Drill Hall & Rifle Range

Southern Cross, Volume 8, Issue 34, 15 December 1900, Page 12

Drill Hall & Rifle Range

Volunteers and Rifle Club members are invited to contribute to this column 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. Parade nights of local corps : Garrison Rand, Mondays and Thursdays ; City Guards, Mondays, regularly ; Oreti Rifles, Tuesdays, regularly ; Awarua Rifles, Fridays, regularly; Mercantile Rifles, Wednesdays, regularly; the Gore Rifles parade regularly, Government Inspection being held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays in each month ; Southland Mounted Rifles, town contingent, foot parades every second Thursday at Garrison Hall; mounted parades every fourth Wednesday afternoon at Waikiwi ; Winton, Thornbury and Otautau eontingens parade as per dates on cards issued to each member. NOTES BY “MAGPIE.” Practice for the Dunedin Military Tournament is being- energetically carried on by the City Guards team. * *“ * At their departure yesterday, comment on the helmeted appearance of Southland’s Pipe Baud was of a very favourable character, while the drill and marching of the men was also good.. * * * With nearly all the town corps, drill for the year has now ceased until after the holidays. * * * The Genesis of Exodus is known to all the nations, but Father Paul ought now to be prepared for Revelations. # * * Competition on Boxing Day promises to be fully better than usual, entries for the Caledonian Cup being expected from several new corps, while the older teams are also getting all the practice possible for the same gathering. *** In appointing range officers to expedite matters at their Boxing Day fixture, the executive of the Southland Rifle Association institute a step that must do good in getting through the day’s work comfortably, without an undue strain on any particular officer, and the gentlemen appointed, Messrs Joe Johnston and L. Lennie, may be trusted to perform their duties efficiently. * * * The Association’s secretary advises me of having received a wire from the Colonial Ammunition Co. that the Association’s order for ball cartridges is being supplied of their very best quality. This is good, and shooters will be glad to note the fact. * * * ■ I am reminded that the picnic season is again approaching by the receipt of an invitation to attend the Oreti Rifles’ second annual picnic, which is this year to be held at Makarewa on Christmas Day, the party proceeding by Messrs Jopp’s drags, leaving town at 10 a.m. With the pleasant memories still lingering of last year’s picnic, added to the fact that the bush site chosen for the ensuing gathering is an ideal one for such a purpose and that the committee have arrangements well in hand, 1 anticipate a most successful and enjoyable time on the 25th inst. In the words of John Gilpin —“ May Ibe there to see.” * * * The programme of the N.C.O.’s Tournament has been issued this week, and contains 16 items embracing all possible descriptions of military events suitable for the district, and for all of which keen competition may be expected. The sports are fixed for 6th February, on the Queen’s Park, and entries close with the secretary, 001-Sergt. Mair, on Tuesday, Bth January, 1901, at the Garrison Hall. All competitors must have been enrolled prior to 30th November last. The committee are to be congratulated on the programme issued, and if the corps support them as I am sure they will, the tournament should prove a thoroughly good one, and a decided stimulus to the volunteer movement here.

The quarterly examination of officers was held at. the hall on the sth ihst. Oapt. Watson and Lients. Wilson and Royds (Merks), Lieut. Fraser (Gore Rifles), Lieut. Goldsmith (Awaruas), Lieuts Mcßab and Wayte (Mataura Mouuteds) presenting themselves.