OUR VOLUNTEERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1436, 3 December 1885, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS.

TEMIJKA RIFLES Prize Firing.

The Temuka Rifle Volunteers fired for tho district prize? yesterday. The distances were 200 yards, 500 yardu, and 600 yards, five shots at each Eighteen men competed. The competitors were under the command of Captain Hayhurst, Major New-all superintending the"firing. The result was as follows :■-

Lieut. White and Privale Heap acted as markers very efficiently.

Inspection Parape,

The Government inspection parade was held last evening, at which 47 were present, including officers. After inspection by Cnptnin Hayhurst, who commanded in the absence of Major Newall who was unable to attend, they marched through the town to the music of the Band. After having paraded the tovn a halt was made at the spare piece of ground by the railway gates, and the Company were put through several battalion movements as well as some Company drill. The men went through the various movements very creditably, after which they were marched to the Royal Hotel where they were regaled by their Captain. They were then marched to their Hall and dismissed.

GERALDINE RIFLES Prize Firing.

On Tuesday afternoon a contingent of the Geraldine Rifle Corps competed for the district prizes. The men were under charge of Captain Moore, and the firing: was carried on tinder the superintendence of Major Newall. The ranges were 200 yards (standing), and 500 and 600 yards (any military position), five shots at each range, regulation scoring. The men fell in at Mr Pearpoint's store and marched to the range in charge of Lieutenant Ward, and firing was commenced at about halfpast two. A breeze was blowing up the range, which, as the afternoon wore on, brought a cold mist, making things generally unpleasant and against good shooting. As nearly all the men are recruits and have had very little practice —some only their class firing—the scoring is fairly good, and had more favorable weather prevailed there is no doubt but that it would Lave been better. • Private Crafer made a total of 34, his shooting being very steady throughout, Lieut. Ward and Private John Shaw coming next with 32 each. Privates G. Bethune and A. Fergusson also shot well, making 81 each. As the shooting was not over till about half past six, the bad light for the 600y*>rds range will account for the small scores made at that distance. Twentyone men competed, end below are the scores of the eleven highest:— 200 500 600

INSPECTION PABADE. A quarterly inspection parade of the Geraldine Rifles was held by Major Newall on Tuesday evening. There were 47 men on parade. As the evening was wet the Company were drilled in the hall, being put through the manual and firing exercises and position drill by the officers of the corps. A few battalion movements, as far as the limited space would allow, were also executed. Major Newall expressed himself as very pleased with the general improvement shown •by the corps since his last visit, and hoped they would be as successful in their drill during the coming year. The firing for the district prizes took place in Timaru on Monday and Tuesday last, the N avals firing or: Moiaday and the 0 Battery on Tuesday. The scores made were very low, attributable in a great measure to the weather. The highest ecorer was Gunner'Bower, of the Navala, who totalled 43-11 at 200 yds., 17 «t 300 yds., and 15 at 500 yds.—and carried off the first prize, valued at £4los. Bondsman Herd, of the C Battery, ranked second with ?6, taking: a prize vftlued at £2 10s; and Sergeant Jackson, of thy snm» corf■*, third, with 33, the value of the piizs being 13s sd. The lowest score was muc'e by Gunner Shute, of the C Battery, who scored 5. Gunner Cooper, of the C Bittery (7), and Gunners Bennett (6), Kesbitf (7), and Hathaway (9) of the Navals, were, the others who failed to make double figures. At Ashburton the highest scorers were Private Macdonald (38), Lieutenant Dolman (36), Bugler Savage (35), and Sergeant Macdonald (34), all of the Riflea. The lowest was Private Hayman, a member of the Guards, who made 12.

200 500 603 Name. yds. yds. yris. Tl. Sergeant Guy ,. 16 16 1S--45 Lieut. Findlay .. 15 8 14--37 Corporal Hobbs .. 16 17 4--37 Private Harrison ,. ,. 12 13 11--36 Private Larcomb .. .. 15 10 10--35 Private Reid ,. 11 15 733 Private E. Smith .. .. 14 10 8--32 Private Watt . 15 12 5--32 Private A. Clinch .. . 14 6 10--30 Corporal Levens . 12 8 8--28 Private Cleaves ,. 14 11 2--27 Private Langskail .. . 12 10 2--24 Private Ourr . 11 6 5--22 Private Burrows .. . 16 3 3--22 Captain Fayhurst .. . 14 8 0--22 Private Egan . 7 4 4--15 Private J. Clinch .. . 8 0 4--12 Private Blvth . 4 2 2- - 8

Name. yds. yds. yds. Tl. Private W. Crafer... 13 13' 8-34 Private J. Shaw ... 12 12 8-32 Lieut. Ward 14 10 8-32 Private Gr. Bethune... 13 11 7—31 Private A. Pergu«son 17 10 4—31 Corporal Hardcastle 11 14 2-27 Private Newport ... 13 6 6-25 Private Dierck 14 7 2-23 Sergeant Worner ... 7 11 3—21 Private Fleming ... 5 11 2—18 Corpora] Millard ... 8 5 5-18