VOLUNTEER NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12913, 2 March 1906, Page 6

VOLUNTEER NOTES.

The Mackenzie Mounted Rifles have finished their year's work with a satisfactory number of men on the roll and a number of recruits coming in. The camp is to be held this year in May, and already the men are preparing for it. It is understood that this year is to be a camp of work from tha start in all branches, and the old hands, of which fully half the squadron still consists, know that Captain Gillies will see that theie is plenty to do.

There were some sketches and reports sent- in by the non-coms, at the last camp. of which the Colonel Commanding approved, and ail the non-coms, this time are to take up the military sketching ptopcrlv and furnish sketches and reports in all possible occasions. It is understood that in the event of any military gathering near Christchurch during the period of the Kxhibition only m«?a who have bc«« t!;:ougii the camp will Tje taken, so that p.:; :n.«y know any work which may be expe-.tc! «<f them.

Recruits are expected from the J-.ick country this year. ~ When the s>ja. ..ton was fitst formed, some of the bi?i sue*: came from there, but gradually u:- :»ped out. owing to the difficulty of puUs.g in drills.

The final shooting the sqtsr...«..n"> chief prize, the McLean Cup, has ju>t lieen finished. Usually the cup lia* 4»ecii tired for in a series of matches nt iverv range from 200 to 900, and the scores have been added to point* l«-r attendance at parades. This year, in «rdcr to give evt-ry man a chance, it was decided that the cup should be won on the result of the class firing and that the winner must be an efficient, camp attended, and all parades put in. Coqvoral Simpson iAlbury troop) was the first to finish with a total of 109. Corporal I'inkcrton made 110. Sergeant-Major fcura scored one iu«»ie. ;ind Corporal H. Welch tied with the Ser-geant-Major, 111 each. In the shvc: oif. 10 shots at 600 yards. Corporal Welch had hard luck in not getting the ek\v>:ion with his first shots, and Sergeant M;ijor P.urn won the cup for the third ;ime. Ureater interest has been taken in the tonwn this year than ever before, the winner beitg only known within the last week. Several young shots are shewing premise, aud the te;un should be stronger next season.