ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9916, 16 December 1899, Page 1

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"Tommy Atkins." — The new claasfiring regulations are as follow. — ■ Recruit Stage. — Twenty-one rounds at 200 yards at a second-class target — 7 lying, 7 kneeling, 7 standing , 21 rounds tit 300.yard8 at v. third-class target— 7 lying, h ( kneeling, 7 standing; 8 rounds at 400 yards at a second-rlass target — lying. Firsfc-class shota, 75 points; second and third-class, 50 points. Any recruit failing to qualify as a second-class phot tafiro again; and, if he again fails, to fire a third time. Trained Men's Stage. — Fourteen rounds at 200 yards at a second-class targetr—7 knooling, 7 standing; 14 rounds at 500 yards at a second-class target — 7 lying, 7 kneeling ; 12 rounds at 600 yards at ft second-class target — lying. Firstclass Bhote, 95 points ; second »ad thirdclaas,. 50 pointa. All men qualifying «s ; "Srat-clase shota become eligible for tho jwrlwneir'a gbage. „, Marksmen's Stage. — First Part — Ten rounds at 600 VRrds at a socond-clasa target — lying. Second Part {individual attack practice) — Two rounds at 400 yards — lying; 2 rounds at 350 yards— lying; 2 rounds at 300 yards-;knceling ; 2 rounds at 250 yards — kneeling ; 2 rounds at 200 yards — standing. All men making 45 points to bo styled marksmen. Hits on target in second port count 3 points. Targets. a S a a I W & l'arget. -g % jg in in o 6ft tifl) » 3ft " sft - BemaiDaer S?«s:} •• 2ft - 4ft - Kemaii J aer 4K°i ftS !ft} .. lft. 2ft. Remainder Individual Attack Target.--4ft x 2ft, painted with black figure of a man kneel- . ing. Hits on target, 3 points. Volley Firing Target.— 6ft x Bft, with blaok bar, lft wide, across the centre. • Hits above bar, 1 point; below top of bar, 3 points.

The weekly parade of tho Wanganui ■ Bines took place on Tuesday evening in - the open air. Notwithstanding the fact that there was much uncertainty as to whether the parade would take place, -owing to the Drill Hall being "otherwise engaged," there waa a good attendanoe of officers and men. SergeautMajor Dewar was also presout, and exer'<Hßod tho Company in t various movements, such as "extending for attack," - fixing and Unfixing bayonets, etc., his •method of tuition meeting with a great - amount of admiration. At tho concluBion of the parade it was announced that a start wonld be made with the Com- . pany^ annual course of class-firing^ at ■_Jho. Pntiki Range on tho following Thursday morning, when Captain Hughes would be in charge of the sliootists,' lam pleased to see that the members of this old-established Compony .' seem determined to maintain its su-

" premacy. The weekly parade of the Wauganui Guards took place on Wednesday evoning. There Was a very fair .attendance. ' In" the absence of Captain Seager, who was. out of town, the parade was in ohargo of Lieutenant Dustin, who successfully put the Company through several movements in tho open air. After dark the corp was taken inside the .tfcall, and eSercised by various non-com-missioned officers iv the manual, firing, /and bayonet exercises. Altogether, a gwod night's drill was put in, officers and men entering into tho work with much ■ xeal _ Owing to the Drill Hall being "otherwise ongaged l ' on Monday evening, the weekly practice of the Garrison Band did pot take place till last evening, when there was a good attendance of members. In view of the forthcoming contest, the Band intend shortly to "put in" a. num•ber"of extra practices. By the way, I believe the Band are still seeking the services of a, suitable drum-major. Why is it the Volunteers meet with bo ljttle consideration at the hands of tho .Drill Hall trustees? Is it because Volunteering is looked upon by them as so much wasted time?

I Hope not. ■It is very annoying ', that so many parades should be called , and .then cancelled or otherwise spoilt in effectiveness because the Volunteers cannot get the use of their own hall. Generally it is not until the very last moment that these cancellations take place, and on sotno occasions men have actually come some distance, only to find that their services were not required. Last week and the present one are "cases in - point." So far as one Company is con- - corned, at any rato, a battalion parade was .set down. on. the card for the sth, a gentle reminder accompanying tho notice to the effect "that would bo enforced for non-attendance." Consequently the members of tiffs particular Company lolled up_ in force, but had to suffer the disappointment and annoyance of being refused admission to the Hall. Then, again, this week the Wanganui Eiflee had to drill in. the open air " because the Hall was "otherwise engaged" on Tuesday evening; and on Wednesday it waa not until late in the evening that the Wanganui Guards could obtain admittance. The men greatly resent being hampered in their work in this way, and I think rightly so, seeing that the time and trouble they give to the aorvico is so much of a freewill offering. I sincerely trust the Drill Hall trustees will in future give some "consideration to those mostly entitled to it, and refuse to let the Hall on such nights as are set down for Company or battalion, parades. "Moaland Admirable Crichton" is the title conferred on the popular conductor of the Wanganui Garrison Band by Sydney Truth. It will be remembered that Bandmaster Crichtou visited Bath-

urst lately for the purpose of being present at the recent band contest there. Jimmy," however, came home some- ' what disgusted with tho "powers that .be," and ventilated his grievances in the Press, his strictures on the judging and tho manner in which the Wellington Band were received raising tho ire of the New- South Welshmen to a considerable degree. Hence tho appellation.

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