Our Volunteers.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5804, 18 December 1886, Page 3

Our Volunteers.

The canvassers appointed by a meetingr of the Volunteer non-commissioned officers to endeavour to obtain prizes for a rifle competition, have met with very considerable success. They have collected nearly--100 articles, of a most miscellaneous character, varying from a six-guinea silver cvp — which will, presumably, be awarded to the maker of the highest score — to an. infant's feeding bottle, which is to become the property of the competitor whose shooting happens to be the worst. A meeting of the Committee was held last night, when it was decided that the competition should begin at 5 a.m. on Boxing Day. The firing and scoring will be conducted on the same plan as last year. Arrangementshave been made for a pool target, whick will be open to the public as well as to Volunteers, on payment of a sixpenny fee. The offer of Mr Bashford to provide refreshments and luncheon was accepted. The allocation of the prizes will be finally decided at a meeting on Wednesday next.

After the E and N Batteries of Artillery had completed their shot and shell practice in Port on Thursday, the members of the* E Battery were entertained at a Bmoke concert by the Ly ttelton Battery. Songs were* given by Captain Martin, Quarter-Master Sergeant Sowden, Sergeants Costley andT Gilmore, Corporals Arnold, Brien an^t Bradley, and Gunners Mason, Harvey, Tait and Arnold. The following toasts were proposed and reeponded to:— "The New Zealand Regiment Artillery," "The Regular Artillery," "The E Battery N.Z.R.A.," "Old Members of the Regiment," "Medical StattV" "Non-commissioned Officers,** "The Cadies" and "The Press." The affair was held in the Colonists' Hall ani passed off most satisfactorily, the party dispersing at about 11 p.m. The competition for Mr Brice's medal, which was arranged to take place to-day among the members of the N Battery of Artillery, Lyttelton, has been postponed, the range being used to-day for class firing