OUR VOLUNTEERS

Western Star, Issue 1912, 12 May 1894, Page 3

OUR VOLUNTEERS

For the first time since March 21, 1890, the Gore Rifles have been victorious against Riversdale. A correspondent writes as follows to the Gore Standard Theresult of this match naturally gives rise to the question, Which corps in Southland possesses the crack shooting team ? Riverton had an unbeaten ten years’ record until “ taken down ” at Riversdale on April 24th. Riversdale bad a similar record until taken down by a team that was beaten by the Riverton Rifles at Gore on April 23rd.” Upon our correspondent’s showing, we are inclined to give the honours to the Western town, with Riversdale second. It is not many teams that can boast of a supremacy extending over ten years—such as that of Riverton. Still, we must not lose sight of the fact that the match on the 24th ult, was the first occasion on which the ’ Ton and ’Dale teams met; but should they again meet, and the ’Dalians come out top, we should unhesitatingly vote for the championship being awarded to Riversdale. Sergeant J. R. Wakelin, the wellknown rifle shot, will leave for England on the 17th inst for the purpose of taking part in the next meeting of the National Rifle Association, which takes place at Bisley, England. When a member of the first Devonshire Rifle he competed at Wimbledon and finished fourteenth for the Queen’s prize.- Since the year 1890 Sergeant Wakelin has been a regular attendant at the annual meetings of the N.Z. Rifle Association, and his most successful year was in 1891, when the meeting was at Napier. After leading for the belt for four days, he finished sixth on the list. It was however on the Christchurch range that he scored his great successes. Besides being top scorer in numberless matches and practices, he won the championship of the Hon, Reserve corps in the years 1890, 1891, 1892, and 1893 ; the championship of the Christchurch MartiniHenry Club in 1892 and 1893; the championship of the Kowai Rifle Club in 1893, and was second for the championship of the Waikari Rifle Club in the same year. Sergeant Wakelin will take with him the best wishes of the shooting men of New Zealand for his success at Bisley.

The corps were inspected by Capt. Hawkins, on Thursday evening, and ho expressed himself well satisfied with the drill

The following team has been selected by the committee—Sf-rgt. Winton, Corpl. Forsyth, and Yol. Murchison — to meet the Navals on the 24th: — Lieut. Pattison, Sergts. Winton, Stevens, McKay, Oirpls. Pattison, Cuff, Kirkland, Forsyth, Yols Murchison, Cassells. Emergencies: Sergts. Wilson, Yols. Stirling, and Grreen.

The team are requested to roll up on Wednesday for practice. Practice and win.