Volunteer Notes.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 380, 20 August 1903, Page 5

Volunteer Notes.

[By " Lyddite."]

Owing to the death of a brother of a brother of our honorary surgeon, Dr Gregg, no parade was held last week. A meeting was held instead, and a motion was passed expressing sympathy with Dr Gregg in his bereavement. Sergt-major Kibblewhite will be present next Thursday evening, when the corps will be instructed by him in the new drill. The weather, no doubt, has kept him away on past occasions when he was expected here, but I am assured that he will be with us next week. lam athorised to state that, m the event of members failing to turn out next week without a valid excuse, a heavy fine will be inflicted. It is not fair to the officers and non-coms that men should absent themselves when a staff instructor is imparting knowledge that is necessary for the welfare of the company. By being absent from these parades, the men thtow more work on the officers, through having to go over the same ground time and again, and it also retards the company in attaining to that state of efficiency which the officers and non-coms expect.

Weather permitting, the match for th« corporals' medal will be fired for to-day and Saturday next. It is the intention of the Shooting Committee to have the 300 yds target enlarged. The pit will be made wider so that a large target may be erected in it, and the frames will be on the double principle—viz., a smaller frame for 300 yards to be in3i°de of the big or outer one. When this work is com* pleted, it will be the means of expediting the shooting, and the men will not have to wait such a long time on the range. Advice has been received from Dunedin that all the acting non-coms, who recently went up for examination, have passed the necessary course, and I congratulate them on their success, and trust that others may go and do likewise. The present non-coms will not be here always, and as their places will have to be filled up, it follows that the men with tickets will naturally fall into their places. We can't have too many " ticket" men in any corps.