Drill Hall & Rifle Range

Southern Cross, Volume 7, Issue 38, 16 December 1899, Page 9

Drill Hall & Rifle Range

Volunteers and Rifle Club members are invited to contribute to this colurqn Items of news, diagrams of targets, reports of matches, meetings, and all events of interest to volunteers and shooting men will be received. Address : “ Magpie,” Southern Cross Office.

NOTES JSYJUAGPIE. Mr John Johnston’s success in Wednesday’s match will be pleasing to a good many, it being, I believe, his first substantia] victory during a long course of rifle shooting, and active participation in the work of carrying it on. The excellence of his shooting, being inners on the target, considerably improves his chance for a place in the Club’s team, the committee of which, like most others similarly situated, will have no easy task to decide. ’ * * * The competitions for District medal firing in the Christchurch district take place at Bromley to-day (Saturday). * * * So far the highest score put up in company volley firing I have noticed is that made by the Rangiora Rifles, the average being 14 per man. * *

A meeting of the shooting committee of the City Guards was held on Tuesday night, when a challenge from the Christchurch City Guards was read, inviting the corps to meet them at Dunedin at Christmas and fire a triangular match with themselves and Dunedin City Guards. After the matter had been discussed it was resolved to send 10 men to Dnnedin, instead of entering for the Caledonian Cup, to be shot here on Boxing Day. * * * Those volunteers whose connection with the service necessitates communication with Wellington Headquarters will receive with very deep regret the news of the death of Captain S. 0. Anderson, Defence Storekeeper, which occurred on Thursday last. Attention to duty and thoroughness of detail were strong points of the deceased, and the consequent worry of the position is perhaps partly responsible for his demise at a epmparatively early age. * * * The non-commissioned officers’ club has at last been fairly floated, the rules governing its existence having been duly adopted at a general meeting held last Thursday. As soon as permission is obtained, the alterations to the gun-room will be gone on with, so that it may be partly ready for the opening night, fixed for the end of January. The financial aspect will be met by an entrance fee of 2s fid and quarterly subscription of Is ; ard the officials will be elected at that meeting, holding office until the annual meeting in Match.

It is reported that the City Guards do not intend entering a team for Boxing Day, preferring to visit Dunedin to fire a triangular match with corps there. If so the decision is regrettable as tending to weaken volunteer interest in the cup competi. tion, for which the Oreti Rifles’ two teams will now probably be the sole, but not unworthy, representatives. Sergt Wills will be included in the Club team, not being able to visit Dunedin. a