. Competitors can either use Snider or Martini- Henry rifles. Ihe light was rather dull, and heavy rain set in towards the finish, making tilings very unplea&ant. Ihe following are the scores :— Lieutenant York (Martini-Henry) ... 80 Corporal Ellis (Martini-Henry) ... 79 Lieutenant Cameron (Snider) ... 7(i Captain Patrick (Martini-Henry) ... 73 Volunteer Trimble (Snider) ... 70 Volunteer Kofoed (Knider) ... 09 Volunteer Corry (Snider) ... ' ... 08 Volunteer Olsen (Snider) ... ... 67 Winners of range prizes : Lieutenant Cameron, Lieutenant York, aud Corporal Ellis. The Peninsula Naval Artillery Volunteers fired their second competition on the range, Vauxhall, on Saturday afternoon. Owing to a puzzling wind and a changeable light the scoring was not good. The following were the highest scorers :— 200 ".W0 500 yds. yds. yds. Hep. Tl. Gunner Coxon M 15 15 5 — tjl Gunner Uubbins ... 20 18 IS 4-60 PO Coxon 18 11 lo 5— 52 Gunner Brady 20 » 11 »- 49 Gunner Strang ... 11 W, 1| »- f P.O. Newsomo ... 20 b 8 10 -44 Gunner Thome ... 18 13 8 5-44 P.O. M'Gregor ... 22 7 7 7-43 P.O. Bremner ... lb Id o 5— 40 The Tuapeka Rifles fired the first of a series of competitions for company prizes on the Lawrence range on the 18th and 20th insf. Ranges, 200, 300, and 500 yards ; five shots at each range, fifteen men competed. The following are the six highest BC ° rC3: - 200 300 500 yds. yds. yds, Heap. Tl. Lieut. CM. Brooks ... 17 13 21* scr-51 Sergeant R. Gardner... 18 9 20 scr-47 BullerJ.H.M'Keich 17 12 13 5-47 Col.-ser. J. Eg/lestone 19* 17 o 5-40 Lieut. W.G.lTruuhßrt 1(1 13 11 b-4fa Volunteer Rose Gunn 13 12 15 scr-40 * Range prizoa. An inspection parado of the Waltabuno, Rifles was held at the Good Templars' Hall, Havclock, lust Friday ov«ning, The number present on parade were J— Captain Patrick, Lieutenants York and Cameron, 3 sergeants, 4 corporate, 1 bugler, 82 rank and file ;~toUl. 33. After drill, as this ww the final visit of Sergeant-major Bezar, who retires from the service, Captain Patrick, on behalf of the members of the company, presented, him with a small cheque and an address, in which bin worth as an instructor and friend wero duly recognised and ii wish expressed that ho mignt have a long, happy, and peaceful life. Sergeant.

major Bezar thanked Captain Patrick ml his officers and men, and expressed regret at parting with them. He said he had had about 3(3 years of active life, 24 of which had been more or less connected with volunteers. He had always tried to make the drills as pleasant as possible, as he thought that preferable to bounce. He should have liked to have visited them oftener, and saw no reason why he should not have attended their fortnightly drills. If tho men were willing to attend at such periods, often travelling long distances, he saw no reason why they fdioul I not have the best instruction available. Country corps deserved every consideration, and, in his opinion, if the d.iy ever comes when real work has to bo done, it is to the country corps that they must look for a lot of the hard work. He again thanked them and bid thorn good-bye. The drum-major's baton which lias boon i>rebcuted to the Ordnance U.ind by Messrs Hallcnstoin Uros. and Co. wa-. yesterday foi mally handed over to Drum-major Miller by Mr A. L. Isaacs on behalf of Mr Hallonstoin. The baton, which ia a very handsome one, bears tho following inscription :— " Presented to the Dunedin Ordnance Band by the New Zealand Clothing Factory."

l'Vom the returns now available it appears that in the Auckland provincial district the numerical strength of the various volunteer corps i.s 37 behind the minimum strength, in Wellington k!9 behind, in Olago 70 behind, and in Canterbury 160 behind. Auckland has five corps whose roll of members is below the minimum, Wellington four, Canterbury 11, and Otago eight. There is a great improvement in Auckland, Wellington, and Otago districts for the year, a slight improvement in Canterbury as compared with the previous year. Under Regulation 132, those corps that aie behind the minimum strength on the 31st December in eaih year are not entitled to receive capitation, but the Hon. Mr Seddon, Minister of Defence, does not intend to fully c.irry out this regulation. On the contrary, he intends to pay the whole of the companies tht; capitation who have otherwise qualified for the past year. Those corps that have boon continually working with considerably less than their minimum strength will be asked for an explanation with a view to having their full strength restored within a reasonable time. Until the explanation is forthcoming p.-ij'-ment of capitation of those companies whose numerical strength is 20 per cent, behind the minimum will be hold over ; but the Defence Minister does not intend, unless in extreme cast's, to withhold the capitation that has been earned so long as the efficiency of members of corps hasbeenmaintaineil. Officers commanding the several districts and volunteer officers will be urged to endeavour to fully keep up the numerical strength of corps, failing which, if the corps fall below the minimum strength at the end of present year and were in same position last year, their services will be dispensed with. The new commandant, Captain Fox, R.A , is expected to arrive in the beginning of May, and immediately after arrival an inspection of the volunteers in tho colony will take place. ,