Volunteering.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2036, 28 February 1887, Page 2

Volunteering.

The third match for Hon Chaplain’s Cup took place on Saturday, Feb 26, with the following result, the distances being 200, 300 and 500 yards Sergt Trotman 26, 11, 22, 59 points ; Capt Cameron 24, 14, 16, 54 do ; Lieut Porritt 24, 14, 14, 52 do ; Col Sergt Willason 26, 10, 15, 51 do ; Vol Fisher 31, 21, 8. 50 do ; Lieut Johnston 23, 14, 9, 46 do; Corp Hawke 16, 5, 16, 37 do; Sergt Gooding 19, 8, 9, 36 do ; Vol Snnnex 21, 10, 4, 35 do ; Vol Ingley 17, 12, 2. 31 do ; Vol Dockery 9, 2, 6, 17 do. The handicaps have to be added to these scores, A contingent of the Woodville Hide volunteers, " consisting of Captain Moore, Lient Rountree, Corporals Loveday and Nicholson, Vols Rabourne and Loveday, proceeded to Wellington per train on Friday last en route to take part in the New Zealand Rifle Asso« oiation’s proceedings The Victorian military forces arc to be armed with the Sohoutoff magazine rifle, from which six shots can be fired without the removal of the weapon from the shoulder. The English War Office authorities have had a new invention in the shape of luminous rifle sights under trial for the past six months, and have now given an order for a supply. The difficulty of sighting rifles in the dark in warfare has been ingeniously overcome by the use of this invention. A small bead coated with luminous paint is clipped on to the rifle over the foresight, and another over the rear sight, when used at night in reply to an enemy’s fire, forming two luminous sights. There may be two sides to the question. Would not troops using the luminous sights present a bright target to the enemy in the shape of an army of glow worms ? The Commission, in their report on land claims, recommend that 191 volunteers, and a lees number of old soldiers, should receive remission certificates. The exact number of the latter cannot be obtained at present. The certificates are of the valae of £3O, and entitle the holders to land of the value of that amount. In some cases Provincial Governments formerly gave cash. The report states that through the failure of Provincial Governments to adopt various old enactments, many claims which would have been valid cannot be recognised. In some districts they were ignored altogether, in others merely brought into force for a year or two, and in others money was voted annually, but no permanent provision made, and the claims from these districts are consequently now barred.

The Grey town Rifle Volunteers mastered for inspection on Saturday evening, there being just sufficient present to constitute a daylight parade. The company wae inspeo, tod by Major Bunny, who impressed upon the men the necessity of being punctual to time in mustering. After drill a short meeting was held, when upon the proposition of Captain Cameron, several accounts were passed for payment, including part of Veitch and Allan's account, £45, also £3 Ss subscription to champion belt, &c., Jones’ account for dinner to band, &o. The Champion Rifle Belt arrived at Greytown, care of Captain Cameron on Saturday night. Concerning this belt a Wellington paper remarks as follows : —Messrs Kohn and Co., Lambton Quay, Wellington, have just completed the manufacture of a champion belt for the Wairarapa Eifle Association. The belt is one of the best we have seen for a long time, and Messrs &obn and Co. have every reason to feel proud of their work. We have little doubt that when it has been handed over to the Association that that body will be very much pleased to And that their order has been carried out in such a thoroughly satisfactory manner. The cartouch box is of patent leather, uud is ornamented with the Royal arms in silver. There are seven clasps, all of silvor, and as they rest on a patent leather ground the effect is excellent. Three of the claeps were made for the purpose of receiving the names of the first three winners, and on the upper one the name of Vol G. Bentley has been engraved, that member of the Masterton Rifles being entitled to wear the belt until December next. The central clasp is in the form of a shield, and is much larger than the others. A wreath of laurels encloses two crossed rifles, and the whole is surmounted by a crown. The three remaining otaepe are ornamented with an appropriate design.