Volunteer News.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 94, 12 May 1892, Page 4

Volunteer News.

Great praise is being bestowed upon the locally-manufactured Martini-Henry ammunition, in most papers, especially in the South, which is certainly misleading. I am sorry to say it, but there is no gainsaying the fact that the ammunition made by the colonial company is not at all equal in regularity of strength to the English Government article. Another instance of it occurred on Saturday, when Par slow, who was getting excellent hits, got one away equally as well to his own satisfaction, but it ploughed the turf a hundred yards from home. There were several other similar failures which befell less distinguished shots. At this season of the year great difficulty is experienced in getting through with the shooting at the Rifle Range on Saturday afternoons with sufficient light, and many ‘ ‘ upsets ” and “ flukes ” are the consequence. On this account it was an unfortunate “ fluke ” for that Thames veteran shot, Peter Weir, that he did not win Clarke’s Belt. On that occasion a large number of shots persisted in taking their turn although they had no possible chance of winning, and thereby they delayed the shooting to such an extent that Peter had to shoot in the dark, but for that the belt was a moral for him. In this respect the Champion Doughty shows good taste. When he sees he is “ out of the running ” he gracefully retires so as to allow another good shot the good light. It is not, I am informed, that he “funks” is the reason of his retiring recently from important contests. He does it simply to facilitate the shooting on the range, and a host of others would do well to follow his really wellintentioned example, and thereby give men an opportunity of distinguishing themselves who have previously shown their capacity under all sorts of conditions. I will go further, and say that the Range Committee ought to take this matter into their serious consideration, ond make a “counted out” limit at each range. Martini-Henri Rifle Club. At the Mount Eden Rifle Range on Saturday afternoon, the final competition for quarterly aggregate prizes took place. On account of therough weather only moderate scores were recorded. Three matches are fired and the two best scores are counted. Seven shots each were fired on Saturday, the ranges being 300 and 600 yards, there being two classes with prizes for each. The following are the results, from which it will be seen that the “A ” Battery provided the six top men for Saturday’s match : —

The following are the prize-winners and scores made during the quarter —seven prizes in Class A and four prizes in Class B : —

J. Spinley, 100; J. Nutt 98; J. C. Soall, 94; W. Greenshields. 93 ; J. Ansell, 91 ; A. Henderson, 91 ;A. G. Baddily 89. A number of others fired in one match only.

Hune has only done walking exercise since the A.R.C. Autumn meeting.

CLASS A. 300 600 yds yds Tl. Wheeler Head, A Battery ... 26 29 55 Gunner McCallum, A Battery ... 28 27 55 Sergt. Doughty, G.M., A Battery ... Corporal Hazard, A Battery ... 27 25 52 ... 25 26 51 Gunner Greenshields, A Battery ... 24 23 47 Gunner Buchanan, A Battery Captain Tobin, Royal Irish ... 24 23 47 ... 24 22 46 Sergeant Soall, City Guards ... 24 20 44 P.O. J. Spinley, Ponsonby Navals ... ... 32 12 44 Sapper Baddily, Engineers ... 18 19 37 Gunner Henderson, A Battery ... 23 11 34 CLASS B. Gunner P. Browne, A. Battery ... 29 27 56 Mr. Trayes, Civilian ... 19 20 39 Sergeant Kearsley, A Battery ... 21 3 24 Sapper Waite, Engineers ... 16 7 23

CLASS A. 1st match 2nd match 3rd match Total best 2 M. M. McCallum 54 46 55 109 H. Head — 52 55 107 E. Buchanan — 58 47 105 W. H. Hazard .. 54 51 105 M, Tobin 54 50 46 104 C. P. Taylor 50 51 — 101 H. Doughty, G. M. ... 49 42 52 101

CLASS B. 1st match 3rd match Total P. Browne ... 30 56 86 W. Trayes ... 21 39 60 J. O1T 36 — 36 T. Kearsley — 24 24 W. Waite — 23 23 -A