Volunteer News.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 89, 7 April 1892, Page 4

Volunteer News.

[Contributions to this column are invited. All communications should be addressed to “ Torpedo,” and reach this office not later than Tuesday in each week. Notes from country corps will be specially acceptable.] DISTRICT ORDERS. Government Inspection Parade for April. Garrison Corps. Auckland Naval Artillery—Friday Bth, at 7.30 p.m. Ponsonby Naval Artillery—Monday 18th, at 7.30 p.m. “ A ” Battery Artillery—Thursday, 7th. at 7.30 p.m. Auckland Engineers—Wednesday 13th and 27th, at 7.30 p.m. Victoria Rifles 1 Auckland City Guards > Tuesday 12th and 26th, at 7.30 p.m. Newton Rifles ) Garrison Band—Bth and 12th, at 7.30 p.m. Country Corps. Thames Naval Artillery—Monday, 11th and 25th, at 7.30 p.m. Wairoa Rifles —Saturday, 16th, at 2.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. respectively. Hamilton Light Infantry—Thursday, 14th and 28th, at 7.30 p.m.

Notwithstanding my many years service in the “ A” Battery as an active member, and my position as a member of the Press, I was not favoured with the usual complimentary ticket to the promenade concert given to Sergeant Doughty last week, consequently I am not in a position to describe it. The South Franklin Mounted Rifles have issued a programme of military sports for Easter Monday, 18th instant, a copy of which I have received from Sergt. H. Harris, hon. secretary, who will be better known as Corpl. Harris, who took such an intelligible and active interest in the late military sports held at Potter’s Paddock. The programme is made up of ten events, and is attractive enough in its variety to attract considerable attention in military circles as well as others of all classes and tastes. One item, I regret to observe, is absent from the programme before me, and that is the musical ride, which is one of the prettiest and most attractive items usually to be found at such gatherings. The South Franklins do not oonfine themselves to military events, for I find they have a trotting race of two miles and a hack hurdle race of one and

a-quarter miles. In the latter respect Ido not see why, under careful management, they should not be as successful as the Heratunga Mounted Rifles have been with their race meetings in Wellington. The Ponsonby Navals talk of going up, so also do the City Guards and a team of the Auckland Navals for the tug-of-war. A full band is announced, and altogether a good day’s sport is promised, which will be wound up with a grand military eoncert in the evening, followed by a dance in the Masonic Hall. The sports, concert, and dance, &c., are to be held at Pukekohe, and commence at 11 30 a.m., the whole being under the patronage of Lieut.-Colonel Goring and officers and men of the Auckland Garrison. No end of paragraphs have been published giving the height of Sergt. H. Doughty, the champion, varying from 5 feet 1J inches to 6 feet 8£ inches, but I have authority for saying, and I know personally, that Doughty’s height is 6 feet and half an inch in his socks. The following are the scores over 90 points for Clark’s Belt:—

Captain Tobin, of the Royal Irish Rifles, was the holder of the belt last year. The competition for the Government gold and silver medals takes place on Saturday, April 9th. The competition is only open to marksmen who are efficient Volunteers, 200 yards standing, 300 yards kneeling, and 500 yards any military position; ten rounds at each distance. The marking for Clark’s Belt was most unsatisfactory. Challenges were far too numerous, and in most instances, on examination, shots were found on the targets, and on one occasion four unmarked shots were discovered. Driver E. Wiles, of the “A” Battery, had his four greys and harness in splendid order for the reception of the champion. They were a credit to his management, and the owners, Messrs. W. and G. Winstone, no doubt felt as proud of their man as they did of their grand animals. Torpedo.

A boxer named Jack Martin—a light-weight, who arrived, it is said, from ’Frisco by the last mailboat —is after Jack Nicholson, the wellknown light-weight who recently defeated Jennings, and the Auckland boy is ready for the fray. Sammy Goodman requests us to state, in answer to Brady’s challenge to a walking match, that he does not now profess to be a walking man. He most emphatically announced through the columns of this journal that he had retired from the running track and taken up his present position as a trainer. Sammy thinks, and justly so, that after the number of victories he has recorded over all distances—walking, running, and even over hurdles—it is not fair for every young fellow who comes out a little, to issue a challenge against him ; and although he in no way imagines himself inferior to Brady, he rightly thinks the public would have no confidence in his word were he to come out again after announcing his retirement, neither would it be fair to the large number of peds he has in training, as he would necessarily have to give them up to train himself for a contest. Amongst Goodman’s many victories he won Mr. Mick Gallagher’s prize, doing 4:1 miles in half-an-hour, and has won races over all distances, from 100 yards up to halfhour go-as-you-please—his fastest mile being done in 4mm. 48secs.. 150 yards in lysecs., mile walk in 6min. sgsecs., miles in one hour at Professor Carrollo’s tournament, etc. With such a record as Goodman holds, who can blame him for preferring to remain in retirement on his well-earned laurels and where it is more profitable to himself as a professional and already successful trainer.

200 yds. 300 yds. 400 yds. 500 yds. Tl. Col -Sergt. Skinner, V. Rifles.. 30 26 32 19 107 P.O. G. Spinley, P. Navals .... 28 25 27 26 106 Gun. Henderson, “A” Battery 28 26 25 24 103 Vol. T. Fairs, Victoria Rifles .. 28 26 26 21 101 Sergt. Doughty, “A” Battery 31 26 27 lb 100 Seaman Henderson, Thames.... 28 26 21 22 97 Vol. M. Fairs, Victoria Rifles., 26 26 25 20 97 Vol. W. Rose, Newton Rifles.. 28 22 27 20 97 Capt. Tobin, Royal Irish Rifles Corpl. Hazard, “ A” Battery].. 3 1 21 22 22 96 26 22 24 24 96 P.O. Ewan, Ponsonby Navals.. 26 23 25 22 96 Vol. Osborne, City Guards .... 3° 15 26 24 95 Lieut. Smith, Auckland Navals 28 25 29 13 95 Bugler Dormer, City Guards ,. 30 20 26 18 94 Vol. J. W. Leigh, V. Rifles .. Corpl. Webster, “ A” Battery 27 19 25 22 93 2? 22 2C 20 02