Volunteer Notes.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 388, 15 October 1903, Page 5

Volunteer Notes.

[By "Lyddite."]

I Class filing is still being indulged in by members "of tbe corps, and although arrangements are now comp'eted for firing at the two ranges simultaneously, still there is occasion to impress upon volunteers the necessity for an early attendance at the butts, to finish their course, in order that other matches may be gone on with. (Some good shooting has been done in this season's class-firing, but it is extremely doubtful in any local men will receive marksmen's badges. It seems unfair to the men firing at what is termed the "steadying practises," to only count 50 points towards earning a badge, even though their score was 84, the possible. At the head and shoulders, tfcc, the possible is 98, so that to earn the coveted badge, the men have to put on 80 or over at this course to make up the required minimum, viz, 130, a very difficult task for them to undertake.

It is satisfactory to note that the ! Premier—or rather the Minister of 1 Defence—is firm in his attitude in regard to the Defence Vote, There will be retrenchment in this department, but it will not affect volunteer corps or rifle clubs. Any retrenchment in the capitation allowance would be the means of many com- • panies going out of existence altogether, and more especially those that have sprung up within the past three or four. It takes a company a number of years to get ahead financially, and a curtailment in capitation would mean disband ment, .•*. Priv James M'Pherson is advanced to the position of lance corporal, vice W Hewitt, promoted. Owing to some inexplicable delay, last year's markmen's badges have now only come to hand. Although repeated applications for service badges have been made, yet there is no word of them arriving. Perhaps the staff of the department is overworked, and such a trifle as the above matter is of no importance, seeing that it emanates from a country corps.