VOLUNTEER NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 9, 5 October 1907, Page 4

VOLUNTEER NEWS.

Details of the N.S.W. individual J scores in the intorpostal match fired , between teams of ten men represen- , tative of the London, Canada, Vic- i toriii, New South Wales and Now I Zealand Tost Offices show that tho ' winning team (N.'S.-W.), maintained an excellent average ;the aggregate ' 6core being GOO points, or aii average of 90 per man. It is probablo ' that a return match against the Melbourne team will be arranged to take place at Melbourne next March, when it is likely that 'Wellington will also participate. The date, being just at the end of tho shooting season, should he favorable for somo good scoring by the local men. As Captain Forster, of Christchurch, who was to have commanded the team of-riflemen that will represent Now Zealand in the Empire match, to be fired at Sydney next month, will be unable to get away, Lieut.-Colonel Cresswoll,. commanding North Canterbury Rifle Battalion and a prominent range officer of the New Zealand Rifle Association, for several years past, will take charge The team will leave Wellington on 4th October, and the meeting will begin on the ISth ,and extend to the 28th October. Since the report of the New Zealand Defence Council was presented, —August, 1907 —six new rifle clubs have been recognised by the Government. They are: Pohangina (Otago); Glenavy (South Canterbury): Kaituna (Banks Peninsula; Pihama (Taranaki; ■ Ngawaka (Mastcrton, Tablelands District); and Soddon (Marlborough, bringing tho total number of clubs earning capitation up to 132. 'it is anticipated that in view of the recent concessions extended to rifle-clubs hy the Government, this number will be considerably added to during tho coming ■ season. . ' : : The Opaki range (Mas'terton) lias been closed, owing to the extension of close settlement in dangerous proximity to the range. It is understood that an excellent range in the vicinity . might be available if its use could be strictly limited to riflemen of tho Opaki Club. The exton- ' sion of range privileges to tho dis- . trict volunteer corps would necessitate considerable, expense in tho i matter of fencing, etc., and the proprietor of the estate in which this highly desirablo shooting ground is situated is unwilling to give way on the matter, which, however, is stijl under consideration- by the, authorities. . In the meantime the club will use the .Fairview Rifle, range. The Miniature Rifle Challenge Competition pending between the London City School Boys' Shooting Club and 'the Terrace, Wellington (N.Z: 1 ) School Cadets should bo completed on Saturday, circumstances permitting. Tho London Schools' team fired off on 2nd of August.last, but details of tlieir score are not yet to hand. The competition is under N.R-.A. rules for miniature targets, the range being 25 yards, target fi inches square, with Jin. hull. There are eight bovs in tho team, eaon being allowed'-7 • shots, no sighter; Winchester repeating rifles arc used. As shooting under' the foregoing conditions is not much in voguo here some' previous practice has hcen necessary in order that the local team might compete on equal terms, out had weather, prevailing epidemics, and the difficulty of procuring the prescribed rifles have combined to seriously curtail'their practice.